1994-09-27: Among the Wolves

Participants:

Holly_icon.gif Jack_icon.gif Madeline_icon.gif Davie_icon.gif Spencer_icon.gif

*Guest Starring:* Angry Mob!

Scene Title Among the Wolves
Synopsis After Skeeter's article runs in the Prophet, a mob gathers.
Location Ivy Lane, Hogsmeade
Date Sep 27, 1994
Watch For Padfoot!
Logger Holly

The beautiful house has been… Something'd. The wizarding equivalent of being egged, one would think. Sure, there are a few literal eggs that have been thrown at the house, but that's in addition to the rotten vegetables and various splashes of ugly puke-green colours that have been magicked onto the siding, and one cracked window.

There are half a dozen people standing outside. Not many of them are particularly happy that Holly's opened up a case that should have been shut and forgotten long ago. The majority of people here are all too ready to believe that there's no reason for Black to have a trial - which is exactly the sentiment that Holly's trying to change. Of the attorney, there is no sign. The curtains are drawn on the house, the door is closed, and a perimeter spell near the door pushes anyone away who happens to get too close.

Another egg flies. Splatters against the door.

"Oi, we just wanna talk!" one of the people shouts.

—-

Jack is happily wandering down the street in Hogsmeade, actually, checking out properties for a possible storefront location. He frowns, hoping to find someone to ask about an empty building nearby, when he hears the noise and clatter down the street. Slowly, he walks toward the cluster of people, and taps a man on the shoulder. "What's goin' on, mate?" He nods toward the house. "Who're you egging on, then?"

—-

Madeline has taken a turn off the High Street, where she has clearly been out doing some light shopping, to judge by the bags she's currently carrying. Spotting the bit of upset, her brow furrows and she frowns, though she doesn't do more than just slow warily, continuing on at this new pace towards the disturbance. Once she gets a little closer, she notices Jack as part of the crowd, and that … doesn't really help with her confusion any.

—-

The guy Jack taps looks over his shoulder. He happens to have a chicken in his arm, who's been charmed to lay an egg every few minutes. Poor thing looks exhausted. "Oh. There's some bird in tha' flat there." He nods. "Gave some information to Skeeter, thinks Sirius Black is innocent, she does. She just moved in, too. Don't want any o' that in the neighborhood, y'see. They say she's was in with You-Know-Who, too. One o' the Death Eaters. That she's got the mark carved into her arm with a blade. Darkest of the dark, they say. Don't want my kids around someone like that."

—-

Jack nods, just watching the scene for a moment. "I read that article. She actually brought up some good points…" He speaks softly, so may not be heard. "If the man didn't get a trial…" He shrugs. "Oh, I think he did it…" He attempts to forestall any evil looks his way. "But if he did, it won't hurt to have it all aired out and proven, will it?" Jack's the voice of reason. What is this world coming to? "I knew the guy at Hogwarts, at least somewhat." That's his reason.

—-

Davie is heading home with his father, after a bit of food. The two stop a bit as they see the gathering. "What's goin' on here?" William says, frowning a bit. "Yeah!" Davie echoes. "What's goin' on?" The boy bounces a bit on his feet as he looks among the crowd.

—-

"Bollocks," says Chicken-Man, giving the hen in his arm a gentle shake in order to prompt another egg. "Black's Guilty. Ministry said so. What're we gonna do if we can't trust somethin' in this world, eh?"

Someone approaches the door, only to be warded back by the spell surrounding it. The gathered crowd, having had little success with getting Holly to come out, is starting to justify violence. "If she won't talk, she must be hiding something," someone states, loud enough for the rest to hear. A few mutter in agreement. A couple more people who are unhappy with that prophet article meander over. Another stone flies, hitting the door with a dull thud, and shortly thereafter, a face briefly appears at the window, then vanishes again.

"There she is! Told you she was in there!"

"Careful! I hear she's half Banshee, don't listen to her talk!"

