Disclaimer: I own nothing. This is a happy bubble of imagination. One of my reviewers said that this story should have more reviews than it does, I would personally like to say thank you. Oh, and Lord Anderson's daughter Elizabeth, is going to be called Helena for future reference. Kay?
Chapter 10
He plays us well. Using his internal access to the castle to subtly spread panic, and convince the students that with muggles so close to the castle they could be taken and dragged to a pyre, burnt to death and forever lost to us. It only hurt us that he was right, because it meant that panic was easier to induce.
"He's doing it on purpose," Ric growled pacing back and forth, unnaturally agitated and simmering with rage. "I however, cannot see his end plan, though I do know it will not end well for us," he continued.
"Godric," Hel said sharply, "Calm yourself. We need to focus, I assume that I was not the only one with students coming and sharing their fears of a horrible demise?"
"Nay," I sighed, "The students have halved into one of two minds. One, petrified out of their wits and others are arrogant thinking that no muggle possesses the power to do that to one whom possesses magic." The latter where even more concerning than the former, for though scared at least the former showed some sense of self-preservation and reason.
"We need a way to fix this," Row muttered before speaking up, "How do we convince the children that their fears are groundless?"
"Especially when they are not," Sal said with a frown. I had not realised exactly how privileged I had been to grow up in a time where magic was naught more than a fairy tale that muggles told to their children before they went to sleep. That Hogwarts was the safest place in all of Britain and there was a memory spell to make it all go away.
"I know that, but we must not allow their fears to get the better of them," Row said sedately, "For muggles are not the only ones to do terrible things when frightened and lashing out. This must be prevented."
"Preferably with Lord Anderson's expulsion from the castle," I added, feeling a spark of actual hatred towards the uncouth and vile man. He reminded me far too much of a Malfoy. Only more intelligent.
"I think that is something that all present wish in favour for," Ric said irritated before turning to Sal, "Now would be the time for one of you truly devious plots."
"Is that permission," Sal purred, slinking up to wrap himself around Ric.
"Yes, you said do anything," he replied leaving me befuddled. Sal however drew back sharply and his eyes flickered involuntarily to me, making me even more curious.
"Then I shall figure out something low key," he muttered, "Perhaps if we were to prove to the students how little we believe there is danger."
"But there is a great deal of danger," I argued.
"Yes, but it is merely a bluff," he said waving his hand, "I can go to the village regularly, perhaps with accompaniment to really prove the point, but that would not do it on his own."
"They might believe it if they could go and be reassured that they are just people," I said trying to tease out an answer in my head, "But it is far, far too dangerous to allow that."
"That there is," Row said firmly, "That would be a gross amount of negligence on our behalf, that mayhap get us punished by the oaths we took to protect each and every student deserving of such care." I had added the last part to the oath because realistically, Voldemort had been a student and so would a great deal of others that would go on to hurt and harm others. Be they muggle or magical in nature.
"What we need is solid proof," Hel said slowly, "Something that isn't a student that we find precious enough that they would never even consider that we would endanger… but what?" A baby cry echoed through the room and we all froze.
"NO!" the word was said in various tones and volumes but the level of vehement refusal stood clearly as we all uttered the word at once. Tension drained visibly from not just me, but my companions as well. None of us were willing to go there and the fact that we all agreed with such instant resounding negative was reassuring.
"I am glad we all agree," Ric said softly.
"Should anything happen to her… one of us would do Lord Andersons job for him," Row added to our strong verbal agreements. They would die if they laid a finger on a hair on her head, all of them.
For weeks we moved on to visit the village, Sal and myself acting as if we were the lady and lord of the castle. The less oddities that were presented, the less chance that someone would come and attempt an investigation. They treated us well and we came to know them, on a completely side note they had been thinking about coming and sneaking into the mysterious castle to see what exactly went on there. I love hitting two birds with one stone.
"But now that we've met you we don have'ta worry bout things like that," Sarah said while she fixed her youngest daughters hair, "You be not doing any of that devils worship, no sir. It's so nice to meet god fairin' folk an avin' them as neighbours." Needless to say Sal hated the general level of speech and had taken to educating the children about, teaching them proper language.
It did not work immediately, but it did put a kink in Lord Andersons plans. That of course was something that I definitely approved of. Unfortunately it meant that he had decided to step things up in his other insidious plot, the courting and eventual marriage of me. By the gods I hate listening to that man talk.
"Of course, you shall have no need for weapons when we marry," he said smiling, "I shall protect you and you shall stay and care for our home and family." As if I were worth no more than a nanny and a house organiser, that bastard.
On another day visiting the village after enough time had passed that we had persuaded the student body that there was nothing to worry about should we mind our own business, Godric had managed to do something that would have frightened us, should we have not already left before it happened. His insight… instinct, shall we call it, had rendered him unconscious and when he woke up, he had nary an idea why.
"I simply do not understand why you do not use your resources better," Sal was saying, commenting about the dirty and grime that coated the people here. We had a lake nearby and he was trying to convince them that bathing was not a sign of the devil. SLAM!
"What?" I gasped, looking at the startled Timothy Crete who looked as if he had appeared out of thin air. Little Ella was in his arms, as he twisted so he would not squish her. When he stood it was almost as if it were in slow motion.
"Da Da," Ella chirped holding her hands out to Sal. Time restarted. The boy was bashed over the head with a bottle and people mobbed us in. I drew an arrow as a knife was held to Ella's throat.
"Move and she dies," a guttural voice said in crazed fury.
"You are going to kill her anyway," I retorted. An arrow slammed through my shoulder and the last thing I remember was my head hitting a rock. My last thought being, Ric would be so disappointed in me.
"Sal?" I whispered groggily when I woke up. He lay sprawled next to me and I shook him hard until he came to.
"Ella," he yelled, leaping to the door, "We have to get Ella.
So things are about to get emotional and squicky, if your squeamish then you should advance with caution only. Kay? Review and tell me what you think.