An unwanted Discovery

[Watson Firn]

Watson was hardly a man to panic, he was hardly a man to panic at all to be quite frank. Though when he took step out of his workplace an unearthly feeling rushed over him - he knew that something was wrong, something was up. He heard cries of spells from an Alley near by. He had only just left work and he was quite honestly in no rush to the destination where the cries were heard. He was however when the sound of a light smashing occurred. Taking to a dash, Watson rounded into the Alley to take his gaze to meet the broken lamp. It was then that his eyes trailed down to the body that lay in the alley itself. What hour was guilty of this? Who had done such a thing to a man, leaving him motionless in an Alley. Blinking slowly, Watson soon came to realize that the man that he would soon come to find was no regular Wizard. By this point, everything around him appeared to be moving in slow motion, his head was almost feeling as if it was going to tumble right off of his shoulders.

Rushing over to the body, Watson slid to his knees, taking the mans head into his own hands, supporting him as if there was some sort of life left in him. The entire time that he had been on his way from the other side of the alley, Watson had picked the death to be one caused by magic. No. Something had clearly struck the mans temple, he had been physically obstructed, not so much as by a simple spell. The blood from the man's head was soon on Watsons hands. He could feel the trickling of it. The Head of the Auror Department had come to his end - had meat his doom - had breathed his last breath. Throwing his eyes up to look around the Alley, Watson placed the loyal mans head back onto the ground, gently. Rushing to either side of the Alley he set up a perimeter with an assortment of things that he could find left around in the Alley itself.
"Nothing to see here folks, move along." he spoke to each and every person who came to pass through the alley. By God, the amount of media attention this was going to lure - the amount of worry it was going to force into the Wizarding world. If the Head of the Auror Department could be murdered, who was safe?

Eyes darting back to the body, Watson removed his jacket and as he made his way back over to the body, the jacket had found itself a new owner; the deceased Auror. He hadn't had the strength of will in him to examine the body just yet, but he had managed to take a glimpse of the mark.... the mark that would cause the most media attention of all - the most worry of all. Ensuring that some Ministry Officials were watching over the perimeter but not what had occurred inside, Watson apparated himself back to the Ministry and alerted those who needed to be... those who were available. What a dark day this had been...
Quickly, Watson apparated himself back to the crime scene and now, ensured that the area was properly taped off.

 

[Kira Carter]

Kira was finishing off some paperwork before heading home. It was an ordinary day at the Ministry, filled with paperwork. Ever since Kira had become an Auror she had been itiching to get out in the field, but the Death Eaters were being smart and laying low as of late. As she started to clear up for the day she heard some commotion outside, curious she went to see the problem. Seeing a fellow Auror looked somewhat flustered she enquired the problem. Horror became clear on the young Auror's face, telling the man to go back to the scene, Kira - always thinking one step ahead - made her way to the Minister's Office, she just hoped he hadn't left yet.

 

[Stefan Vanderzuk]

With accountancy came long hours. Long hours with insufferable muggles. The days he worked privately for clients often reaped the best rewards, allowing the dark wizard an opportunity to escape the office he was tied to in employment. Simply dispatching with his colleagues was not an option, he had a cover to keep; and wouldn't be idiotic enough to blow it. Paper-work was always a daunting task, but one Stefan preferred to complete away from home. Time with his wife was just that; work would never cross over.

As the hours slipped by, Stefan began to feel tired. He had been working hard over the past four days for a Chinese client. A client who owned several large businesses, and required the finances organised for each. Sipping on his coffee, the relatively young man ran through the numbers on page twelve of thirty-six a final time. If his checking matched with his earlier counts, it was time to call it; and head home. Fortunately, after another twenty-or-so minutes, everything totalled correctly.

Marking the page, Stefan took another sip of coffee. "Urghh.". The drink had been cold for quite a while, and had less of a taste to it. With a motion of his hand, the cup vanished. After checking his desk a final time, the tired gentleman reached for his coat; and made his way from the fourth floor office. The lights extinguishing, and doors closing; each of their own accord, as the man left.

- - -

Choosing to walk for a short while, mostly to relax, Stefan pulled his coat around him; as a slight; cool breeze fluttered past. The light of the moon allowed the Death Eater to feel in his element. Many dark nights had been used to hunt and destroy a slew of victims; each one more deserving of their death than the last. Drawing in the fresh air around him, Stefan's breaths where steady as he paced towards home. The freedom of the night caused time to slip past almost un-noticed.

