Helping The Half-Breeds

Pacing had quite recently become something that Keiran found himself doing every day, the worry of the meeting getting to him. Regardless of Melissa's assurances that everything would work out all right, there was always the possibility of someone alerting the Ministry or not showing up when they needed them. The danger was quite real, even if it didn't seem like it at a first glance. For all Keiran knew, he could get in massive amounts of trouble. That wouldn't help anyone - and certainly would hurt Millie.

The door opened, Bridget walking in from the backyard and looking around as if she expected everyone to have arrived already. In a few minutes, the house would start filling as, in theory, those who wanted to help with his plan started arriving. His mother, in her typical mothering way, had made food and everything - partially for Keiran, Millie and Elliot, but mostly for everyone else. He supposed she wanted them to like her or to be more inclined to help him.

The fireplace lit up as the flames burst into life, a blonde stepping through followed by a dark-haired man. Well, that didn't quite surprise him; the Ivanovs were the first he thought would want to join him, and apparently he was right. Although things were still rough with them, from what he could tell they were getting along fairly well. At least they had arrived at once, suggesting that nothing drastic had happened like Avery moving out.

"Hey," she greeted gently, offering a one-armed hug before drifting back to Robin's side. Keiran nearly smiled at the action, greeting them both with a nod in return. Yes, things had to be going fairly well for her to feel a need to be near him. Something told him that he didn't know the whole story, but it was hardly the time to ask and find out.

Just as Keiran was going to suggest they head into the kitchen, the fireplace lit again and a short-haired brunette walked in, glancing about before her eyes landed on Keiran. Frowning, she turned back to the fireplace and waited until the flames came to life again and her husband walked through.

"Audriana?" He asked, eyebrow raised. Her hair was far shorter than last time he had seen her, but a smirk lit his face as he realized she was wearing a ring and the man who had walked in with her was none other than the Gryffindor she had asked him to help annoy. "Gavin," Keiran added in a drawl, his version of a greeting.

"Keiran. Not the time." Aud snapped, sending him a frustrated look. He held his hands up in mock surrender before turning to lead them into the kitchen. "Who all did you send a letter to, Hayes?"

"You'd be surprised," he replied over his shoulder. "The list is massively long. You two, the Ivanovs here, the other Ivanovs, McLaggens, Baldric Wood, a couple others Millie suggested. Max Morrison and Jack Dyllan." He ran through the list in his mind, "Ah, the Rookwoods, Krum, Amelia Cooper." He shrugged. There were others but he couldn't remember. A couple of students who had dropped out of Hogwarts after the law were on the list but he couldn't recall their names now. "Some others. We'll just have to see who shows up.."

Avery passed Keiran a nervous look, knowing full well that he was worried about someone from the Ministry showing up and ruining everything. If this went wrong, they couldn't even guess what the damage would be.

(ooc: Hallie has her prosthetic now but considering it's set a week after new year she doesn't).

The wound was healing, almost completely healed in fact. For the first two days of her recovery Hallie hadn't cared, she'd been a real pain for her Mother and with Theodore gone she had nobody to take her anger out on besides Amelia and Toby, meaning it was Amelia who got the full blast of it - Toby got the leftover remarks that Hallie had forgotten to say. Although when her Mother had returned to Hogwarts to resume her post as charms professor Hallie realised if she wanted to get back to work then there was nothing else that she could do but do it herself.

Toby tried to help the best her could but Halli shrugged him away, she didn't want to be weak needing help she was a strong woman. A strong woman without a leg and a husband round about now. All she needed now was to have children and have them go missing then she'd top her Mothers record of tragedy.

Upon receiving her letter Hallie was torn. She had no leg, no prosthetic just yet just a lame pair of crutches, how on earth would she contribute to the meeting. Getting there was possible, but after that any physical actions she needed to take then Hallie would be of no use. However the sooner Toby got back to school the better. No doubt James Blood's pack would track him down and try and get him to join them soon enough. She wasn't going to lose her brother again and this persecution against the half breeds wasn't good. Hallie knew the law was for the safety of Hogwarts students but Toby needed an education, he needed to socialise with people his own age, he needed to go through the heartbreak and the happiness people went through at Hogwarts. As a result, Hallie's decision was decided, she'd go to the meeting.

