[LOG] Jailbreaking Azkaban

[prime-veridian.livejournal.com]

Who: Alison Mallory, Kahvi Sidhe, Ora Yang, and the Order of the Phoenix
When: New Years Eve, 1998
Where: The Burrow, a remote English suburb
What: The Order of the Phoenix jailbreaks Azkaban, and the girls are help out

*~*~*~*~*

Ora stuffed her sash and a spare change of clothes in her bag, and bounded down the stairs to grab her winter coat from the closet in the hallway. "Mum! Dad! I'm ready!" she shouted, stuffing her arms through the sleeves and doing a quick check through the list in her mind to make sure she had packed everything she needed, and everything that would make it seem like she was going to a legitimate sleepover at the Burrow.

"Mm hm," Ora's father said simply as he folded his copy of The Daily Prophet and set it down on the sitting room table. He shot his daughter a dubious look. Ora smiled up at him cheerfully, as if nothing was wrong. She mitigated it a little when her father's look turned more severe.

"You know if you get lost, Ora, you're breaking curfew."

Ora rolled her eyes. "Yeah, Dad, I know. But I'm eighteen! I can Apparate properly; I'm not going to get lost or end up in the middle of the woods."

Ambassador Yang's mouth twitched as if he didn't completely believe his daughter, but had to actually refrain from telling her so. "I'll leave the wards down for five minutes," he said simply, drawing his wand from the fold of his robes, "so if you get lost you can Apparate back."

"Okay, Dad," Ora said. She rolled her eyes again.

"Have you got everything?" Ora's mum asked. She rose from the couch and looked pointedly at Ora's bag.

"Yup," Ora said with a nod. "And if not, I'm sure Alison can lend me something."

"Toothbrush?"

Ora nodded. "Packed it already, Mum."

Ora's mother simply nodded and smiled, and came around the sofa to give her daughter a hug and a kiss. "Well, Happy New Year, and enjoy the night with your friends."

"Thanks!" Ora gave her mum and dad a hug and a kiss each. Her father still did not look entirely happy as he closed his eyes and hummed the chant to lift the anti-Apparition wards surrounding their house, but Ora still managed a smile as she waved and then thought very hard of the Burrow.

*~*~*~*~*

Ottery St. Catchpole was even colder than London, and even in a thick scarf and coat Ora was shivering. She had appeared about one hundred meters out from the Burrow, and was throughly cold by the time she got to the door and lifted a hand to knock politely at it. Even though the house seemed quiet from the outside, Ora wondered if anyone would hear here--after all, she could not imagine that a rescue the proportions of breaking in and out of Azkaban would take any less than a good chunk of the Order.

Comments

[firespice.livejournal.com]

"Well, I can't imagine having to handle any of the larger species," she managed to smile before turning her attention to the newcomers. Kahvi was glad that Charlie wasn't pushing any further on the matter of her particular involvement; perhaps he really had only recognized her face from the articles.

The woman seemed as bright and bubbly as her shockingly bubblegum pink hair and easily redirected the attention of the kitchen, but even so Kahvi noticed Lysienne's being drawn aside by the ex-Professor. As it was the previous night, a lot of things were going on in the Weasley household, and she resolved to make an effort to calm herself. After all, the family seemed deeply involved with the Order, and Kahvi would be kidding herself if she denied having an interest in the goings-on of the rebel group.

[OOC: I think with Tonks & Lupin's entrance, that's a fairly good transition (thanks, Yang :D). Not sure whether Charlie should actually recognize Kahvi fully or just happen to associate her face with the pictures--that's my reasoning for why Hagrid wouldn't recognize Kahvi even if he likes dragons. He'd be too busy ogling the dragons to notice the people :P]

[heartswill.livejournal.com]

The Burrow's sitting room was warm and cozy, exuding a sense of "home" that immediately conspired to make anyone feel welcome and comfortable. Relaxing a little despite herself, Lysienne sat down on the couch with Rolan alert at her feet. Lupin gingerly took the armchair next to her and immediately sagged into its cushions.

"I'd forgotten about that," he commented with a wry smile, struggling into a semi-upright position. He looked into her wary eyes and sighed as she looked away. "Lysienne, I know I hurt you last night, and I would like to apologize. It was something I felt I had to do, given the circumstances..."

Lysienne bit her lips, hands clenching in her lap. "You mean, you didn't trust me even when you said you did, and you needed to test me to see if I could have betrayed the Order to Professor Snape."

Lupin ran a hand uncomfortably through his hair. "I'm afraid that is exactly correct. If there was--is--a flaw in the Order's plans, it is that we are leaving vulnerable children with one of the most powerful Legilimens alive. That is why you know so little. And yet, that would have been enough to derail all our plans last night. So when I heard about your conversation with Professor Snape, I...well, I panicked. Though I have to admit I did not expect you to be quite so sensitive. "

Lysienne frowned fiercely down at her fists. "Syrien once said that to invade another person's mind was to commit a crime on the same level as casting one of the Unforgivable Curses."