The previously tired accountant passed through the shadows of buildings, his expensive; tailored shoes tapping a regular rhythm with each step placed. That was, until the man cast his eyes up-wards. A familiar shape shimmered between the clouds, glowing along-side the light of the moon. Instinct told him to leave the area. Experience, however, told him he was likely being watched. Moving forward, the Death Eater decided to see just why the Dark Mark was high and proud.

 

[Joanne Alraur]

Out for another night socialising with friends, Joanne happily danced the early morning into view; as the drinks of the evening continued to circulate her system. It wouldn't be long before she had to head home, and so chose to savour ever last second on the dance floor; the music thumping through her ear-drums. Her hearing had numbed along with her other senses, but the buzz kept her moving.

Hearing the voices of her friends, and feeling the arms pulling against her; the bubbly woman knew, un-fortunately, it was time to leave. Laughing as she exited the club, Joanne felt a shiver as the cold night air bit into her bare skin. Her sleeveless; semi-transparent top doing nothing to keep her warm. "We'll see you during the week girls.". The party split themselves into smaller numbers, before each making their own way towards their humble abodes. "Come on Joanne, before I bloody freeze to death.". Laughter echoed through the night, and two women set off through the moon-light.

- - -

It wasn't long before the two staggering party-goers giggled their way through the quiet side-streets, and on towards the New Zealand Ministry offices. "Oop.". The second woman stumbled in her heals slightly, causing Joanne to pull her up whilst trying not to fall herself. Laughing, the fun-loving woman began to whisper. "Maybe if.. maybe if you fall over, an Auror will come to rescue us.". The two woman burst into laughter. "Shhh. We don't.. don't want to frighten the younger ones away.". The pair where clinging onto each other now, unable to speak from the nights earlier enjoyment; and the fits of laughter they where constantly in.

Rounding a corner, the laughter quietened as the two saw a taped off area; and several people seemingly gawking at something. "Shhh.". The other woman placed her fingers on Joanne's lips. "It might be a free Auror show.". Once again the sound of laughter broke out, rushing through the quiet night air.

 

[Andros Carter]

He had just finished his work and Andros had been meaning to ask Kira on a date again but he had narrowly missed her as she scooted off.
Cursing his luck, he followed out in the hope of seeing her but then..
Something was very wrong. Almost immediately, Andros had his wand out.
"What's going on?" He asked a man he recognized as an auror.
His eyes then fell to the jacket on the floor covering something. Someone. A body.
Andros felt sick.
Someone was dead. He had no idea who but that did not matter right now.
It was only once Andros, trying to get his head round the situation, looked up that he realized things were a lot worse than they had first seemed; the dark mark hung there in the sky.

Andros instinctively stood before the crowd, trying to hold them back.
"Please.." Andros said weakly, "Everybody just go.." But his request was lost to the chill air as more people arrived to gawp.

 

[Aphrodite Fox]

Aphrodite knew what tonight was, so she decided to stay out a little later then she usually did, just to see the final result. She was wearing a dark, heavy cloak over her growing belly, and she 'decided she wanted to take a detour home' from the restaurant she had dined at. She saw something familiar in the sky, but pretended to be horrified, when truly, she was glowing.

She noticed the commotion that was all around the alley that Scott had been killed, and she pretended to be shocked. Aphrodite tried to peer over the investigating aurors as they examined the body, and she saw a puddle of blood around his covered head. The Dolohov curse, I should have expected no less from Thorine. She thought to herself, keeping her actress face on. Wanting to spark more fear amongst the crowd, she disguised her voice, gruffing it up a little, and yelled out, "It's an Auror!" From behind a larger man, and she scurried off talking to herself in a higher tone of voice.

 

[Stefan Vanderzuk]

The sound of tapping faded into the night as Stefan closed in on the location the Dark Mark indicated. Childish laughter broke out from a short distance away, carried on the steady breeze that continued to flutter past. With his coat buttoned fully, and his hand pressed into the pockets, the accountant arrived at a scene. A scene already occupied by a small crowd. "It's an Auror!", A relatively deep voice called out. Stefan's eyes flicked towards a woman scuttling away. Paying the, what seemed to be a subtle move, no mind, the Death Eater moved closer to the taped area.