Feigning tiredness Hallie had managed to get upstairs , headed to her Mothers room (where she had been sleeping since Amelia left) and bolted the door. If Toby came knocking she'd be asleep, or at least that is what he would guess. It was a good think she'd been staying in her Mothers room - initially for the en suite bathroom, but being the only bedroom with a fireplace it proved to be having extra perks.

Making sure her leg was fully bandaged so no ash got into her almost fully healed wound Hallie swung herself to the fireplace, Propped her crutches inside the grate, grabbed a handful of floo powder then, after claiming her crutches again, dropped the floor powder and headed to the discrete location.

It had been horrible. Floo travel wasn't exactly pleasing when you have a leg but carrying crutches too made her feel more tight and constricted her body squeezed into what felt like a plughole before coming to an end on the floor of the house where Keiran had sent the letter.

Hallie didn't know Keiran, she'd seen him at Hogwarts when she had married Theodore but never really engaged in conversation with him. Hopefully there must be others who she knew at the meeting, how else would she have gotten an invite? Then again her past antics weren't exactly secret. She'd defended Hogwarts when Bloods pack had arrived on the grounds, battled at the shrieking shack, twice, the second time captured Charlotte Topez.

Groaning Hallie managed to, somehow, pick herself up from the floor with her crutches. After two weeks of having them and being independent about her recovery it was only natural she'd worked her way around them. Not bothering to dust the ash from her dress (which she'd worn so people wouldn't see her scar) Hallie noticed the occupants. Not many she recognised by name, simply by face, although one lady - Audriana - Hallie knew of. It was a shame the lady had never managed to find her Fathers watch.

'Hi.' She introduced, 'I'm Hallie.'

Rivah stepped out of the fireplace with an air of importance about her. She had been surprised, upon first receiving a letter from Keiran Hayes. But then the witch had read it, and things clicked swiftly into place. Clearing her schedule without a thought, Rivah determined that nothing would be able to keep her away.

It was literally her job to ensure that all the non-humans of magical Britain were safe, cared for, and given the rights they deserved. While the blonde had been frankly rather appalled upon hearing that all half-breeds would be removed from Hogwarts, the woman knew that there had to be a reason for it. After all, Katrina-Carlotta was Headmistress of Hogwarts now, and the woman would hardly do something like that for no reason. Rivah knew that the assassin had no problem with non-humans, and therefore accepted that the decree was more than a case of simple prejudice.

The letter that she had receive had spoken of creating a safe house for half-breeds, a place where they would hopefully be able to get an education. Rivah was more than glad to help with that component of the situation. Rivah had been a Ravenclaw in during her Hogwarts years, and was extraordinarily well-rounded when it came to school subjects. The woman also had a decent amount of experience with teaching, having a hand in training every single employee who walked through the doors of her Department.

There was also the added bonus of having spent a great deal of time around half-breeds in the past. Rivah would even be more than willing to help fund the operation. Her only worry was that some of the teenagers would resent her, being a part of the Ministry that had pulled them from their school and home in the first place. Hopefully, this wouldn't be a problem.

Spotting Mr. Hayes, the blonde strode toward him, nodding slightly in greeting to the few other faces that she recognized. "Good afternoon Mr Hayes, Rivah Trenton, I don't think we've ever officially met," the witch introduced, sticking out a hand for the wizard to shake. The two magic practitioners had been in the same year at Hogwarts, but never really interacted. They'd been in different houses, for a start, and Rivah had been far from social in her youth.