"Did he?" Lupin leaned forward. "That is your guardian, I take it? I guess I can't really disagree, though of course we all hide behind the excuse of 'extenuating circumstances'..." He sighed again. "Lysienne, I know that I have betrayed your trust in me, perhaps for good. But there is a favor I need to ask of you..."

[beater-serpens.livejournal.com]

Charlie appeared to be distracted by the entrance of the other Order members, and Mrs. Weasley bustled about to make sure that here was still enough food, should anyone want seconds (or thirds, or fourths). Tonks slid into Lysienne's abandoned seat and began to tuck into the food she'd gathered on her plate with vigor, and the conversation turned away from dragons and back to last night and how everyone had fared.

Across the table, Fred gave Alison an exaggerated shrug and glanced at Kahvi; Alison raised her eyebrows in a sort of, I'm not sure what Charlie was talking about, either expression. She wanted to ask Kahvi a number of questions, but it was probably better to ask them in a more private setting. She'd save them for later. She cast a glance at the sitting room, unable to stop wondering what Lupin wanted with Lysienne, either. But that would have to wait, as well.

[OOC: I'm thinking if the girls do confront Kahvi and/or Lysienne, it should be in a separate log, since we're already on page three of this one? XD;]

[prime-veridian.livejournal.com]

Ora fell silent as Lysienne was led away by Professor Lupin, she gazed after them and then at the girl with the bright pink hair, who shrugged, before returning to her meal. Ora turned her attentions back to the conversation between Charlie and Kahvi. The former was picking up on the obvious discomfort of the latter, and the Weasley table returned to talk of other things.

Full, Ora stabbed at the last bit of her eggs and finished them off. She glanced around the table, which seemed as lively and cheery as any other breakfast in the Burrow, but she couldn't help thinking that it might get worse from here on out. The Burrow was protected, but for how long? The Death Eaters weren't going to take the jailbreak of Azkaban lying down--if anything they were going to tighten curfews, increase their attacks on Muggles, and keep persecuting so-called Muggle sympathizers. If they weren't going into hiding soon, they might be in grave danger...

Ora started when Mrs. Weasley's portly figure approached her. "Full?" she asked simply.

"Oh, um, yes. Thank you, it was wonderful. I don't think I've had a breakfast taste this good in a long time."

"You're welcome, darling," Mrs. Weasley said warmly. She smiled, and Ora had the impression that the creases around her eyes had increased since Bill and Fleur's wedding in the summer. Perhaps Mrs. Weasley was thinking the same thing--it might be the last peaceful in the Burrow for a long while.

[OOC: Augh, so I'm actually the reason this has been dragging on so long. *profuse apologies* I AM SO SORRY THAT I FAIL AT LIFE. Yes, let's see if we can wrap this up somehow. If there's a confrontation, I don't think we should be too detailed about logging it. Maybe just doing journal entries would be sufficient?]

[firespice.livejournal.com]

Kahvi nodded in agreement to Ora's statement about the tasty breakfast. "Yes, thank you Mrs. Weasley, it was delicious." She smiled gratefully, hoping perhaps to distract the slightly ragged looking older woman from the collection of elephants in the room.

The older woman nodded, acknowledging her thanks with a warm smile that seemed to unravel a bit at the edges. In spite of the burden that they were all aware of, the Weasleys carried on in reasonable cheer, which Kahvi found to be an astounding mark of bravery. If it had been her family... she didn't think she could keep herself so collected. Honestly, she didn't know how Alison could keep her wits about her, either.

Professor Lupin and Lysienne had been gone for several minutes, which struck Kahvi as a little longer than something like a simple question. She could feel some subtle agitation from both of her friends as well--what was going on back there? Lysienne had seemed distressed and... distrustful of Lupin. Surely she was safe with Roland there with her, but it piqued the curiosity of Kahvi's nosier side.

[OOC: Haha, I've been a bit tardy with responses myself ^^;; Anyhow, I kind of feel face-to-face confrontation is more the girls' style, but can easily be brought up at a later event or perhaps over a couple of semi-individual cases? Journals is fine if that's more convenient, too. Either way, definitely shouldn't be added to this log--it needs wrapping up :P Long log is looooooong...]

[heartswill.livejournal.com]

Lysienne looked up silently in inquiry. Lupin continued, "I have not encountered many who are so sensitive to a touching of minds as you, Lysienne, and I wondered if it could be due to a difference in the way you were taught. Would you be willing to tell me how you learned to shield your mind, so that we can help your friends to protect themselves as well?"

Lysienne nodded after a moment, and Lupin smiled. "Good. Now, can you tell me when and how you started?"

Lysienne frowned, thinking back. "It was years ago--I'm sorry, I don't remember exactly when, but it was before I came to school. At first, Syrien asked me to think of a 'safe place'--the place I most wanted to be in the world, a place where nothing bad could hurt me. And then, if anyone tried to get me to think of something I didn't want to think about, I would transport myself there in my mind."