Not one of the persons on the other side of the tape resembled a uniformed police officer, and it would be un-likely every officer in the area would be plain-clothed. This small detail, and the shimmering mark high above gave Stefan reason to confirm the slaying of an Auror. With several members of the crowd now talking in rushed voices, the accountant could feel the panic start to spread. Removing his right hand from his pocket, Stefan placed it against the tape; and leaned in for a closer look. It must be an important target.

"An Auror has been killed!". Stefan's voice rippled with the sound of fear. "The sky! My family? Are we safe?".

 

[Joanne Alraur]

Whilst they attempted to breath, the two party-goers laughed into the night; staggering closer to the small crowd which had begun to grow around the scene ahead. "It's an Auror!". A voice past over their ears as they pushed their way to the front. "It is an Auror show!", Joanne's friend called out. Standing beside the tape, neither of the two saw the body laying motionless on the ground. The dark; the damaged street light; and the chemicals flowing through their bodies hindered their senses.

With their giggles still escaping, the worried questions from a man at the opposite end where never heard. "Take your shirt off!". Laughter echoed through the night air once more.

 

[Jonathan DiMera]

Having apparated away just before the other auror arrived on the scene, Jonathan decided to stick around to see his handy work. He reappeared in an alleyway a few blocks away, banishing his tell-tale robes and mask to his home. Glad he had chosen to wear all black to Scott's demise, he made his way out from the alley and started to walk back towards the scene of the crime. Feigning shock as he closed in on the group, he mixed with the crowd, expressing surprise at the beautiful mark in the sky that he had sent up not too long ago.

Assessing the growing crowd, he kept his face stoic. A few faces he recognized from his time as a shopkeeper in town, and as well a few colleagues. Jonathan kept quiet mostly, but couldn't help but smirk when a few drunken partygoers showed up and thought it was a peep show.

 

[Nicolette Styx]

Seeing the dark mark in the sky, not only excited Nicolette, but had her curious about the whole scene as well. Thankfully for her the babies were being watched by the caretaker while she went out and did some shopping for some things for her and the children. Her yellow dress swished behind her as she walked towards the scene, it already seemed like the mark had attracted a crowd, and that pleased her to see that these people knew all to well what that mark meant. Nicolette even noticed some of her fellow teammates checking out the scene, however she tried her to best to ignore them and pretend that she had never met these people before.

"Oh my. What happened here?" Immediately hearing that it was an Auror she faked a shock and horrified look, one that could fit easily on that soft and pretty face of hers. Even if she was insane and a fellow Death Eater, she could easily fake sadness for someone she never knew or really cared about, that was the good thing about being bubbly a good portion of the time. Hushed tones were everywhere and even the fact that Aurors were there seemed to do little to worry her. "This is terrible." She gasped, trying to get a peak at what happened, how had they killed him off? Seeing as she was involved in the planning, she knew who had done it...but not how.

 

[Abathyn Dalmoir]

Abathyn was walking Jaimee. She had had a long day, and the young infant had only just gotten to sleep. The cries of "Its an Auror!" were carrying down the street, and Abathyn wondered what was happening. She moved closer and mingled with the back of the group, craning her neck to see the drama unfold. At least it's not my fault this time, she thought, realizing that the group were gawking at a dead body. She rocked Jaimee's pram blankly as she listened to the cries of the onlookers. She laughed inwardly at the drunk girls- hadn't that been Abathyn a few years ago? Abathyn forgot her memories and wondered the same thing as the worried looking man; What will happen to us now?

 

[Fiona Kovac]

Having been sent away early by her boss, whom wished to remain at the the office to complete paper work of his own, Fiona was rather surprised to be disturbed by a fellow Auror; one whom had also been dismissed for the night. After arriving home, the mother of one had checked in on her sleeping son; before making a small bite to eat, and settling down with her husband to watch a muggle movie on one of those television devices. Not having such methods of entertainment in their world, it made for a nice change once in a while.

The knock on the front door wasn't what worried the woman, it was the rushed; mostly scared explanation. The head Auror, her boss; the man she had spoken too a short time ago, had been murdered. This had to be some kind of joke. Fearing the worst, Fiona muttered a quick 'I'll be back shortly, I forgot something at work.' to her husband; before apparating back to the ministry. The crime had taken place out-side, so it was appropriate to arrive in-side; and then walk out.

