01<@Ardweden> [Day: Sunday, September 26. Time: ?] 01<@Ardweden> [You are in Natalie-Elaine's dream, which is basically Hogwarts. Hien went into a mostly empty classroom to talk to her. The rest of you elected to stand guard outside. There's been conversation, and most recently there's been a clap of thunder! In fact, most recently:] But you do not trust me. 06* Kali draws her sword slowly, with a steady shink from the sheath. "Getting nowhere fast." She sighs and leans over near to the door, muttering, "Intruders. It's *way* too quiet for 'Intruders.' Something's wrong..." <@Ardweden> ["But..." Elaine frowns. "Why can't I remember?" Hien (and the others) can hear a clap of thunder from outside right when Elaine says, "What's *wrong* with me?"] 06* Susano-o drums his fingers on his armor again. "Because you are being cryptic. How did you get here? Did you come through Haven?" He blinks hard, and his armor briefly sparks with light as he looks towards the room. 06* Imp sighs. "I'm trying to trust you, I just want to know what's going on." 06* Kali tsshes between her teeth and thinks that's her cue. Because she slips her way right into the room like a sleek lethal serpentine woman poised to strike. *What* is the question. 06* Scathach doesn't answer! Important things going on in there. 06* Hien looks out the window, briefly. "It's okay. I'm here to help." 01<@Ardweden> [Outside of the classroom, nothing happens besides the thunder - yet, anyway. Inside the classroom, Elaine asks Hien, "*How*?"] 01<@Ardweden> [Start!] We'll talk. It... it helps to talk. Do you have anyone here you can talk about things with? 06* Imp sighs and shakes his head looking at Scathach. "Fine. I'll guess. You aren't beating me up, that removes about half the school. Maybe a teacher? Miss Brocious?" 01<@Ardweden> ["I- I have some friends? And Professor McGonagall is cool," Natalie tells Hien, though she doesn't sound especially certain in her choices.] Tell me more about your friends. 06* Scathach actually grins at that. "And if I am?" 01<@Ardweden> [Elaine bites her lip. "... Why?"] 06* Susano-o looks into the room, and hesitates for a beat before sliding in as quietly as he can, as well. I'm curious? And I want to help. 06* Imp shrugs. "I'd bring you an apple, but I wouldn't eat it if I were you." I imagine not. But you can't be her. So who are you? Scathach. 01<@Ardweden> [Kali and Susano-O enter the classroom to find it still largely empty, with Hien and Natalie there and a spinning pinwheel still hovering in the air. Natalie's shaking her head. "They're fine. They're wizards, like me," she says, more than a little proudly.] 06* Susano-o stops to listen - one eye on Natalie, one eye on Kali, trying to stay near the classroom wall. Being a wizard is pretty darned cool. Have you always wanted to be one? 06* Kali does bust in the doors, looking around the room quickly, swords drawn. Finding...nothing. Great. Her eyes flick to Hien, as if expecting a reaction. Direction. Something. And glancing momentarily at Susano-O as well. 06* Scathach is watching the room, but isn't in yet. 06* Imp sighs. "Fine." He heads into the room rolling his eyes. 06* Susano-o edges closer to Kali, still watching Hien and Natalie. 01<@Ardweden> ["Well- yeah! But I didn't know magic was real before." Natalie/Elaine doesn't turn to look at those entering the room. She's too intent on her conversation with Hien. "Just like I didn't know dragons were real before, and look. Here you are."] 06* Kali eyes the nothing happening very suspiciously, then shifts her glance back towards Susano-O, almost hissing. Thank god for unseenish...ness? "This is *weird*! You heard it too, right?" 06* Susano-o nods, and whispers back, "The clap of thunder? Yes. But I don't see anything strange here." 06* Imp doesn't bamf up onto Hein's head but instead bamfs over to a chair. 06* Hien flicks her eyes briefly to Kali but keeps most of her attention on Natalie. "Here I am." She exhales, a tiny bit of smoke escaping. "It wasn't your parents who carried you from the tree. It was your sister. You were playing in the tree, and she looked away for a minute, and you fell." 06* Kali looks back at Susano-O, still poised to strike. "That's the *problem*! That's exactly what's strange about it. None of this...none of it adds up!" Her voice is still relatively low. 01<@Ardweden> ["That- that doesn't make any sense," Natalie says, drawing her brows together. "I don't have a sister. Especially not one that's a dragon."] 