It was to the Hayes household that Theodore Rookwood had to pack off his friends. The morning had started off as brightly as it could have given the circumstances that the unemployed wizard had found himself in. He had not expected himself to turn up so pitifully on the doorstep of his friend’s house, bitter after one argument too many. Athena had taken him in but for no longer than a night: four Rookwoods and one former one in the house of a Potter was bad enough without another full-blooded Rookwood joining the fray. Resultantly, Theodore found himself on the couch of Cael Ivanov. The Healer kept him warm, well-fed and content enough but the shame was finally beginning to be set in and while he was tranquil amongst his friends, Theodore knew he had to find some activity lest he make his own.

When the letter came, it was a God send. At once, they all gathered and set off for the Hay Bale location that had been given in writing, the dying embers of their letters crinkled and blackened in the hearth, left behind in the green fire of their wake. The friends appeared, one Theodore, Cael, Athena and Elijah, in the fireplace of the Hayes household. As they stepped out one by one onto the carpet and brushed the soot from their clothes, they found a warm home that was a world away from the cold manor houses they had all grown up in and, despite the way they had been reared, they all seemed to find the homeliness of the estate more palatable than all of the art and oriental carpets in the world.

“Good morning,”

The blonde woman who Theodore, with a grim, heavy heart, had watched marry the year before rose from one of the arm chairs having sat her book down on the end table. Elijah was the first to greet her, sweeping her up in a tight embrace, pressing a kiss to each cheek as he uttered compliments to her. Theodore couldn’t help but roll his eyes but smiled nonetheless when, after being passed from each set of arms, he finally received the little blonde firecracker that he could well imagine as the driving force behind what was, at best, a terrible idea. An ex-Minister, an ex-Headmaster, a few old inmates of Azkaban and countless others with suspect pasts and you had teachers; people who offered protection to those in need.

The feel of the little woman in Theodore’s arms reminded him absently of his siblings and for a moment he winced but popped a good-humoured kiss upon Melissa’s forehead regardless. Theodore took a moment to smooth back a few tendrils of mousy blonde hair before nodding approvingly at his old charge, finding happiness in her and a suited temper to married life, even if he had been a voice that purported the necessity of saving her from it. That off-kilter behaviour seemed to have settled and she was calm and steady. He saw no more need in her to act rashly out of fear of rejection. There, she seemed to be well loved.

“You look well,” Theodore complimented gently, sliding his hands down Melissa’s arms to take her smaller ones into his palms. “Very well, indeed. Where can we find our leader, then? I trust he is harbouring an unnecessary amount of anxiety about this endeavour?”

Elijah snorted, receiving a smack around the back of the head from both Cael and Athena, the yelp resounding afterwards. Millie laughed brightly and smiled gently at Theodore, squeezing his hands before gesturing for them to follow her. The four did so dutifully and soon enough they joined the small fray that had gathered further into the house. Theodore spotted the man in question who he suspected to be coveting the aforementioned concern and Theodore took solace in the fact that Elijah had already made provisions for putting that at rest, regardless of whether anyone else was aware of that or not.

“Good-”

Millie and Athena looked up immediately as Theodore broke off, having been listening to a little bit of artistic intrigue courtesy of Elijah. Millie paled, biting her tongue, wishing she had chosen to warn Theodore. Cael skipped over, tossing an arm around Millie’s waist, inquiring airily after the painting mounted in the hallway and thus she was swung out of the room, Athena and Elijah hot on their heels as they heard the inevitable blow up behind them: Theodore’s temper.

“HALLIE CAROLINE ROOKWOOD! ARE YOU BEREFT OF SENSE?”

The retreating foursome froze and comically swivelled around on the balls of their feet to see their red-faced friend storm up to his wife. A smirk broke out on Athena’s façade and Elijah openly laughed, both internally commending the woman for being as hardy and rebellious as she was. One leg down and with a husband like that, none of them would have even considered getting out of bed, let alone actually doing it. Yet, there Hallie Rookwood stood without a scrap of visible concern on her features as though she had been an expert Pureblood socialite all her life, a natural concealer of all open emotions on the face.