What she saw caused her stomach to tighten. It hadn't been a sick joke. It was real. Stepping towards the scene, Fiona heard the scared voices of the crowd; along with what seemed to be a pair of immature drunks laughing over the death of another human being. Before she was able to confront the two women, the Auror caught words which would undoubtedly cause a spread of panic. "An Auror has been killed! The sky! My family? Are we safe?". Casting her eyes up-wards, sure enough; there it sat. The Dark Mark.

Jumping in to crowd control, Fiona raised her voice. "There is no reason to panic; we have no indication the victim was an Auror. All we know is someone has been murdered, and an investigation shall begin shortly. For now, we would like you all to remain calm.". Her details where intentionally vague. Having just arrived at the scene, there would be little way she knew if the victim was male of female. Knowing her response may not help in calming the growing crowd, Fiona hoped it might be enough to allow her colleagues to greater assess the situation.

 

[Stefan Vanderzuk]

With his strong beliefs in honour and respect, Stefan had learnt to show discipline at all times. He wasn't about to run around the scene of a murder crying about the loss of another, but he could show his concern where it was required. And right now, it was an emotion needed more than any other. Continuing to hear the cries from the crowd, the accountant turned his head to the side; taking in the amount of people that had arrived. If something went wrong, he would need to use them as cover for his escape. A few more deaths would give the Aurors a job to do.

As he surveyed the crowd, the focused man heard the commotion of the two drunk ladies. It struck him that they had very little idea what was truly occurring within the chill of the night air. Within the crowd, Stefan caught sight of familiar faces. It was certainly becoming an interesting night.

Not flinching for any facial recognition, the accountant turned his attention towards the other side of the tape; where another woman had appeared and started addressing the crowd. Being close to the ministry may be the down-coming for any further action tonight. Taking in the woman's words, Stefan expressed no motion other than a look of panic. If the crowd could be worked into a frenzy, it would be harder to control. Standing close to a man next to him, the Death Eater lowered his voice. "The mark is in the sky. It was Death Eaters.", and as if right on cue; his puppet began to cry out. "Can you not see what is in the sky! Death Eaters have killed an Auror, and non of us are safe any more. If you where all good at your jobs, non of this would be happening!". Stefan was proud. Let the chaos rain.

 

[Sakura Gemini]

It was not that anyone was on a particular shift in regards the auror department, she had never heard of anyone doing a night shift they merely were on call constantly. Sakura was about to grumble aloud when she left work was nearly home only to discover she had forgotten a few things. It was typical really the one night that she had something planned and she was going to be late. Returning to the office took no time at all but as she neared the building she saw a group of people all seeming to be upset or frenzied about something. A persons voice calling about a dark mark had her slowly raising her head to the night sky. She gasped, a hand instantly clutching her chest. Never would she have believed it possible that she would see one in her day.

Pushing her way through the crowd to locate whoever was in charge for surely someone had to be, she spotted Watson and walked directly to him. Faltering as she did so when her eyes caught sight of Scott Anderson. Pulling herself together she muttered to Watson that she would take care of the crowd, try to keep them under control as best she could. Shaking slightly and having paled considerably she walked back to the people huddled around trying to get a better look.

"Please, just go about your business. There is nothing for you to see here. The aurors will take care of it, please just keep back" this was too much, Scott's deathly pale face staring up at her would be for ever imprinted on her mind.

 

[Samson Kolpeck]

Samson left the hospital after a very long day and deciding a walk would do him the world of good compared to using the floo network, he greatly regretted that decision but a moment later. Scratching his head his gaze caught something green and wispy floating in the sky. His heart lurched remembering how often he had seen it during the wizarding war. Scanning the area he knew someone was dead but who? He could hear voices in the distance, raised and becoming rowdy. Removing his wand he ran in the direction and when he found himself near the ministry he came to an abrupt halt. Someone had been killed at the ministry?