06* Susano-o nods again. "But it's just her here. Right? Her and us," he says, voice low. He gives the room a nice scan. I'm not always a dragon. But I am always your sister. 01<@Ardweden> ["What- that doesn't make any sense!"] Think! Try to remember! I carried you in after you fell. Dad had to physically hold me back because I wanted to go to the hospital with you. Because it was my fault you fell because I wasn't paying attention! 01<@Ardweden> ["I..." Elaine's expression clears a bit. "Yeah? I remember-" and then she scoots away from Hien. "No! I don't *have* a sister!" There's another clap of thunder outside, followed by lightning, and in the flash those watching can see the Raven's silhouette, wings spread, on the wall opposite them.] 01<@Ardweden> ["I'm an only child. An only child, and I'm a wizard, and you're a dragon, and that's just- why are you saying this stuff!"] I got you a stuffed penguin and we named it Mister Penpen! 06* Kali glances at the Raven for a moment and then back at Hien, mouthing, "Keep pushing it..." Her eyes flick behind her. There's no commotion yet, right? 06* Scathach frowns at that, and then her hat and scarf return, forming out of the darkness that surrounds her. 01<@Ardweden> ["Mister Penpen? I..." Natalie looks down at the wand in her hand. "I love Mister Penpen. How did you know?"] 01<@Ardweden> [Meanwhile, Scathach hears quick steps coming down the hall towards her, crisp and determined.] 06* Susano-o loosens his sword in his scabbard still, on guard from the thunderclap and flash. 06* Scathach turns her attention thataway. 06* Kali is still poised to strike. Those swords hadn't gone away, and limber and hunched like a cat ready to strike. Because I got him for you. And I got him a blue ribbon, because it's our favorite color. 01<@Ardweden> [Scathach sees Professor McGonagall, witch's hat at all, followed shortly behind by Professor Flitwick who's taking double strides to keep up with her. They seem to be heading for the classroom door she's standing in front of, but they also don't seem to have seen her.] 06* Scathach has a hat too, so is not intimidated. She stands in the way, so they're going to have to notice her at some point. 01<@Ardweden> [Natalie blinks, and she reaches into her bag, pulling out a ratty little plush penguin with a blue ribbon tied around its neck. She fingers the ribbon's edge. "Ravenclaw blue," she says to herself.] 06* Susano-o seems somewhat confused at the comment, but he recovers quickly, and watches the conversation. 01<@Ardweden> [Professor McGonagall walks smack into Scathach with enough force to send them both a step or two back. Her wand is in her hand and pointed directly at Scathach in an instant, Flitwick not far behind. "State your name and your business," she demands.] There's a little star on his tag that I drew for you. Is it still there? 01<@Ardweden> [Susano-O can hear a voice on the other side of the door. Kali actually hears what's being said.] 06* Scathach stands at her full height and says, with her harsh reverberating, whispery voice, "Would you like to buy a shrubbery?" 01<@Ardweden> ["What-?" And then McGonagall scowls. "No, I would *not* like to buy a shrubbery."] 06* Kali 's eyes click to the door, then towards Hien. Presumably, by this point, Natalie can't hear her. So this is for her benefit. "Company." 06* Susano-o tenses, and eases away from the door a bit, trying to have a good angle on Hien and Natalie, and also the door. 01<@Ardweden> [Elaine flips the edge of the ribbon over, and there's a tiny golden star on the other side. She stares at it.] Why not? I promise they're of good quality. 06* Imp is watching kali. "Back away from the door if it opens I'll say hi." 06* Kali glances curiously at Imp, her expression going a little dark. Or concerned. Hard to tell with Kali. "You know our shadow thing is still out there, right? 06* Hien looks up at Kali for a moment, nods, then turns her attention back to Elaine and points to the star. "See?" The point? 06* Kali stares blankly at Imp. "...I can see why you get all those Friend of the Year awards." 06* Susano-o gets tenser at the talk of Friend of the Year awards. 01<@Ardweden> ["Move aside, if you please," McGonagall tells Scathach. Flitwick just looks at the shadowy woman, frowning thoughtfully. His wand is steady, but he's tapping a free finger against his pocket.] 