Of the Account of the Auror Crystal Maganda
Just to be brief in my explanation, I will have a simple log rule. If I only skip one line between paragraphs then I am still recapping and retelling my story from one sitting. If I skip three lines then I am writing from a different night. My log will most likely stand out from the other Dark Knights, as we call ourselves, because of this. I feel that my log would be more accurate and less subject to my own biases if I record any fact or discovery immediately (this is to ensure that I do not have time to dwell upon my facts and twists the with my own personal opinions).
Well, here I am recording my daily findings. Today was arguably the most boring day of my career. Absolute silence. The air and feel is almost...graveyard like. The riverbank that I am currently camped near has shown absolutely no signs of life. I haven't even heard a bird nor an owl sound. This afternoon I walked to the river, where the water was dead still. I still do not understand why I must watch and guard this most soulless place. The trees are about the only things that show life, and most of the trees are without leaves.
A couple days ago I had seen a man walk towards the river. He was wearing a dark robe (of what color I could not tell since it was at night). I thought it odd that a man would come to such an isolate place. There were still some signs of life, yet, the air was eerily chilling. It felt as if I were staking out a cemetery. After noticing this odd event, I decided to follow the man. After traveling closer, I started to notice what looked like more men, a squad of them, traveling towards the river. They looked like ants in the far-off distance. They were traveling through a clearing pretty far off, so I decided to move before they got close enough to find me. I departed from the shrubbery I was near, and left towards my small tent. I needed to report my findings, but my owl Opal was missing from her cage. It was odd since she never left me without my knowledge, even if she wasn't in her cage. I decided that I was tired and went to sleep.
Two days ago, after days of staking out the river, I still could not find out the river's importance. The day previously I had spotted the man again. He was followed by his odd squad of men. That day I was kind of clumsy, and I had stepped on a twig while trying to get closer to the group of people. They must have heard the twig snap because they, after looking into the surrounding areas, dispersed into random locations. I later returned to camp hoping that Opal had come back. This behavior was very odd, and had to be reported immediately. Today I did not see that man.
Yesterday morning was the day when the lifelessness of the area began. I went to my position near the river once more, yet the whole area seemed substantially quieter. The lifeless part was the fact that I could no longer hear the birds. The place used to be flooded with birds. Now, however, there was not a trace of a feather or anything that would ever suggest that birds once existed here. I was hoping to see the odd man again, yet when dusk ended and dawn came, I had lost hope that I would see the strange man again.
Then came today. The river was ghastly silent. The water was still, and a single touch of my finger caused ripples that tidal waved across to the opposite bank of the river. The area was lifeless. I would not even sense a living thing, with perhaps trees being the exception. Most of the trees, however, were either dying, or already dead. The fresh and clean feel of a couple days ago had left the trees, replaced by decay and death. I was puzzled at such a bizarre place.
I have always puzzled at another thing. As I write my log, I am suppose to talk in "we" and "our." The reason is that the Ministry feels that "we" must work as a team, and although isolated, must continue to pretend that "we" somehow have help and support. I think this is absurd because I am here alone without any help. Besides this, I must continue on with my recollection of tonight's events.
I decided to explore the area even further than I had on my first day here. I decided to go a bit north. Following the river's winding path, I ended up in a gray, desolate area. Something odd had been there. It looked as if a great fire was here, but not just a regular fire. It looked as if it were a great bonfire. I, cautiously, kept going.
Further onward I saw more trees, although they were considerably greener. I entered the forest and continued. I went past many creatures (it was good to see living things again), but I oddly did not spot any birds.
After venturing for many hours, I noticed that the moon was up in the middle of the sky. It must have been around or near midnight. It was because of this light that I was able to make my biggest discovery. I had found a cave. This cave was used for rituals, dark rituals.
I crept near the cave to make sure that I was alone, and that no one was awaiting me in the cave. I entered the cave, and not to my surprise it was dark. I used lumos, and what I saw was unbelievable. The cave was packed with dead bird skeletons and corpses.
I almost fainted at the sight of such an eerie grave. I then became worried. Running through most of the cave, sifting through piles, and examining the corpses and skeletons, I was thankful. I could not find or see an owl skeleton or corpse. I quickly ran out, but was stopped by four men. I believe them to be some members in the squad of men following the odd man. They, smirking and cackling, showed me what I should have suspected long ago. The tallest man was holding Opal in his right hand by the neck, apparently skinned out of her feathers, and her eyes gouged out.
I was furious and frightened at the same time. I created a diversion by setting the man holding Opal's robe on fire. I quickly ran out and departed as quickly as I could towards my tent. After a quick rush there (I was surprised that I did not get lost), I was glad that the Ministry had sent an owl asking why I had not sent Opal to the Ministry updating them on my whereabouts and happenings. So here I am, rigidly and quickly regurgitating my story and telling of my tale. Now I must give this log to the owl you sent me (whoever in the ministry this may be). My final thoughts are that there IS something in that cave. Something of extreme value and importance to either the Ministry, or for that odd man and his supporters. I have a feeling, although I am somewhat uncertain, that the people I have seen are death eaters. I REALLY must go now, however. I fear I am not alone any longer. I leave my log like this, open ended. I would give you more information and more of what I have seen if only I had more time, which I do not. Goodbye.