Making his way through the crowd gathered at the front of an alley way, Samson put his wand away. He looked at two women standing there obviously on crowd control.
"I'm a healer. Master healer at the hospital" of course it was too late for him to do anything but the body would have to be brought back to St. Mungo's. Be left in the mortuary so that any family could be contacted. Approaching the body and the man who seemed to be in charge, he nodded his head towards the man. At any other time he would have extended his hand but Samson did not feel this moment required formal introductions of that magnitude.
"Samson Kolpeck, director of Mungo's" he knelt down beside the body. His brief check left him sorely grieved. There wasn't a mark on the man but from his face it was clear he had died a painful death. Samson knew he would have to take the body away for certain now in order to do a postmortem. With a sigh he ran a hand through his greying hair as he stood up to look at the other man.
"Can you create a portkey for me, I'll need to get him to St. Mungo's. I'd prefer it if one of your aurors even yourself were to come as well" he would truly feel saver that was for sure.

 

[Cynthia Vandervoort]

Cynthia hadn't expected to find news but she wasn't one to turn away from it either, especially when she had a rare opportunity to be Erica, Fatima, or any of the other Daily Prophet Reporters. She may have just been a gossip columnist but a story was still a story. Cynthia heard the shouts and the screams about an Auror being murdered and made her way towards the scene. Cynthia was surprisingly fast in her high heels as she came upon the scene apparently someone had been murdered and as Cynthia tried to get closer she could just make out a face. "Cynthia Vandervoort, Daily Prophet!" Cynthia said loudly and dramatically as she made her way closer to the front. "Is that Scott Anderson director of the Auror Department!" Cynthia called out with an almost glee in her voice "Who killed him and how?" Cynthia asked speaking very loudly and very fast trying to bombard the Aurors with questions that she could use in perhaps her best article yet.

"What were the rest of the Aurors doing while Mr.Anderson was being brutally murdered!" Cynthia asked hoping to gather the crowds attention around her, she knew people loved a good story almost as much as she loved being the center of attention. "Will there be an inquiry about the work practices of the Aurors now that they have failed to save one of their own?" Cynthia asked with an unmistakable cackling sound in her voice as her quill began writing down everything it could hear as fast as it could, the writing wasn't very neat but Cynthia would be able to figure it out later as her Flashy Flash Filmer began taking as many pictures as it could flying all around in order to get all the different sides of Scott Anderson and the painful expression on his face that showed he had died in a manner not befitting of anyone.

 

[Corinne Kolpeck]

Corinne had been just as late as her father leaving the hospital and just as exhausted by the excruciating day that she had put down and yet as she began to head home she too became aware of distant screams and looking upward shuddered violently against the wall as she witnessed the disturbing image of the dark mark looming in the nights sky. It seemed quite literally to take over as if it were the aurora borealis or something equivalent. There was no beauty in the green strange light that filled the sky though, it meant only one thing and though this was her first time ever seeing one Corinne knew exactly what that one thing was, death.

So like her father in many ways she removed her own wand and headed directly to where the mark seemed to hang over. She could not of course help whoever was dead but there might be others who were injured. It took her about ten minutes to finally get to the area where the crowd had gathered, aurors were pushing people back and trying to keep the crowd calm and would be doing a fine job of it too if it weren't for the loud mouth reporter. Corinne recognized the woman from her picture in the Prophet and glared with disgust at her. It never took the vultures long to circle did it.
"You'd be best keeping your voice down and trying to get your story by asking people individually instead of inciting all sorts into this crowd"she fumed then seeing her father began to walk over, stopping by a woman policing the area and letting her know who she was. Going over directly to her fathers side she glanced at the figure on the ground and sighed before looking first from her father to the man near by.
"Are there any other casualties?" she didn't mean to sound so blunt but she stared death and gore in the face every day, it was amazing what the human body could adapt too when it had to.

 

[Sakura Gemini]

The crowd was becoming substantially bigger and rowdier, it took all her patience to keep them back without losing her temper. Her boss was dead on the ground, his people were trying to do the best they could and here were a bunch of vipers out for a nose and gossip. Had people seriously nothing else better to do? A man approached stating who he was and nodding her head she let him pass through. At least they had a doctor on the scene now, of course no amount of doctors could bring Scott back to life. Sakura felt herself gag, wanting to physically wretch from the sight she had seen. How could someone do that? Her legs felt weak but she took a deep breath and continued to assure the crowd that everything was being taken care of and if they could all disperse that would be the biggest help of all. She should have known though that the gossipers from the press would be out as well and wanted now nothing more than to throw up all over Cynthia Vandervoort and her malicious loud mouthed questions and lies.

