The Next Generation

[Ms. Elsewhere]

The Headmaster read more of the message. "Her grandfather has started this. Have u never heard of him? Marcellus. A very dark wizard. As I recall, but i might be wrong, he had dealings with Tom Riddle... also known as Voldemort in his time."
Geneve jumped at the sound of her name. This was someone related to her?
"Voldemort is dead, and so is Marcellus! I have heard of them both." Galena said hotly.
"Well, it would seem that at least one of these dark wizards has found a way to act beyond the vail, if in fact he's passed through at all."
"So, he's a ghost?" Authur gulped.
"Yes, but magic cannot be performed by ghosts. He must have an accomplice. But the first task at hand," said the Headmaster "Is finding the exact location of Professor Marcellus. Geneve, come over here." He took a string and crystal from his desk drawer and brought it over to his desk.
"I believe u interupted or intercepted a message, and so, I believe you will be able to help us pinpoint the exact location in Russia. Geneve, it seems that you have a special ability, much like Divination. " The headmaster saw that Geneve did not understand. "It is nothing to fear, and you can learn to control it. Let's start by finding our dear professor." The Headmaster took Geneve's hand and placed the string between her fingers. "Now concentrate." he said, and the crystal started to circle over the Headmaster's map of the world.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Arthur felt out of place in all of this, and he didn't really understand why he and Geneve hadn't already been sent away. What possibly use could they be? Well, him anyway. Apparently Geneve possessed some sort of magical power already that meant that she could stick around. But Arthur expected that it would only be a few minutes before he was sent away.

The professor was the granddaughter of a powerful dark wizard? After he had received his letter from Hogwarts, his uncle had mentioned something briefly about an evil wizard named Voldemort, but Art had got the impression that he had been thwarted, and there wasn't much danger out there any more. Apparently that wasn't the case.

[Ms. Elsewhere]

The Headmaster continued to lead Geneve in locating the port key destination in Russia. Geneve closed her eyes to concentrate. She tried to remember where she had heard the voice come from, but her concept of places was limiited - she had never traveled outside of England. Still, her mind's eye took her to a place that was covered in snow, somewhere away from civilization...
The crystal dropped as if a magnet were atttracting it to the globe. The Headmaster looked closer. "Ah." he said. He looked up at Authur and Gelena. "Now the question is, do we travel by brooms, or floo network?" He smiled. Authur and Geneve looked at each other. Surely they weren't required to go too?

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Surely this was a joke? What possible role could he play in defeating a dark wizard and saving the professor? Arthur didn't understand why the headmaster would want to take either of them along. And truthfully, he was scared.

[DucksRMagical]

Galena let out a sigh of relief. They knew where Valencia was. Surely, they'd be able to find her now. She looked at the Headmaster. "If we can manage it, I'd say brooms. If we Floo, Professor Marcellus's grandfather will know we are there right away. With brooms, we can assess the situation without making ourselves known." Galena was secretly thinking of her animagus form. She could sneak around whatever building Valencia was in, in her beagle mix form.

"Brooms it is, then," the headmaster replied. "Have either of you flown before?" he asked the two first years.

Galena looked at Arthur and Geneve. Arthur in particular was looking quite nervous. "You don't have to come, Arthur. You're welcome to stay here, if you'd like."

[FawkesthePhoenix]

"What do you want." Valencia said. It wasn't a question. Valencia knew the one thing Marcellus had always strived for was friendship with the Dark Lord. He wanted to bring Voldemort back. That much was plain, as well as how he planned to do it. Valencia had known that secret for years. But unlike some, who would reveal a secret as long as they got something out of it, Valencia was going to guard this knowledge to the death. She had come across it in one of the books in her grandfather's old house, and she could clearly see in her minds eye the fury on his face when she had burned it. That fury was there now. Amateurly hidden behind a mask of indifference, but there all the same. Occlumency had never been one of VAlencia's ghost grandfather strong suits. And she said so to him now, and Valencia saw the way his face got redder (as red as it could, him being a ghost). Valencia knew she had to keep him angry. It was his one weakness. Marcellus's mind always became to muddled to think when he was angry. An old family trait. Valencia had the problem, too. But she felt no anger towards this ghost. Only smooth indifference, to his actions. He could do nothing without someone to do his dirty work. And his accomplice had already wet himself, by the smell of him. Valencia knew that time was fast running out for her to do something. But that wasn't important. When she rushed, she failed. And she wanted this meeting to fit her terms. She would not be told when to act. That time had ended. Marcellus would not sway her.

