Follow Me into the Dark

[Adrian Minister Jr]

Adrian listened carefully to Elena as she spoke, making sure that not a single word was off. He was a bit relieved to see her walk through unharmed. After all, this boundary spell hadn't been used by a student yet, or maybe that wasn't the only reason he was worried, he wasn't sure.

"I'm sure you're curious about this boundary spell and its password," he said once she came up next to him, "or how it is that no one has found it considering the light it gives off. It turns out that before our gifted professors and some help from the Ministry that there was no warning of this boundary spell, which makes it very lucky that the student who found this portkey was able to get so close to it without frying himself. Unfortunately, our now former divination professor walked into it thinking he had gotten the password correct. He was sorely mistaken. He didn't die or anything but was hurt severely.

"After some guess-working and divination the password was finally uncovered as was the boundary spell with the light we see here." Adrian looked down by his feet to see an uncovered root and then knelt beside it. He got even closer and pulled out his wand, "lumos," he said softly as he lowered his wand underneath the root. A sudden shiver went down his spine as the faded symbol was revealed.

He quickly jumped back up to his feet a bit unnerved. Compose yourself, he thought to himself glancing back at Elena hoping she wouldn't notice. The student wasn't mistaken, that it the symbol of the dark lord; many different symbols since have been mistaken as the symbol of the dark lord. They usually came from death eaters trying to start their own order so they conjure up some generic symbol to be their banner. This was not the case.

Adrian's mind began swimming with all the possibilities of how this could of come to be here. This must have been conjured up by one of Riddle's disciple's descendants; someone who would know the secrets to such black magic. That's not possible though, the password is connected to this very school and has been here for some time, perhaps even before the school was founded. Could the original creator of this portkey have come back after the school's start and put this boundary spell up to keep any wandering student's from getting in?

Adrian turned and looked at Elena, "This mission may be more grave then I imagined. Are you sure you wish to continue?"

[ADMIN]

Elena frowned thoughtfully as she listened, taking in the information and processing it carefully. If she devoted this much attention to her academics, she'd be an extremely good student - unfortunately, it seemed only grave peril brought out this rapt attention in her. "So that's what happened to Professor Hobb," she murmured. "I knew he'd taken an unexpected leave, but I had no idea that it was because of something like this."

The sight of the Mark carved into the base of the tree brought up a foggy memory, and Elena asked, "What does that symbol mean? I know I've seen it in our History of Magic textbooks before." Someone from a wizarding family might have had more of an inkling about the symbol, though it certainly wasn't very widely known any more, but Elena, coming from a Muggle background, only had her History lessons - to which she paid the least attention of all - to refer to.

At Adrian's question, Elena turned her attention from the Mark to look up at him, and with an arched brow and a half-grin replied, "You really think I'm going to let you have all the fun?"

[Adrian Minister Jr]

Adrian only nodded slightly after her answer and turned towards the rotted tree. "That symbol that you've seen in your magic history books is the symbol of the most absolute evil wizard that has ever walked the earth. Those who know of him do not speak his name, even to this day. You see Elena," he began as he turned to her with an outmost serious look, "This symbol belongs to the dark lord. He is the god amongst the wicked. His true name was Tom Riddle, back when he was a student at Hogwarts, but he became widely know as Voldemort. You may find it shocking that he was once just a student, a student in fact that Albus Dumbledore himself brought to the school, not knowing the evil that was brewing within him."

Adrian paused for a second as a thought crossed his mind, Could the dedication of this school to Albus Dumbledore have something to do with this portkey being placed here by a descendant of the orginal death eater order?

Adrian shook his head of the throught. "Are you ready to go through the portkey, Elena?"

[Elena Jade]

Elena frowned as she listened, looking back down at the mark. Eurgh - it took on an even more sinister look the more she heard about who it stood for. Albus Dumbledore she had heard a lot of - the professors at the school liked to expound upon his many achievements and merits often, what with the school being named in his honor and all.

"The Dark Lord - him I've heard of, now that I think of it. Felix explained some about the Death Eaters' era to me once." Felix came from a wizarding family, with a history of being sorted into Slytherin, so he had naturally been told about the finer points of Slytherin history. Of course, he hadn't been told everything that his father happened to know..