Despite themselves, Elijah and Athena were waiting for the thwack of the back of Theodore’s hand against Hallie’s face and when it didn’t come, they opened their eyes to find him stood before Hallie, his chest heaving. For a moment, they both felt a twinge of disappointment in themselves for thinking the worst of their friend but it was to be expected when the wives of Pureblood men disobeyed their husbands. Elijah had watched it happen to his mother. Athena had lived in fear of it. They had both seen it happen, feared it happening again. To assume Theodore was the same was to be treacherous to their friend, yet they were unable to help themselves.

Hit her, Theodore did not but he did seize her immediately in his arms, his mouth covering her own. One arm had hold of Hallie’s waist while the other hand danced up around her jawline, sliding round to the nape of her neck.

Had it been anyone else, there would have been an abject feeling of embarrassment that followed but Theodore Rookwood did not care for such feelings – rather, he revelled in the awkwardness that lit up around the rest of the room. He had gone long enough without his wife. No longer, he would demand of her later. He would have her for his own and never, ever would she do anything without him by her side again – so long as she wanted him.

Someone had said her name, or shouted would have been a better way to describe the call. The voice was somewhat soothing, comforting in the alien environment the blonde found herself. It was a voice she'd missed but enjoyed not to hear at the same time, a voice she hated but didn't want to leave. 

Her eyes watched as Theodore marched across the room. Oh God, not again. She knew what he was going to do, shout at her for being out, rage for her ignoring him, demand she stay locked in a tower for the rest of her life until her hair has grown long enough for he to escape and-

It was heaven brought on by astonishment as Hallie felt Theodore's lips close around hers and take her breath away. To be held how he was holding her took her back to before Henry Yewbeam had taken her hostage,  it was beautiful. Refreshing. Wait. No. No! She couldn't accept his apologetic kiss.

Pushing away from him, fighting the urge to smile Hallie ignored his words and- WHACK. The Auror had swung her crutch and slammed her husband harshly in the knee. 

'Where have you been?' Hallie cried, although she didn't give her husband time to reply as, per usual, Hallie's emotions fell from her lips full speed. 'When I asked you to leave I didn't mean forever. I was mad, enraged that you cut off my leg, which you haven't even apologised for!'

WHACK. Another swing into the knee.

'You lazy, arrogant, pure blood supremacist! You show up here, acting like some hero swooping me into your arms and have the cheek to kiss me and-' Hallie had wanted to say and make me feel the way I did before I lost my leg. but she couldn't. That was a compliment and right now despite the fact she was glad to see her was well Hallie was angry. 

Not finishing her sentence Hallie swung herself and headed towards where the others were. 'Come on, we've got a meeting to attend to!' She ordered not looking back at Theodore.  

The next person to come out of the fire was Amelia Cooper. She'd had a hard time convincing herself to attend. At first she had wanted to go, after all her son was a werewolf and had been exiled from Hogwarts. Although at the same time it was risky, leaving the school unannounced and meeting secret to the ministry and her boss. What if a Ravenclaw needed her now? Or something awful happened at Hogwarts and she wasn't on hand to help? Eventually Amelia had plucked up the courage to head out of the gates. It hadn't been easy, the new Divinations professor, Mary Mist, had stopped her for a long conversation and even wanted to come along to 'the three broomsticks' where Amelia had said she was going. It really had been difficult to lose her, no doubt she was now crying in the three broomsticks with a drink for the pair of them unable to spot Amelia. The professor had slipped into the toilet, out of the window and headed to the hogs head. She'd apologise tomorrow, say she had a bad shrimp in her soup earlier and so the head of house had been sick in the toilets. Hopefully Mary would believe that, even if she did it would still make her upset. Everything that happened in the world made Mary cry, Amelia was starting to think she was a bit cuckoo. Then again, she did teach Divinations. 

'Theodore?' Amelia asked in confusion as he was the worst person she saw. However her eyes soon caught the sight of a familiar blonde head moving away from her. 

'Hallie?' No answer.