Before she had time to say anything to her another woman spoke up, Sakura could have applauded her but managed to refrain herself just in time. This woman it appeared was also a doctor and daughter of the man already beside Scott's body and Wattson. Something made Sakura look up wards and realizing that no one had removed the mark from the sky she took out her wand and did the job herself. It felt good to clear the night sky of such filth, her gaze fell once more on the newshound wishing she could clean her up just as quickly.
"I am not at liberty to answer any of your questions. I am sure the ministry will have a press conference and you will be informed of everything that you need to know then. Now please Miss you are causing an obstruction here. Move along".

 

[Esmerelda Smickett]

Esmerelda had been having dinner with an old friend, the evening was cool enough for winter and after such a heavy feed she decided to walk a few blocks. Smiling to herself she allowed herself to think about the youngsters in her life. Soon they would all be returning back from school to her and her little Epiphany would once again be going to the Paramore's. She had really grown quite fond of the little girl. Some commotion up ahead startled her and she gathered her handbag closer as she approached. People were huddled about and words such as 'dark mark' and murder were rife in the air.

Esmerelda gasped clutching her bag tighter to her, not knowing what good that would do but feeling slightly better for doing it all the same. Looking upwards she saw it and nearly fainted. She had seen many of those marks in her day and never thought she would see one again. Her eyes scanned through the crowd and though she was smaller than many there she was still able to catch sight of a man on the ground.
"Blessed be I hope he'll be alright" she whispered and as some of the ministry members were asking the crowd to move on she did exactly that. Still clutching her hand bag and shaking her head. By the time she got home she was in need of a stiff drink hoping that the man was alright but knowing that the mark was only ever posted when there was a death. It was not until the paper was out the following day that she discovered who it was though.

 

[Cynthia Vandervoort]

"I'm sorry but I'm afraid that I must insist on staying and ask my questions, the people need to know" Cynthia said smirkishly to the healer as she turned towards the Auror that mentioned something about a press conference and getting the questions later. An evil thought crept into Cynthia head and soon out of her mouth as she took a step back and placed a hand on her chest"Oh My!" Cynthia exclaimed so that everyone could hear her "Are you saying the Ministry wants time to cover this up!" Cynthia said referring to the air where the mark had been only moments ago "I can't believe the Aurors want to cover up the murder of Scott Anderson!" Cynthia said as she pushed forwards once more "That's why you want everyone to leave and not answer any questions isn't it!" Cynthia accused with a devilish smile on her face. "Does the minister have to do with this, does this have anything to do with their rumored love affair gone sour!" Cynthia asked loudly wanting to spread gossip as far as she could while ensuring that anyone who hadn't read her works were going to want to from now on. "What's your name?" Cynthia asked darkly to the young Auror girl that had just given her so much to work with then Cynthia could possibly have imagined.

 

[Martha Silverback]

Martha walked up to the seen after hearing the sound of a harpy yelling something about a Ministry Cover up, holding her hand was her grandson Luthor whom she had taken on a shopping trip "What's going on?" Martha asked sternly imposing an air of importance as she tried to get close to the Aurors without breaking Luthor's arm. "What's this about a cover up?" Martha asked once more, being a representative for New Zealand's Ministry it was more then her duty to find out what was going on and possibly work on damage control before an out of control situation was made worse by other people's incompetence. Martha finally got to the tip of the crowd where the blond harpy from the Prophet was asking more questions, "What's going on?" Martha Silverback asked pointedly not used to waiting this long for answers "Who's been murdered?" Martha asked turning towards one of the Aurors that was present on the seen, she wanted to know how disastrous this was going to look to the rest of the Wizarding World and possibly try to hinder any damaging effects it might have on New Zealand's tourism which had seen a great boost in recent years.

 

[Stefan Vanderzuk]

The entire night was becoming better by the second. The Aurors appeared to be in a panic; and where finding it difficult to control the large crowd of people desperate for answers. It was obvious to Stefan that they hadn't dealt with such an incident for quite some time, otherwise the body would have been removed; and the whole situation covered just as soon as it began. Blending in to the crowd a little more, the accountant watched as another Auror arrived; and tried to send everyone away. It was too late now. No-one would leave until their answers had been given.

