We'll Run Wild 'Til We're Caught

“Pacing will get you absolutely nowhere, Kiddo. You’re just wearing out my carpet.”

Keiran looked up only briefly at his mother before frowning and dropping his gaze back to the floor. Finally, he stopped. Lifting a hand to his chin, he ran his fingers over his lips as he thought. This would either go very well, or very poorly, and he couldn’t tell which. He could hear the footsteps of the first two to have arrived as they made their way around the rooms upstairs. His father’s study had been cleared of excess furniture, leaving the shelves and lamps, the area turned into a sort of dormitory for the boys. The two guest rooms had been turned into rooms for the girls, though he was embarrassed to say that neither of the rooms were particularly impressive. Nothing like the Hogwarts dormitories.

The two Ravenclaws were in the first guest room, situated over their living room. Neither of them were even the ones that the Ministry tried to send away; the younger hated the law because her friends were affected, while the elder had apparently left for her own reasons. Keiran understood Adrienne’s husband better than he did the girl herself, as the boy had been in his House while Keiran was Head of Slytherin. Trisha’s husband, he didn’t know at all. She shouldn’t have had one. The girl was barely sixteen. She shouldn’t have to be pulled into any of this, nonetheless a secret school that could get her into trouble if the Ministry didn’t like it.

“Keiran.”

His head turned again to look at Bridget as she leaned over the back of the couch, resting on her forearms. His hand fell to his side before he finally spoke. “This may not be safe. They probably won’t be safe. They’ll need somewhere to go if something happens.” Pausing briefly, he crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ll ask Jack. Or, just… suggest it.”

“It’ll be fine. You’ve got quite the team behind you.” Bridget assured him, standing up straighter. “Avery is watching the Ministry, you can ask Millie and Elliot to keep an eye out around Diagon Alley. It’ll work out one way or another. If they can’t stay here, you can ask Jack. Or Robin, for Merlin’s sake.”

“Mum-“

“You have to work it out eventually, Keiran. You can’t avoid him forever. And you clearly can’t avoid Avery. What happens when she asks him for help? When you need someone looked into and he’s the man for the job but you won’t ask.”

“I’ll ask Audriana.” He replied immediately. Bridget pursed her lips at Keiran, silencing him.

“Not the point, and you know it.” She said after a moment, clearly chiding him. “Don’t do this while the kids are here. If you want to panic about something, do it while Rivah is here and you can talk to Jack without the possibility of kids walking in while you’re talking about-“ Bridget dropped her voice to a whisper, “-the Ministry barging in here and attacking them.”

“I’m not trying to scare anyone!” He returned, voice as low as his mother’s. “I’m trying to protect them.”

Voices upstairs cut him off, especially when he realized the girls were laughing. Granted, they weren’t the half-breeds he was meant to look out for. But they were also in danger now, but they seemed determined not to think about it. Sighing, Keiran looked towards the front door. “They’ll be here soon, the rest of them. Let’s just figure it out when Jack gets here, yeah?”

“I just said that.” Bridget remarked, turning and heading into the kitchen. She tossed a knowing smile over her shoulder at Keiran as she went, though, showing that she meant no harm. Her son just rolled his eyes and went into the front hallway, heading into the yard to check that the wards were still up. If he and his mother had done them right, only those they expected to show up would be able to. It wasn’t until he had turned his back and walked a few steps that he heard the next person – well, he thought it was just the one – arrive.

Jack had decided to ask Rivah for help after about a day of mulling it over. She knew that she wanted to be involved in the protection and education of those who were out of Hogwarts. It had started with Toby, the young boy who was certain his family did not want anything to do with him. She had housed him, kept him fed, encouraged him to continue with his studies and to reunite with his family. The constraints had been minimal and the effects had been great. Jack had taken to an open door policy for youths. The wards  that held people at bay were not effective on those under seventeen. The others that needed help – the odd of-age student, or werewolves in need of safety – could gather at the gate but approach no further. Jack could provide them safe passage from there.

The need to help had increased tenfold with the new law, but she knew it could not be done by a pair of well-meaning individuals. She had mulled it over long and hard. Max was a no, for he had no particular subjects on which he was best suited, nor was he particularly experienced with halfbreeds. Besides, she needed him at home. Fred was great and all, but she needed someone she knew would take the job seriously. She would rather face oncoming traffic than ask Albus for a favor. She considered Teddy, her old friend from the Ministry, but it had been too long since they had last spoken for her to spring this upon him.

So the decision to invite Rivah along was made. It was a bit odd, as Rivah and Jack had never exactly been friends, but there had been mutual respect. They worked incredibly differently, but they both had the same heart for helping. And Jack still offered her hand in any affairs that might need her expertise. She was, after all, the most experience professional in the country when it came to poltergeists. And, beyond that, she had an insatiable need to be working at all times.