'Hallie Caroline-'

'Oh for Gods sake can people not full name me.' She moaned, turning herself around to see her Mother - who didn't look pleased at the back chat. Even though Hallie was an adult, had gone through hell and back in her life Amelia had grew sick of Hallie's angst and bitterness recently. 'Sorry.' The daughter said.

'What are you doing here? Why are you out of the house? You should be resting! Is Toby okay? And.' Her gaze turned to Theodore. 'Are you two talking again?' The last question wasn't entirely her business and Amelia had never liked to intrude on her daughters private life but with Hallie ignoring her owls Amelia had been anxious and worried, curious and had been debating a million different scenarios surrounding her daughter each night.

'I'm her for the meeting. I'm fine. My leg's fine. Toby's fine and me and Theodore aren't, well, I don't know.' She replied a little flustered before once again turning around and heading off towards the main crowd.

'Theodore?' Amelia pressed, her face leant slightly forward as the professor peered at her son-in-law wanting answers about how he'd been and if he'd been speaking with Hallie.

Married life was almost exactly like non-married life. Beyond their new physicality, Sonia and Baird's relationship remained the same and the young couple had yet to feel any of the pressures that matrimony was said to bring. The Ministry had provided the pair with a new room in the Couples Quarters which they had jumped at, moving their stuff into the bigger space. It wasn't exactly a two-bedroom cottage in the English countryside but it would have to do. Since the passing on the new Half-Breed regulations Hogwarts had become amazing boring for the newly married Ivanovs.

Charlie had left for Layabout Lane the day after the decree had been posted. She sent letters to keep connected but seemed more than pleased to stay working in the family greenhouses that had been opened for Christmas. Grace had taken a bit longer to leave but she and Tibby had disappeared on the same say. Nothing had been heard from them besides a single postcard from Rio signed by both girls. Nate was back home and unhurt; he had been much better about writing than the others. The only person from her dorm that had left so far was Nessa, though her departure hadn't really sunk in yet since Sonia hadn't slept in the dungeons for awhile now.

Sonia and Baird had received a letter about the half breeds from Professor Hayes and they had agreed to skip their afternoon classes to attend the meeting. In what was possibly an effort to be romantic their new room had its own fireplace which not only provided ambiance but connection to the floo network.  The brunette stepped into the emerald fire and moments later appeared in the high ceilinged living room of Krum Manor. Sonia brushed herself off as she moved into the already busy room, wanting to get out of her soon-to-be-arriving husbands line of fire.

The Slytherin glanced around and couldn't help but note that she was the youngest person there. The adults were mixing and mingling, some in worried undertones and others quite excitably. The blonde closest to her (that she recognized as the wife of Theodore Rookwood) had quite the unhappy expression on, indeed.

Not one to wait for her man, Sonia traveled deeper into the room until she spotted delightfully familiar faces. "Robbie!" Sonia reached her cousin and gave him a smile that was almost a bit too cheery for the situation. She knew this was a serious meeting and as the child of the group she should have cared a bit more about looking intelligent and mature but between her pants and her husband there was very little chance of that. "Hey Avery." she greeted with the same grin. There hadn't been very much time to get to know the newest Ivanov but from what she had seen at the wedding Avery had seemed cool enough.

Sonia turned back to Robin. "Your brother is mad you skipped Christmas." she informed him blandly. "I heard all about it at the Anderson dinner. A solid five minutes of conversation dedicated to how you are, and I quote," Sonia made air quotes, "forgetting your duty to the family. It's all rubbish, of course. You're allowed to woo your bride on your first Christmas together."  Sonia failed to notice Robin's hand slip around Avery's waist to hold her just a bit closer and tighter. The gesture held a little bit if an apology for what had really happened combined with the desire to go back and do their first Christmas right. Things were better between the couple now but Robin was terrified to let her out of his sight. Emotionally and physically, she seemed much more fragile now.

"Anyway, how was your New Years?" Sonia asked, only half paying attention as she scanned the room and observed the dramatic scene that was playing out among the Rookwoods.