With more time passing, more people arrived. One of whom introduced himself as a Healer. It was an impressive position, but wouldn't do much good with a deceased person. Almost as if the scene was a magnet for gossip, a voice broke out from the rear of the crowd. The Daily Prophet had arrived. Rumours and gossip would spread. Aurors would be shamed. Death Eaters would be feared. As the representative from the Prophet made her way to the front, questions left her lips and bombarded the Aurors still attempting to handle the un-settled numbers in front of them. It was almost poetic. However, a new arrival to the scene, for some reason, decided to spoil the fun. Speaking to the reporter, instructing her to cease injecting further panic into the crowd. From his side of things, her words where not hurting anyone. When the woman continued forward, and spoke to the Aurors; Stefan understood she too was a Healer. He was rather thankful his wife was not here. She had been itching for a kill since their arrival, and tonight's crowd would have drew her in like a moth to a flame.

Words where directed towards the continuous questions of the reporter, as one of the Aurors gave the basic line for not answering questions. This was a mistake. People would have their own ideas; their own speculation; and spread un-true information, which would hurt the ministry a lot more than if they stated the facts that where blatantly obvious to everyone now anyway. As if she was bread for this, the reporter ripped into everything the Auror had said. The poetry had become priceless art. Priceless art which caught the attention of someone giving off an air of importance. The latest arrival to the scene began to ask questions of her own, looking for answers to the current mess. Stefan wondered how long he should remain for. He had little reason to stay, and enough gossip was now circulating to keep people feared for some time.

 

[Arwen Pentreath]

Arriving on the scene from the other end of the alley Arwen came to an abrupt stop. She often left the ministry late and tonight had been no exception, Levi was on his way wanting to tidy up some very last minute things as always. The crowd at the other end of the alley did not phase her at all, what did was the sight of Scott Anderson prone on the cobbled alley way. There were people around him and she could only guess that they were ministry officials at least she hoped they were. Walking closer she took out her wand best to be prepared for any eventuality.

"Who are you and what in the blazes is going on here?" life in the unspeakable department kept her far from other ministry officials, so faces meant nothing to her. The body of one of the few she did know was ghastly to look upon so she directed her question once more to the three nearest the body. Voices raised from the crowd meant only one thing that reporters were already on the scene. She watched as one young woman raised her wand to the sky and looking up saw for the first time the dark mark hanging there. The woman removed it and Arwen nodded in her direction, she would have enough to contend with keeping the mob in order. Turning back once more she sighed running a hand through her hair.
So the death eaters were alive and kicking were they?

 

[Joanne Alraur]

Still laughing, and not fully aware of the situation taking place, Joanne and her friend stood against the tape as the crowd around them grew. After several moments, voices could be heard; and they weren't happy. Shaking her head, Joanne attempted to re-gain her focus. Yes they had had an enjoyable night out, but if something was happening here; she needed to have her mind capable of processing actions. Not completely understanding the words being spoken, the cheerful woman managed to pick out those no-one wished to hear.

People where arguing; shouting; or seemed rather worried. Trying not to wobble too much, Joanne watched as one of the women on the other side of the tape raised her arm up-wards. Following the action with her eyes, Joanne's stomach turned as she caught sight of the glimmering mark high above. Whether it was the amount of chemicals flooding through her body, or the realisation of what may have happened, Joanne lurched forward; and she vomited. The night had not ended so well.

 

[Watson Firn]

Within moments it seemed that the small crowd had become huge. He and the other Auror's in the area were swarmed with questions and amounts of people which were rather hard to deal with, considering the situation at hand. He kept quite for a while, after all Watson didn't want to much attention on himself but it was when the Crowd began shouting things involving their safety that triggered something in the Firn.
"Now I assure you, you are all in safe hands. The Ministry has to deal with this matter, and we will do so sufficiently. I want all Civilians to back away from the scene, Immediatley!" he called rather loudly so that every one could hear him. "All reporters, take your things and wait off to the side some where... Questions will be answered when the time is right, However, Now is NOT the time!" his voice was stern and almost threatening. He didn't want to have to deal with the media at the current time, not even the Civilians in the area were something that he wanted to deal with. The shock of finding their once boss dead, was more then enough to stun him for the day.