[Ms. Elsewhere]

Marcellus let a trace of a smile cross his face. He didn't let it slip, knowing how well his grandaughter could read minds. Yes, he wanted the dark lord to return. And yes there were means to do it. He had set a trap and only needed to wait until the right people acted, then he would have everything - and everyone - to bring back Voldemort.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Oh, no way was he going to be left behind.

"No, can I come? I've always wanted to go to Russia." He hadn't, but he felt it would add a little interest to his explanation.

[FawkesthePhoenix]

Valencia stepped forward.
"Changed, haven't I?" she said quietly. "Not the spineless punchingbag I once was. You've certainly changed. Just as dillusioned, just as ignorant, but different, all the same."
Valencia fingered her wand.Valencia didn't want to admit it, but she was scared. Scared of the spells in that book, whose contents she had carefully memorized in case she ever had to use them against Voldemort, or some other dark wizard. She almost wished she had left that book, so carefully preserved in it's black and silver binding. But at the same time she knew getting involved and destroying it had been the best thing to do. How Valencia wished grandma was here, she could always control Marcellus, like she did before, when Valencia was burning the book. But she wasn't here, only she was. Just her and Marcellus. And the accomplice, of course.

[DucksRMagical]

"Of course, you can come if you'd like," Galena smiled at Arthur. She turned to the headmaster, who was still contemplating the message on the wall. "Can we leave now? I think we'd better. You never know when he might take Valencia somewhere else." Galena was never one to just stand around. She hated the feeling of being helpless. She did not want to hang around the headmaster's office any longer. She wanted to be out finding her friend.

"We'll leave shortly," the headmaster replied and started to pace the room. "It's a long flight to Russia. And I'm assuming neither of you have ever flown before. Maybe it would be best for one of them to fly with each of us. Yes, that ought to work. Now, why don't the two of you get your cloaks, it will be a bit chilly in the air. You, too, Galena. I'll go find a few brooms and we'll meet back here in a few minutes."

Galena nodded her head and turned to leave with the two first years. She was glad that they would be leaving soon. She didn't think she'd even be able to concentrate on her teaching until her friend was found. The sooner they set out the better. Her teaching! Who would take over her class? She had the seventh years in just a few minutes.

"Headmaster!" Galena turned around, "What about classes?"

"Don't worry. I shall inform the students that both you and Valencia are sick and won't be able to teach for a few days. I daresay none of them will be too disappointed by having a bit of free time on their hands," he laughed a little.

"Oh, all right, that works," Galena replied. She waved at the headmaster and walked out of the office.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

The trio went their separate ways, and as Arthur climbed the stairs to his dormitory he felt feelings of excitement and nerves surge through his body. After he retrieved his cloak and left the common room, he made his way back up to the headmaster's office.

I'll be okay, he thought.

[*Riley*]

Liam had barely placed a foot out of the common room before he was bombarded with the news that a teacher had bean kidnapped and now there were 2 students and a teacher in the Headmasters office, this was al to much to cope with, he had a headache which was made worse by a sound so ear piercing that everyone almost had to shout to communicate.

He started to run , he knew where the headmasters office was, but he never had been in there before, he realized that he would need a password, he tried to persuade the gargoyle to let him in if he polished it. The Gargoyle agreed and just before he steeped onto the moving staircase footsteps behind him made him come back to reality, he pulled out his wand ready to fight, even though he doidn't know any useful spells.

[Ms. Elsewhere]

Genve stopped suddenly, dressed in her travelling cloak. She felt a little breathless, and it wasn't from hurrying back to the Headmasters office. Then she remembered. The boy standing in front of her was part veela, and his name was Liam Delacour. She turned her head curiously at him and said, "Hello. My name's Geneve. Um.. what are you doing here?"

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

The gargoyle stepped aside to let him through, and as he rose up the staircase he flew into Liam and they both hit the hard floor. When he looked up, he saw a wand in his face.

[Ms. Elsewhere]

Geneve noticed Liam was holding his wand defensively. She was ascending the staircase when she noticed Liam behind her, or more, sensed him. Then, before Liam could answer her, Authur came bolting up the stairs and knocked Liam over. There was a struggle, which ended with Authur on the ground and Liam with his wand in Authur's face.
"Wait!" Geneve cried. Liam glanced back at Geneve and then down at Authur. "He's supposed to be here! Let him go." Geneve reached down and pulled Authur up. Liam kept his wand ready, studying the two of them. Geneve felt so nervous; she had no idea how to use her wand yet, not that it would have done any good because it was out of reach.