"I hear she's half veela! Don't look at her!"

"I hear she's half centaur!"

…no one responds to that last one.

—-

Jack turns, ignoring the mob for a moment, not really wanting to sort out 'mob mentality' alone, and addresses Madeline. "Hello, Miss Sagace. We do keep running into each other at the oddest times." He smiles brightly, though his eyes convey worry and tension. "Did you catch the article in the prophet?" He nods toward the door.

—-

Having just left a friends flat, Spencer makes his way out onto the lane. Whistling a happy tune, it doesn't take long before he winds up coming up the gathering of people apparently disgruntled with something. "What's this, chaps?" he asks, glancing amongst several of them. "Did I miss some sort of festival, or gathering notice?"

—-

"I- Yes, we do," Madeline does have to agree with that observation. Running into someone at a mob scene neither of them are actually part of. She doesn't seem quite sure about what exactly is going on, and his mixed expression only leads to further confusion. There's an attempt at a smile in return, but it's soon abandoned as she looks back over towards the house. "Which arti- Oh, the one about… Yes. I - I think I did see that one," she replies, glancing over her shoulder as Spencer comes strolling up. But she's still not quite clear enough to answer his question herself.

—-

Meanwhile, inside the house, Holly is attempting to keep her cool. It's hard when you're surrounded by a number of witches and wizards, each armed with magic as well as rocks and eggs. Mo emits a low growl every time something strikes the house, her bright eyes dilated, obviously disturbed.

Someone will fill the newcomers in on the situation - essentially the same story, though embellished a little more each time. In this round of the tale, Holly has two dark marks.

Another rock collides with the window, this time shattering it. Moments later, Holly - looking wuite shaken now - throws open her door, stepping out onto the small porch, wand clenched in a fist at her side. The huge cat is not far behind, stalking onto the porch behind the woman - who doesn't look like she could be a Death Eater, let alone even slightly evil.

"Okay, you've had your fun. You all need to leave now," she says, with an obvious American accent.

—-

"Ooh. She is a Yank." Jack says with a grin. "C'mon folks, the lady's right. No sense in taking the law into your own hands. That's what Black's accused of, right?" He attempts a bit of logic, unsure of how it will turn out. "You don't want to act like him…" He's stretching. He steps over to Spencer. "If you caught the article in the Prophet, that's the Yank Lawyer." He jerks his thumb toward Holly. "They're saying she's a Death Eater because she wants him to have a trial." He shrugs.

—-

Davie turns to the door and waves to Holly. "Hello!" he says enthusastically. "Why are all these people outside your house?" His father puts a chunky hand on his son's shoulder and whispers something in his ear, making the boy's eyes go wide. "Oh…" he says quietly.

—-

Spencer watches the rock enter the domicile via the shattered window. Ah. Mob. "I agree with the lady." Spencer affirms, clearing his throat. "Perhaps it's time you all run along before the Ministry's Law Enforcement department shows up." It's a veiled threat, but then that's Spencer. He's not really one for violence. As Jack fills him in, he nods. "I saw the article, but fail to see how it is grounds to incite violence." And why the heck would a parent allow a child near such a mob?

—-

Madeline seems to have decided that staying close to Jack is the most prudent course of action right now, so she steps over towards Spencer as well, though her attention is only half on the conversation; half of it remains on studying the mob and the woman who steps out to deal with them. Her own opinion on this is harder to read, since her expression is mostly just that same thoughtful bemusement when she's trying to figure people out. "I just am … not quite clear on what this … hopes to accomplish," she finally notes in a quiet undertone.

—-

Tomas, one of Spencer's neighbors turns on him, "You blind!? Things were fine and dandy until SHE showed up! Now she's insulting us, insulting our Ministry and our way of justice!" Looks like he's not deterred by the voices of reason as they approach. Wand in hand, Tomas turns to eye Davie and his father, "You might wanna get your boy away from that Yank! Ain't no place for him to be!"