So she had stopped by the Ministry, given Rivah the time and date of the meeting, offered to escort her. And this morning, she had politely stepped out of work early, revealing nothing (not even to Fred) and made her way up to her old department. The blonde was ready and the two women departed, heading for their location with haste. Jack did not want to be late, and she was keenly eager to begin the work that lied ahead of them.

They apparated to the home in question and walked up to the door. As she did, she felt an odd melting feeling in the air around them. The wards were letting them pass. Because Rivah had come with Jack’s blessing, she was allowed through too. Jack reached the door and knocked, excited to begin.

Keiran turned around and caught sight of Jack and the woman he suspected was Rivah Trenton, having only heard about her by name, where they stood on the other side of the front door. The glass design of the door allowed just enough of a visual for him to be prepared for whoever may show up at his door, for which he was surprisingly grateful, now. Now he would be aware, even if it was only moments in advance, if someone wanted to come barging in or if the wards had failed and someone unwelcome had arrived. That, of course, would most certainly not be helpful.

Crossing the front hall, he pulled the door open and gestured in the direction of the living room. “Hey,” he offered, “Come on in.”

Once he had closed the door after them, he made his way into the living room. Bridget had just returned from the kitchen, and she smiled at both girls brightly. Keiran couldn’t help but smile himself; she always had a way of brightening a situation, regardless of the scenario at hand. “Hello,” she offered, extending both hands as though to clasp the one offered to her in return, turning first to Jack. “Bridget Hayes.”

When she turned to Rivah, Keiran nearly rolled his eyes. “Hello. You must be Rivah. I had a feeling you were coming.”

“Mum. Not now.” He grumbled, lifting an eyebrow disbelievingly. Her habit of pointing out things she claimed to have predicted merely irritated him. But she was far too pleased with her being allowed to explain her thoughts now that Keiran knew about her past.

“Honey, don’t pretend I didn’t get her name right.” Bridget shrugged, not expecting him to go along with it. “I’ll get something for you three to eat, yeah?”

“Sure thing.” He agreed, sitting in the arm chair across from the fireplace, leaving the couch open for the two that he assumed knew each other better than he knew either of them. A slight frown crossed his face as the footsteps upstairs sounded again, reminding him of the two students who had already arrived. "Right. Firstly, I'm Keiran Hayes," he offered in Rivah's direction, realizing he had yet to say.

Giving the pair of them a tight smile, he leaned forward and set his elbows atop his knees. “So, I tried to give you an idea, Jack, but basically I want these kids to have a chance to continue their studies. Even if it’s just whatever we think of to teach. I just know they can’t sit around and do nothing. Fear is their worst enemy in this, it seems.”

Neither woman had to wait very longon the doorstep. Soon Keiran was at the door, asking them to come in. Jack glanced to Rivah and then stepped across the threshold into the Hayes household. It was sort of strange, considering she and Keiran had not interacted much, but here they were going to work together on building this school. The connection was made, surely, for Jack's reputation for being an advocate for halfbreed-human relations. She wasn't the only advocate, sure, but she was definitely one of the loudest. And her unconventional methods of bridging the gap were not going to be forgotten soon.

Jack followed Keiran through the house, Rivah following her. They met an older woman who stepped forward, warmth in her expression and her gesture. Jack gave her a willing hand, relenting a little on what would usually be a finger crushing handshake, clasping her hand over the woman's. "Bridget," Jack said, making sure she had the right name as she committed it to memory. Jack was sure the woman knew her name, but it was better safe than sorry. "Jack Dyllan."

She stepped aside, prepared to introduce Rivah when Bridget did the introducing for her. Jack raised an eyebrow, the corner of her mouth quirking with amused surprise, glancing to Rivah to see if the blonde woman had any explanation. Keiran muttered something and Jack's mouth upturned in whole to take on the full form of a smile. She was smiling already - this was a good sign. An unexpected one too. Maybe this would be more fun than it would be stressful.

Proably not, but the fun would help.

Bridget suggested she fix them some food and Jack nodded after her, "Thank you." She sat and looked to Keiran, smirking a bit. "I like her," was all she said. She vaguely wondered what sort of response that would illicit.

But back to business. Keiran introduced himself to Rivah and began on his quick explanation of the school. She nodded, the smile leaving her face as she turned to more serious matters. It never lasted long anyway, as it was. "Right. I think the first priority is keeping them safe - who knows what the Ministry plans to do with them if they're not in school. It sure makes them easy pickings for people like James Blood and Felix Barker." There was a certain edge in her voice when she spoke Barker's name. Not many knew he was back. They would soon. And she certainly had no plans to keep it a secret.

"Secondly is to make sure they aren't completely sabotaged as far as their training," Jack said. "Give them what they need to pass their exams and to be as strong as anyone else their own age so that, when they leave here, they can fend for themselves." From their prior planning, she was sure this was much along the lines of what Keiran was thinking as well.

Rivah couldn't help but crack a smile as Bridget addressed her. She gave a small nod of greeting but said little else. She hadn't known what to expect, when Jack Dyllan had first approached her. They spoken amicably enough, but they certainly weren't close. However, upon listening to the redhead for a few short minutes, everything had made sense.