01<@Ardweden> [Natalie looks up at Hien. "Who *are* you?"] 06* Scathach straightens. "Enough with the jokes, then. Madam McGonagall I am Margaret Milipence, Auror from the Ministery of Magic. And I'm afraid there's been some concerns over the safety of the students. Cornelius Fudge is meeting with the headmaster as we speak." Sydney Raynerson. 06* Kali watches the two of them for a moment, then looks at Hien at the statement. *Then*. Blinks out of existance. 01<@Ardweden> [McGonagall and Flitwick exchange confused looks, apparently not sure how to react to Scathach, when Kali pops into existence right next to her.] 06* Susano-o blinks, startledly looks around the room, and then mutters, "Oh, holy mother of God." 06* Scathach glances at Kali as she shows up. "And my partner. Who I'll note just apparated in a place where she shouldn't be able to." These are very serious concerns, Madam. 06* Kali blinks out the daze of disorientation then her eyes turn to Miss McGonnagall. Her teeth flash into a quick grin. "*Hi!*" The sword is out to point at the woman's throat. "Tell me who you work for!" 06* Scathach stares at Kali. She's seriously resisting the urge to facepalm. 01<@Ardweden> ["You- I- no." Natalie looks panicked, and she starts scrambling away from Hien, penguin in one hand and wand in the other. "No no no no no. NO!" Right as she yells the final no, and right as Kali puts her sword up to McGonagall, there's another clap of thunder, this one filling the whole space. The entire BUILDING shakes while lightning fills the room and hallway with light.] 06* Susano-o looks desperately at Hien and Natalie. 06* Imp looks around on his feet now. 06* Susano-o straightens and squares his shoulders, and a charge of light runs down his armor. He tries to focus on Natalie now, taking a cautious step closer. 01<@Ardweden> [Susano-O stumbles, falling when the world rocks, tilting this way and that, as does Natalie, who trips backwards on one of the desks. Outside the room, Flitwick stumbles, falling into McGonagall, who barely keeps her balance and even more barely doesn't land on Kali's sword. Everyone else manages to remain standing, though it is a bit difficult - and they're likely blinking spots out of their eyes from the bright flash of light that just happened.] 06* Susano-o catches himself, and reflexively checks to make sure his sword has stayed in place. 06* Hien goes to help Natalie up. 06* Scathach manages to remain standing. Her hat stays on, too! 01<@Ardweden> ["I can't- I can't-" Natalie climbs back to her feet, the room - and hallway, and castle - slowly stabilizing, and she shakily points a wand at Hien. "You *can't* be!"] 06* Imp groans shaking his head trying to keep his balance. 06* Kali stumbles a bit and scowls. She's not toppled, but she does grab for McGonagall before the woman flits away, pretense all gone and sword still unavoidably there. "Well? Answer the question." 01<@Ardweden> ["Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," McGonagall replies in a steady voice while she helps Flitwick regain his footing. "I understand you are here for one of our students."] Why can't I be? 01<@Ardweden> ["Because if you are then- then she's real."] 06* Susano-o tries to steady himself, and arches his eyebrows, confused again. 06* Imp sighs. "Hey! Nat! Your sister is here and loves you and really, do I have to be punched in the face again for you to believe it?" I am totally real. 06* Kali pushes McGonagall away, showing off teeth as she readies both swords, staring her down. "Try again." 01<@Ardweden> [Natalie looks at Imp. She lets out a little shout, jumping away.] Hi there. 01<@Ardweden> ["What the hell!"] And, yeah, okay, so is he. 01<@Ardweden> (That was Natalie) 06* Hien gives Imp a Look. 06* Imp shrugs. "Sorry. I thought it might help" 06* Susano-o straightens again, recovering. He might be real, but he's not saying anything to draw attention. 01<@Ardweden> [McGonagall looks at Kali evenly. "Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore." And then she flicks her wand. "Stupefy!"] 06* Hien turns back to Natalie. "I am very real. This isn't. I'm sorry, because I know this means a lot to you. I really am. But we need you to wake up and come home, because Mom and Dad are worried about you. They love you. So do I." 01<@Ardweden> [Kali feels like she's hit in the gut by an incredible weight, and she goes flying backwards, slamming into the wall behind her.] 01<@Ardweden> [Session Abruptly Ends!]