Undeterred, Elena nodded, adjusting her grip on her wand, and said, "Well, it doesn't sound like we're exactly going to land in a field of sunshine and puppies, but I'm still game. I'm ready."

[Adrian Minister Jr]

"Alright then." Adrian said reaching out to the rotted tree, "come close. We have to touch it at the exact same time. Remember, no matter what happens we must not get seperated. Even if our destination looks as deserted as it most-likely is you must still stay close to me with you wand at the ready. Who knows what spells may still be active."

A sudden thought of worry came to Adrian. What if this order that obviously still exists, or atleast did exist up until recently is plotting something against the school. Chances are that this portkey was placed here becuase of the school. It couldn't be that it's a mere coincidence that the school is so close to a portkey of Voldemort's remaining order. This is turning into more of a mystery than I had first known of. If I knew of this sooner I would of made sure to bring someone more experienced. I could of called upon anyone of my friends from when I was an auror. Though, this is the way I started out when I was younger. Not that she's that much younger than me, and she's certainly mature for her age, when necessary.

Adrian looked at her, waiting for her to be ready to put her hand upon the portkey. "I had no idea of what the circumstances where when we first stepped into the woods. This Dark Mark, as it was once called, changes everything. Therefore I would of brought a fellow auror, had I known. Not becuase they are more capable or experienced, but becuase you are too young to be in risk of death. I'm sorry for whatever danger this may put you in," he said looking sad from guilt. "Everything indicates that our destination will be vacant, but Voldemort and his order were excellent at making illusions."

[Elena Jade]

Elena stepped up to the tree, careful not to touch it just yet, and looked up in surprise as Adrian - Professor Minister, that was, when had she started thinking of him as "Adrian"? - apologized for likely putting her in peril. She pressed her lips together, eyes narrowing slightly, and said curtly, "I don't care if it's dangerous." She hadn't cared since Wilhelmina. A familiar stab of pain twisted in her chest at the thought, and she set her jaw before turning her gaze back to the tree - or rather, the portkey.

She lived her life as though trying to fill it with enough living for two people, and the consequences or dangers be damned. Elena didn't exactly have a death wish - far from it. But she did harbor a deep-seated fury that manifested itself in reckless risk-taking often. She shied away from very little.

Elena shook her head slightly, made sure she had a firm grip on her wand, then said, "Shut up and let's go." Then she reached out her free hand and laid it firmly on the tree.

[Adrian Minister Jr]

Adrian nodded and put his hand firmly on the tree as well.

Everything around the two of them suddenly dissappeared and was replaced with a swirling mist and the sound of fierce wind. It was like they were flying through the clouds or something of that nature. Adrian realized that there was nothing beneath his feet. He quickly grabbed hold of Elena's hand so they wouldn't drift apart within the teleportation. He had heard stories of people being transported to locations that were miles apart simply becuase they drifted apart during the transportation.

"This may be a rough landing," Adrian shouted over the sound of the rushing wind. He held tightly onto his wand in his other hand as he looked around. He couldn't see anything in the swirling mist however.

They suddenly thudded against some type of stone wall as Adrian let out a grunt of pain. "Damn, no a warning at all." He slowly looked around and realized that it was actually a damp stone floor and not a wall. He pushed himself off the ground but quickly fell back down in a daze. He was obviously too dizzy from the teleportation. "Whoah," he muttered shaking his head. "Elena, are you alright?" He asked crawling over to her, still unable to get up.

[Elena Jade]

Elena sucked in a sharp breath as the disorienting jolt of teleportation hit her, like a hook in her gut yanking her forward. She grasped Adrian's hand tightly - it certainly wouldn't be beneficial to anyone if they got separated at this point - and braced herself for the impact.

They hit the ground hard, Elena landing on her back and letting go of Adrian's hand. All of the air was knocked out of Elena's lungs upon impact - she gasped for breath, then began coughing fitfully, eyes watering at the discomfort. Finally she got a few deep breaths in, and nodded silently. She laid there for a moment longer, then forced herself to sit up, glad to find that her wand was still in her right hand.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," she said, still feeling a bit dizzy and not even attempting to stand up yet. "You okay?" She looked around, taking in their surroundings, then asked, "Where do you think we are?"