Really, the blonde was the obvious person to come to. She was passionate about the rights of magical being and creatures, and well as having the money and brains to help ensure that a project like this was successful.

"Rivah Trenton," the woman introduced herself to the Hayes male, voice soft. From a politically-minded standpoint, this would be very interesting. Kieran, Jack, and Rivah all had personalities that seemed to be designed for leadership positions. If at any point they disagreed on something, things likely wouldn't end well. However, from a personal standpoint, all three of them were after the same thing, and there was little they would not do to ensure that this worked out.

"Agreed, safety is important. Blood would love to get their hands on these kids more than anything. As far as the Ministry goes, I don't think they have any plans for them as long as they stay out of trouble. This, however, they'd be more than happy to shut down if they found out. I'll keep an ear out, if they do decide to go after the kids, it'll probably be at least partially through my department," Rivah informed then, tucking an escaped strand of hair behind her ear.

"As far as training, I'd be more than happy to help out. I can teach whatever is needed, just not more than three or four subjects, I have some pretty long hours in the office. And we needs funds for books or anything, I'd be more happy to help out with that," Rivah continued, before blinking rapidly a few times, and growing silent.

Shaking his head after his mother, Keiran merely smirked at Jack in return, wanting to make some big comment about how well they got on and the like. But that had not been entirely true for some time. They were getting better, though, honestly. He had accepted his background, but he needed to learn again how to feel normal.

Keiran nodded in return for the comments of both women about the safety of the students. “Absolutely. I was meaning to ask you, Jack: If something happens, is there room at yours? Avery has heard – and, clearly, mentioned to me – that it’s not unusual for you to house those who, like the kids we expect here, need some place to go. If this house is compromised or something happens, can we count on yours as a backup? Or should I tell Robin to get ready in case?”

As much as he loathed the idea of even asking Robin for help, he would do it for this project. For these students who had no other option but to trust him and those involved in the school they were trying to create.

“As for keeping an eye on things at the Ministry, Avery and Max agreed to do lunch a couple times a week and try and work out some system, so they can try and get word from around the Ministry, even if something isn’t coming specifically from your department.” Keiran directed his words at Rivah, hoping that the added help would take off some of the pressure of teaching as well as running a department.

“Well, I’m good to teach Transfiguration, since I have the experience,” Keiran mumbled darkly, rolling his eyes to the ceiling as he spoke. “I can also work on Potions until we find someone who we can trust. I mean, mum and Millie are kinda set on Divination, but I hardly think we need that. So if the kids want it, whatever.” Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his arms over his chest, as if it would further show his distaste for the subject. With two members of his family being rather enamored with it, though, it was hard to ignore. “Avery or Robin or something can take on whatever subjects you two don’t really want to do or don’t have time to do. We’ll make it work.”

Jack knew she should not be pleased at the prospect of needing to move the students to her house. It was a dutiful task, not one she should look forward to, but once she should accept with solemn grace. Her house was small, after all, even if she tended to overlook that. And she already had a full house. And yet, be it Jack’s tendency to retain very few friends or acquaintances, and her own rotten luck with her blood family, the redheaded recluse loved to take people into her home. For someone who hated cooking and cleaning, she loved being a host. And the idea of taking in a pack of teen werewolves and vampires was not at all discomforting.

Keiran mentioned a Robin and that’s when Jack stopped with this fake hesitation. “Ivanov?” she scoffed, her expression taking on the similar configuration of someone looking upon a squashed beetle. “No, no, there’s no need for that. We can take them in at any time. I’ll make it so my wards allow you adults to cross the property line. So long as they are with you, they can get in.” Jack realized that the amount of people who could get through her wards was growing. It could be dangerous if she were ever to be betrayed. She’d have to look into more complicated ones soon.

Jack nodded along during Ministry discussion. She did not mention her own position in the Ministry, as it was supposed to be fairly confidential, but she knew she would be using her resources to keep an eye on potential eyes on the school. Her own work in Internal Affairs seemed almost perfectly suited for such work. She would add it to her duties of watching for more strange legislature and her monitoring of the Blood werewolf pack – two major factors which influenced the work they were doing anyway. Fate seemed to be approving this plan.

They were talking about practical skills now. “I mean, I’m probably best qualified for Care of Magical Creatures and Divination. I wasn’t horribly shabby at any other subjects, bar History of Magic. I could also help with Apparition, if there’s any demand, I suppose. The good thing with having a small pool of teachers who are good at what they do is we can cover each other. Rivah could cover one of my classes and vice versa if it comes down to that.” She paused. “I’d also really like to teach some survival basics. We don’t know how long this treatment of these kids is going to last, or if it’s going to get worse. Say the school and my house are found out and they have the choice of taking to the streets until we can find them or Azkaban. If they make the former choice, I’d like to know they’ll survive.”