*stretch*
Ooo, first fic-post of 2005. (one-and-a-half-chapters-left-it-will-be-finished-soon-thank-fuck!)
( poor Quintus can't even get drunk without idiots interrupting )
( poor Quintus can't even get drunk without idiots interrupting )
***
Quietly - or as quietly as possible - the students made their way behind the bar, led by Gilly and shepherded by Amber and Felix. The other patrons of the pub who, quite frankly, were none of Quintus’ concern, were busy making themselves as secure as possible, closing the shutters on the pub windows and sealing them hastily, turning over a few tables to use as barricades if the seals were broken. Someone was busy looking for Floo Powder, another was wondering (loudly) when the Aurors were coming, and if they’d even been notified.
“Actually, that’s a good point,” Elspeth said, frowning. “We’d do well to send for them ourselves, or at least send for some form of help. I doubt anyone out there’s in a fit state to do so - and, well. We’re probably the most capable wizards here. Depressing, I know, but likely to be true.”
He’d paused for a second, then remembered something Flavia had told him after watching a particularly vicious fight in the Hog’s Head. “The mirror!” he exclaimed. “Behind the counter - it’s a direct link to the Ministry.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Elspeth said quickly, and then, “is that the only place it reaches? Not the school?”
It was Marcus Malfoy, for some reason not in the cellar with everyone else, who’d replied. “No - just the Ministry. People usually want Aurors rather than teachers, when something goes wrong.”
“I can’t imagine why,” Quintus said pettishly, as Elspeth sighed and went to use the mirror behind the counter, “and why are you still here?”
“Because someone needs to inform the school,” Marcus had answered, not remotely disconcerted, “and I presume you two will be busy enough out there. We can’t hide all the students, but I can get out of here without being noticed. And I expect whoever’s outside will be too wrapped up with Seraphim and Bloom to detect my Invisibility Charms, anyway.”
It was Elspeth who swore then, loudly, startling the young Ministry official in the mirror. “No, that wasn’t aimed at you,” she’d said venomously, “but if you don’t send the Aurors soon it will be, and a lot worse than that as well - it would be Seraphim, wouldn’t it, prancing about like an overly excitable Bludger-battered buffoon - no, that wasn’t aimed at you either," she added hastily, returning her attention to the confused looking reflection. "Oh, just hurry up! We have a bunch of untrained students here, get on with it!” And with that, she dumped the mirror unceremoniously onto the ground, breaking the connection along with the glass.
“If you’re going out there,” a young-ish witch with dark brown hair said, addressing Quintus, “could you hurry up? I need to get that door sealed, quickly.”
“Certainly,” Elspeth snapped, before Quintus could answer, “glad you’re so eager to help. Marcus, disappear. Now.”
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*applause* :D
So pleased to hear you liked the Shriekback song, too.
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