[Adrian Minister Jr]

"I'm okay," Adrian replied, "just dizzy from the trip." He looked around trying to gather his senses, which were basically spralled out on the floor like he was. "That's a good question, Elena. I don't have the slightest clue as to where we are."

It seemed as though they were in the entrance of a cave of sorts. A deep walkway stretched on further into the cave with candles lined up on the walls along the path. Adrian looked out the opening of the cave to see nothing but a deep black ocean in the night with nothing in sight. The darkness of the water was glowing from the moonlight, giving off an eerie affect.

"I'm guessing we should go that way," Adrian said pointing down the brick path. He slowly raised to his feet now that he felt that he could manage. He closed his eyes and scrunched his face as a sudden blood-rush ran to his head resulting in a throbbing headache. He looked down at Elena, whom was sitting up observing her surroundings.

"Let's walk off the pain," he said holding out his hand to help her up.

[Elena Jade]

Elena nodded in agreement, extending her own hand to take his and pull herself up. Once vertical again, a brief wave of darkness swam behind her eyes, and dizziness returned to her head in a rush. Elena stumbled a little into Adrian, but recovered quickly and stepped away, muttering, "Sorry." She released his hand a moment later, when she realized she was still holding it, and took a couple steps forward. The dizziness didn't come back, and her balance was steady enough, she decided, so she continued walking in the direction Adrian had indicated, wand held at the ready.

"I know what this is," Elena whispered, not wanting to scream their presence to anyone who might be lurking, but unable to resist commenting. "This must be where the Dark Wizards gathered to drink, skinny dip, and plot their dark deeds. It all makes sense now."

[Adrian Minister Jr]

"Whoah," Adrian said as Elena stumbled into him. He instinctively wrapped his free arm around her back in order to hold her up but quickly withdrew it as she stepped back. "No problem, that portkey packs a punch.

He looked down at his hand as the softness of Elena's left it. For some reason, emotions began to stir within him but he quickly shook them off. I don't have time do start questioning myself while such a task is at hand, he thought to himself as he followed Elena down the path.

"I know what this is," Elena whispered, not wanting to scream their presence to anyone who might be lurking, but unable to resist commenting. "This must be where the Dark Wizards gathered to drink, skinny dip, and plot their dark deeds. It all makes sense now."

"Ofcourse," he whispered back to her, "Why didn't I think of that?"

[Elena Jade]

"Perhaps they even have Dark Cake at their plotting parties. Dastardly delicious! Maybe they left a stash of rum or firewhiskey that we could--" She glanced over at Adrian and quickly added, "--totally, totally not touch, and report immediately to the Auror Department."

Elena walked as lightly and silently as she could, wondering if perhaps she shouldn't have worn what she thought of as her "disco pants". If someone shone a light even vaguely in their direction, she would sparkle away their cover. "Note to self," she muttered, "get less conspicuous pants for Auror-ing."

[Adrian Minister Jr]

"Yeah, the Ministry of Magic would go crazy over free drinks," Adrian said looking down at Elena's pants as she mentioned them, "and I did notice the disco ball on your lower half earlier. I would've mentioned to wear a bit of darker clothing if I had known of the upcoming situation. Atleast if we get killed your memory will live on in the minds of death eaters as the most fashionable prey ever, "he said straining his eyes trying to see further into the distance.

His wand was at the ready in his gloved hand in case anyone tried to ambush. The hair on the back of his neck began to stand on end, was that a breeze? He glanced over his shoulder to see nothing but the lines of candles leading back to the entrance. "Huh," he muttered turning back to see where he was walking.

[Elena Jade]

Elena couldn't help thinking, "He noticed what I was wearing?" Then she inwardly scolded herself for the thought, because of course he'd noticed her pants - they weren't exactly subdued, and were rather impractical garb for a mission such as this. "Well, at least my top's black faux-leather - that's more Auror-ish, isn't it?" she said.

When she glanced over to flash Adrian a grin, she noticed him glance back, and she looked back as well, wondering what had alerted him. "What is it?" she asked, lowering her voice a bit more, eyes searching the shadows not illuminated by the candles.

[Adrian Minister Jr]

"Not sure," Adrian replied scanning the shadows on the walls. "I think I just caught a slight breeze from the ocean." He looked down at Elena's top, "yeah, I'd say that's more auror-ish than your pants. Though, look at me. I'm wearing a professor's wardrobe," he said looking down at his apparel with a slight laugh.