Just to be brief in my explanation, I will have a simple log rule. If I only skip one line between paragraphs then I am still recapping and retelling my story from one sitting. If I skip three lines then I am writing from a different night. My log will most likely stand out from the other Dark Knights, as we call ourselves, because of this. I feel that my log would be more accurate and less subject to my own biases if I record any fact or discovery immediately (this is to ensure that I do not have time to dwell upon my facts and twists the with my own personal opinions).
Well, here I am recording my daily findings. Today was arguably the most boring day of my career. Absolute silence. The air and feel is almost...graveyard like. The riverbank that I am currently camped near has shown absolutely no signs of life. I haven't even heard a bird nor an owl sound. This afternoon I walked to the river, where the water was dead still. I still do not understand why I must watch and guard this most soulless place. The trees are about the only things that show life, and most of the trees are without leaves.
A couple days ago I had seen a man walk towards the river. He was wearing a dark robe (of what color I could not tell since it was at night). I thought it odd that a man would come to such an isolate place. There were still some signs of life, yet, the air was eerily chilling. It felt as if I were staking out a cemetery. After noticing this odd event, I decided to follow the man. After traveling closer, I started to notice what looked like more men, a squad of them, traveling towards the river. They looked like ants in the far-off distance. They were traveling through a clearing pretty far off, so I decided to move before they got close enough to find me. I departed from the shrubbery I was near, and left towards my small tent. I needed to report my findings, but my owl Opal was missing from her cage. It was odd since she never left me without my knowledge, even if she wasn't in her cage. I decided that I was tired and went to sleep.
Two days ago, after days of staking out the river, I still could not find out the river's importance. The day previously I had spotted the man again. He was followed by his odd squad of men. That day I was kind of clumsy, and I had stepped on a twig while trying to get closer to the group of people. They must have heard the twig snap because they, after looking into the surrounding areas, dispersed into random locations. I later returned to camp hoping that Opal had come back. This behavior was very odd, and had to be reported immediately. Today I did not see that man.
Yesterday morning was the day when the lifelessness of the area began. I went to my position near the river once more, yet the whole area seemed substantially quieter. The lifeless part was the fact that I could no longer hear the birds. The place used to be flooded with birds. Now, however, there was not a trace of a feather or anything that would ever suggest that birds once existed here. I was hoping to see the odd man again, yet when dusk ended and dawn came, I had lost hope that I would see the strange man again.
Then came today. The river was ghastly silent. The water was still, and a single touch of my finger caused ripples that tidal waved across to the opposite bank of the river. The area was lifeless. I would not even sense a living thing, with perhaps trees being the exception. Most of the trees, however, were either dying, or already dead. The fresh and clean feel of a couple days ago had left the trees, replaced by decay and death. I was puzzled at such a bizarre place.
I have always puzzled at another thing. As I write my log, I am suppose to talk in "we" and "our." The reason is that the Ministry feels that "we" must work as a team, and although isolated, must continue to pretend that "we" somehow have help and support. I think this is absurd because I am here alone without any help. Besides this, I must continue on with my recollection of tonight's events.
I decided to explore the area even further than I had on my first day here. I decided to go a bit north. Following the river's winding path, I ended up in a gray, desolate area. Something odd had been there. It looked as if a great fire was here, but not just a regular fire. It looked as if it were a great bonfire. I, cautiously, kept going.
Further onward I saw more trees, although they were considerably greener. I entered the forest and continued. I went past many creatures (it was good to see living things again), but I oddly did not spot any birds.
After venturing for many hours, I noticed that the moon was up in the middle of the sky. It must have been around or near midnight. It was because of this light that I was able to make my biggest discovery. I had found a cave. This cave was used for rituals, dark rituals.
I crept near the cave to make sure that I was alone, and that no one was awaiting me in the cave. I entered the cave, and not to my surprise it was dark. I used lumos, and what I saw was unbelievable. The cave was packed with dead bird skeletons and corpses.
I almost fainted at the sight of such an eerie grave. I then became worried. Running through most of the cave, sifting through piles, and examining the corpses and skeletons, I was thankful. I could not find or see an owl skeleton or corpse. I quickly ran out, but was stopped by four men. I believe them to be some members in the squad of men following the odd man. They, smirking and cackling, showed me what I should have suspected long ago. The tallest man was holding Opal in his right hand by the neck, apparently skinned out of her feathers, and her eyes gouged out.
I was furious and frightened at the same time. I created a diversion by setting the man holding Opal's robe on fire. I quickly ran out and departed as quickly as I could towards my tent. After a quick rush there (I was surprised that I did not get lost), I was glad that the Ministry had sent an owl asking why I had not sent Opal to the Ministry updating them on my whereabouts and happenings. So here I am, rigidly and quickly regurgitating my story and telling of my tale. Now I must give this log to the owl you sent me (whoever in the ministry this may be). My final thoughts are that there IS something in that cave. Something of extreme value and importance to either the Ministry, or for that odd man and his supporters. I have a feeling, although I am somewhat uncertain, that the people I have seen are death eaters. I REALLY must go now, however. I fear I am not alone any longer. I leave my log like this, open ended. I would give you more information and more of what I have seen if only I had more time, which I do not. Goodbye.