Keiran looked up at the entrance of an array of blondes and new people, unsure exactly what was happening. Bridget was eyeing everyone warily regardless of her typical hostess personality. Rivah introduced herself, and he was about to greet her in return when Rookwood and a few others walked in with Millie. Almost instantly, shouting ensued and Keiran’s eyes flew to Melissa. He hadn’t been sure exactly who to invite to this, but just then it wasn’t looking like they had chosen properly.

Avery had turned towards Robin in surprise, hand resting on his chest as he stood beside her. As the yelling slowed, Keiran looked around and took in the crazy that he had just invited into his house. Audriana was looking almost disdainful of the apparently down-on-their-luck couple and the blonde’s mother. In the eyes of someone who knew her, though, he understood that Audriana was more concerned than annoyed. She had never been the best at showing her emotions plainly.

A brunette appeared around the corner, tugging someone along with her. “Adrienne,” he greeted lightly, passing her a smile. Although he wasn’t exactly a professor anymore – though that was subject to change – any sort of greeting aside from a verbal one seemed wrong.

“Mr. Hayes,” she replied, a tight smile forced onto her face as she wrapped an arm around one of Kaiden’s. “This is my… fiancé-“ the word made her give him a shy smile, “-Kaiden, and we want to help.”

Keiran was slightly concerned about her forced pleasantries, but then, the girl had never been particularly talkative. Adrienne continued on, easily talking with her favorite professor and hoping Kaiden wouldn’t mind too much. He probably had gathered her status as Professor Hayes’s teacher’s pet. Most people who had Transfiguration with her through the years had caught on.

A dark-haired girl approached Avery and Robin, and though the blonde didn’t immediately recall her face, when she started speaking Avery remembered her role as Robin’s relative. Everything seemed normal at first, as Avery knew they had been asked to visit for Christmas. But when even the word Christmas came up, she had to blink several times to keep from frowning or turning away. Robin’s hand snaked across her back as the girl’s words, just as she turned her head slightly to glance at him out of the corner of her eye.

He looked about as uncomfortable as she felt. Avery’s palms were splayed out over her middle, resting as casually as she could manage, but as Sonia asked about New Year’s she inhaled sharply. Avery couldn’t even imagine what she would have done if the roles had been reversed and she had been called to the hospital about him. Especially considering what she asked Audriana to say for her. Avery says she’s sorry.

Her left hand slid to the right to cover Robin’s right hand where it held her to him. The other remained against her stomach, noting that she hadn’t spoken to anyone in this room in a week except for the Blackmoors and Robin. And he was still trying to convince her that it wasn’t her fault that Gavin had been hurt. Avery’s eyes shifted to Audriana and her husband without her meaning to, clearing her throat before turning back to Sonia.

“It was busy.” She offered vaguely and quietly, voice a bit higher than usual – though she knew the brunette would never know to catch that. She curled herself into his chest, attempting to play it off like he had spun her into him. She’d sooner have the girl think it had gone impressively well than think there were troubles – though it was clearly a fact.

Avery’s fingers danced over the back of his hand before twining them between his own. Leaning closer, she let her chin hover over his shoulder so she could whisper without being overheard. “We can’t tell Keiran yet. Not during this. He wouldn’t be ready for it.” She pulled back to look at him, trying to gauge his reaction. She just hoped he didn’t think she was trying to keep secrets from their friend. Avery just knew that today was not the best time.

The life he had chosen when he decided to follow Addie and leave Hogwarts was anything but pleasant in the eyes of his father and step-mother, and he was sure of that. He knew it must have been extremely difficult to accept that their oldest child, and only son, had abandoned the school and them without more than one vague letter he had written them. His father must have been furious, especially since he had not told them where he was going nor when he might return.

He doubted the anger or sadness lasted long though. Kaiden had never had much of a relationship with his father, or 'mother'. The only person he had a closer relationship with was his sister and he had decided to leave her in the dark as well. He didn't want her to worry about him, he also didn't want her telling their parents where he was. His father must not have been happy to learn that he was leaving the castle to follow Addie though - that was all he had allowed his family to know, that he left with the Ravenclaw.