Goosebumps began to creep across his skin as a shiver ran up his spine. He let out a deep breath and could swear he could see a slight mist of hair come out. "Does it seem like it's getting colder the further we walk?" he asked he looked back over his shoulder again, the entrance now looked like a small hole in the distance.

[Elena Jade]

Elena waved a hand dismissively and said, "Eh, professor's robes aren't too different from what some more traditionally-minded Aurors wear."

Elena frowned at his question, turning her attention to the temperature, and then said slowly, "You know, I think it is.. I hadn't noticed before you mentioned it - my body temperature tends to run slightly higher than most. It has to do with my pyrokinesis, I think. If it gets too much colder, I could summon some fire. Though I don't know that it would do much good, since we're walking, not setting up camp or something."

[Adrian Minister Jr]

"Yeah, that and I think your pants don't need any help tipping somebody off," Adrian replied as he flashed a grin. "I'll be fine, I just hope our destination isn't a glacier. Besides.." Adrian caught off spinning around, "expelliarmus!" he shouted with a flick of his wand. The force put out from his wand travelled down his path but hit nothing but air. The flame of all the candles in it's path disappeared as the wind quickly doused them. Adrian's eyes darted through the shadows. "Something is with us," Adrian said even though he could see nothing.

Being an auror teaches a person to have a sense of danger and a sense of another's presence, this feeling was flooding throughout Adrian.

"Keep your eyes peeled."

[Elena Jade]

Elena spun around at the sound of Adrian shouting a spell, raising her wand straight out in front of her. "Something is with us," Adrian said. Elena frowned, feeling a chill run down her spine at that - something was in there with them. She said nothing, just flicked a bit of her power at the closest few candles, re-lighting them, before turning in a slow circle, wand still at the ready. She saw nothing, but that didn't mean something wasn't there.

"What I wouldn't give to be a telepath right about now," she muttered, not really trying to keep her voice down, but more commenting quietly to herself. She figured that whatever was in there with them already knew they were there, and possibly had since they appeared. "If telepathy would even work on whatever-it-is."

[Adrian Minister Jr]

"If telepathy would even work on whatever-it-is."

"How could I be so stupid?" Adrian said suddenly realizing that he completely overlooked the obvious. As soon as he said that the temperature dropped drastically and ice began stretching across the walls and floor. "Lumos," Adrian said quickly. The light from his wand pierced the shadows on the walls. Nothing was there however. Adrian quickly looked up, "shit!"

A black ghostly creature dropped down on him, knocking down on his back. Adrian tried to break his fall with his hands but that only resulted in his wand slipping out of his grasp and sliding away. Suddenly a second dementor dropped down on Elena.

Adrian tried to quickly jump to his feet but failed on the ice and landed on his back again. Before he could attempt to get back up the dementor was hovering just above him. Adrian reached for his was but was overcome with weakness as the ghastly creature began inhaling.

[Elena Jade]

Elena gasped and tried to move out of the way of the pouncing dementor, but was just too late. The wraith-like creature slammed her to the ground, and her wand was knocked out of her hand, to skitter a couple of critical inches out of reach. Just before the dementor began to feed on her memories, Elena instinctively sent a burst of flame from both hands, and shoved at the dementor. It shrank away, repelled by the fire just long enough for Elena to throw herself at her wand and snatch it back up.

She twisted back around, only to see one of the dementors beginning to inhale, drawing on Adrian's soul. A spike of terror went through her, and she aimed her wand at the dementor, summoning up a memory of Wilhelmina before shouting, "Expecto patronum!" A brief flash of white light knocked into the dementor, just enough to distract it, but not enough to drive it completely away. The memory wasn't good enough - thoughts of Wilhelmina were too tinged with sadness and anger. The dementor that had attacked her before took this opportunity to return, trying to draw on her memories again. Elena frantically searched her memories for something, anything more positive. She settled on a memory of her and Felix, just hanging out, being themselves, without any worries or inhibitions. "Expecto patronum!" she yelled again - this time the light coalesced into the shape of a fox, which leaped at the dementor attacking Elena, snapping its teeth, chasing the hooded creature off.