Lupin tilted his head curiously. "And how did your guardian test to see whether or not you were successful?"

"We played a game." Lysienne smiled a little. "I would think of a number, and he would try to guess what it was. If he guessed it by dinnertime, he won. If not, I won. And then we moved on to more complicated things, like spells I had just learned."

"And eventually you learned to discern between your own thought and the touch of another's," Lupin concluded. He sighed. "So it was nothing quick, as I guessed."

"So it doesn't help?" Lysienne asked, disappointed.

Lupin smiled gently. "No, it will certainly help, though it is not the cure-all solution I admit I had hoped for. It is a very good way of teaching Occlumency, and rather...well, gentler than the way it is normally taught. "

Lysienne leaned forward. "Professor--actually, I've always wondered. Why isn't this taught at Hogwarts?"

Lupin hesitated for a moment. "Politics, I'm afraid, is the main reason. The Ministry downplays the existence of both Legilimency and Occlumency. As I'm sure you might guess, Legilimency is a rather useful technique for the Aurors in interrogations if their subjects cannot defend themselves." Lupin nodded at Lysienne's angry look. "Yes, it is a power that is far too easily abused. The Headmaster...Albus was petitioning to have Occlumency added to the DADA course, but... Well, that's neither here nor there. For now, why don't we rejoin your friends and see if we can set up some lessons of our own?" He smiled and added, "And find some proper breakfast for your wolf-friend?"

[beater-serpens.livejournal.com]

Alison's plate was clean (much to George's obvious dismay, if the way he was making sad eyes at her out of the corner of her vision was any indication) and she was as full as her friends appeared to be. She had to admit, she didn't think she'd ever grow tired of Mrs. Weasley's cooking. It was one of the best things about visiting the Burrow.

Tonks had taken up most of the attention in the kitchen now that she'd finished shoveling food into her mouth quite so quickly and had struck up a conversation with Mr. Weasley as the girls finished their meals.

Alison got up with her own plate and set it in the sink; surely the task could be done with magic, but she preferred to do it herself. As she passed by the doorway she caught sight of Lysienne and Lupin - they appeared to be finishing up with whatever conversation they'd been having. Alison tried to tell by Lysienne's face how it had gone, but as she couldn't stop and look properly, it was hard to tell.

She looked over at Kahvi and Ora, still seated at the table. "If you're done, do you want to go out for a bit?" She glanced at Mrs. Weasley as well, hoping it would be all right. The snow in the Weasley's yard was largely untouched (given the size of their yard) and she thought that perhaps a bit of fun in the snow might be just the thing to work off some of the tension still diffusing through the house. "As soon as Lysienne's free, I mean."

[prime-veridian.livejournal.com]

Ora curiously peered over at Lysienne's conversation with Lupin, wondering what her former DADA teacher had to discuss with her friend--and apparently her friend only. She was distracted from her thoughts by Alison's proposal to go outside.

Ora blinked as she belatedly processed the information. "Sure," she said with a smile, and rose from the table, placing her plate and utensils in the sink. She looked out the kitchen window and at the Weasley's yard covered in snow, and thought it would be the perfect place to have a talk with the girls.

[firespice.livejournal.com]

Unclear on the protocols of the Weasley house, Kahvi hurriedly hopped up following Alison's lead placing her own empty plate in the kitchen sink.

She shivered slightly, catching a glimpse of the white world outside the window, but relaxed as she felt Lysienne's potion in the pocket of her coat. Stepping outside for some fresh (albeit cold) air would afford them all a little privacy to regroup, so she nodded her own agreement to her friends.

[heartswill.livejournal.com]

Lupin was as good as his word; Rolan was tearing happily into a large platter of fresh meat before Lysienne could even utter a protest. She could only thank Mrs. Weasley for her hospitality before following Lupin back into the kitchen.

They entered just as the girls finished washing their dishes. Tonks cast a warm, bright smile at Lupin as she passed by the doorway with her own plate and utensils. “Mind if two old folks come out and romp with you for a bit?” she asked cheerfully as she whisked everything clean with a quick spell. “We might even teach you a new trick or too--like how to put on a proper snowball fight!”

[beater-serpens.livejournal.com]

Alison grinned - she liked Professor Lupin, and while she didn't know Tonks all that well, she knew that the woman liked to have fun. It would certainly prove to be an interesting snow fight, if they came along.

"We'll just have to see who knows what about snowball fighting!" she said, and beckoned to her friends to get their things. There was a flurry of activity, arms and legs and coats and scarves everywhere as they all bundled properly up for the weather ("I won't have anyone getting sick on my watch!" Mrs. Weasley had proclaimed loudly) and piled out the door into the fresh, pristine snow of the Weasleys' large yard.

Alison glanced over at her friends and grinned, glad for the chance to forget everything that was wrong with the world for just a little while, and buckle down and have some real fun.

[OOC: Uh... end here, maybe?]