Milan did not approve of the love he felt for her, and he didn't understand how Kaiden could even say he loved her, she was a halfblood after all. But he had changed since he met her. In fact, a few months before he met her, if the decree had been passed he wouldn't have cared at all. He would have been happy all the half-breeds were being forced to leave. But since he met Addie, he had become a different person and he cared - a lot. He didn't want to be in a school that turned any student away because of what they were.

The seventeen year old entered the room, following his fiancé who began speaking to the man who organized this whole meeting, their professor as he still considered the man even though he technically wasn't one anymore. "Hello." he greeted when Addie mentioned who he was and he smiled lightly at him. He admitted he felt awkward with all these people around, but then again everything was awkward to him right now.

"Hello..?" A voice that came from behind them made Kaiden jump slightly as he turned around to see who it was. A red-haired girl stood there, she must have just arrived. Kaiden's eyes looked her over as she seemed familiar. He couldn't remember where he knew her from, but he thought it had to be from Hogwarts. She seemed a few year older, but maybe she had been there when he had been a first year. The girl looked at him and Kaiden dropped his gaze.

Rose Weasley wasn't going to stand by and let Hogwarts turn into something that no wanted. She loved the school and she wasn't going to allow it to become a place where only certain people would be allowed to feel safe while others were abandoned. When she received the letter, it was like a weight had been lifted off of her. She had to attend this meeting, this person was going to help the Half-breeds along with others and she wanted to be a part of it. She needed to be a part of it.

After reading the letter, she burned it as it had instructed and she waited for the day of the meeting anxiously. When it was time, she set off for the 'Hay Bale' location and there she was.

She wasn't sure she knew anyone there, maybe she did though. Vaguely. Rose stepped into the room, offering a timid smile to everyone in there. The girl wasn't sure how she was supposed to act with them, but she sensed that there was a bit of tension between some of them. The girl glanced around and sighed softly. She hoped something good would come out of this meeting.

((This is New Year’s right? Just a head’s up, then, this is before Jaxximus got married.))

Jack did not know who all was invited to this meeting, so she was infinitely glad that Max was coming. Jack would be a liar if she did not expect every meeting like this to be some sort of set up to take her down. She would be stupid not to suspect a death plot or two. She was, after all, leading the Order of the Phoenix, a popular Quidditch star, and a Ministry Unspeakable. On top of that, she had plenty of enemies – lots of people had come to justice when she had worked in the very department of which there would surely be discussion tonight.

Another part of her was sort of pleased that Max was coming along because he was yet to see her really in action. In her home seemed to be where she was least courageous, because it was her time off. He had seen her show up home covered in blood, or covered in bruises and scratches, but he had also seen her flee a Boggart that had caught her in an off day, seen her jump when a snake in the garden caught her by surprise, heard her struggle during her nightmares. He had yet to see her in her element – fighting for what was right. She was a bit pleased to be sharing this with him.

They apparated to the home in question, Jack having made sure to down a cure for a hangover as she had enjoyed the festivities the night before with Gabby and Max after they had put Sunny down for the night. They strolled up the path and it was then that Jack released her grip on Max. She glanced up at him, her hand twitching to the wand at her side. She had told Max of her concern and he had assured her that there would be no attempt on her life. No successful one, anyway, with him there. Oddly, it had instilled some peace in her.

She entered to find the party already in full swing it seemed. There were faces she recognized for sure. Ugh, Robin Ivanov – and on his arm was a woman who bore a resemblance to Blondeship, too. They would surely be fun. She recognized the Poliakoff kid for some reason. And she was certain there would be more faces she knew much better – the same people typically showed up for these revolution type meetings. Huh. That was an unsettling thought, actually.

She entered and looked about, feeling very… old. Yes, a lot of the people around her were her age or even older, but she also knew she was one of the most know just how screwed up their state was in. She had been saying it for a long time, and she had very little belief that this would be the time when people actually committed. But she always had a shred of hope that kept herself human.

She inclined her head by means of introduction.