The wizard with the chicken decides now is a good opportunity to lob another egg straight at Holly, "Go back to America!"

—-

"I don't see you egging Xenophilius Lovegood's house, now." Jack says, shaking his head. "He's been saying similar things… and worse, I hear… for decades." He sighs. "They don't know either, I don't think." Jack says in a lowered tone to Madeline. "C'mon, or I'm going to Roz's and flooing the Ministry." He would, too.

—-

Holly's desperately trying not to raise the wand against anyone. She's only got it out for her own defense, and when the egg comes flying, there's a muttered Protego, and it splatters against the shield. Her arm twitches, brown eyes looking toward Davie as he asks his question. "I don't know," she admits honestly, a crack in her voice. She's still managing to keep it together, but her arm twitches upward just slightly, the words to a curse playing over in her mind. It would be easy.

"I'm not— I'm not going back!" she says, dodging out of the path of a rotten tomato. "Justice needs to be done. Everyone deserves a trial! What would any of you do if the Ministry suddenly took you into custody with no cause!?"

—-

"Tomas, please." Spencer starts, shaking his head lightly. "I fail to see how things are any different now than before she showed up. All she wants to do is ensure that someone gets a fair trial." Reasoning may or may not work. "You would want a fair trial if you were accused of murder, wouldn't you?"

—-

Madeline makes a thoughtful noise at Jack's response, stepping away slightly from Tomas, though she does so subtly. "It seems like an awful lot of trouble to accomplish … nothing," is her next sterling observation, her voice again kept low, though it's possible someone of a different mindset might overhear. The small child gets a look from her, since she thinks she recognizes him, but then, they do tend to blend together.

—-

"You hush pretty boy!," hollers the chicken toting wizard as he threatens to lob an egg Jack's way now. "You seeing her way? I heard you taking up for her and Black just now!" Of course, that's how he's taking Jack's words anyway.

Tomas scowls at Spencer, "I haven't given nobody cause to accuse me of murder. We obey the law and that's that. He done murder, and he's trying to avoid paying further for it! We aren't standing for this American tart taking up for him!""

Along Ivy Street, there are some neighbors standing outside the doors, watching from a safe distance. Others are peeping through their curtains, not getting involved. Although, two doors down, a one eyed witch crows, "I'm calling the Ministry on all your arses! AND YOU JENKINS. You stepped on my marigolds!" For that, the witch throws a hex Jenkins's way, who didn't even see it coming from the old lady.

—-

"As far as I'm concerned, it's over with," William says. "But I'm not getting involved in this mob. Come on, Davie," he says, taking the boy by the hand and pulling him off towards their home. Davie's gaze lingers on Holly as they leave quickly down the road. "Flingin' hexes into a crowd…" the man grumbles as he passes the one-eyed lady's house. "Careless…"

—-

Please, Merlin, just make them leave, Holly thinks to herself. She can deal with this - she knows she can - but a glance back at the shattered window just makes her feel exhausted. She's been putting up with people doing crazy things ever since that article ran, and while she expected attention, she didn't quite expect this. Trying to shy away from anti-ministry propaganda, she says, "Try to imagine… Try to imagine a country where the Ministry could imprison anyone they saw fit. Maybe you, or you— " Pausing, she points at Davie. "Or your son there, sir. This is what I want to stop. I want to make everyone accountable for their actions, including the Ministry."

—-

Spencer returns the scowl right back to Tomas. "You will if one of your rocks hits this…American…and you wind up killing her." he states, moving closer to Tomas. "Have you thought about that? I agree that if Black has done the crime he should do the time. But what if there is proof that he didn't do it? Perhaps we should hear her out."

—-

"Hear, Hear." Jack pipes up, this being a point of discussion between himself, Liam and his father on a regular basis. Jack's the odd man out, unfortunately. "Ladies and gentlemen, just let the lady have her opinion. She's American. Far as we know, You-know-who's not been to America yet." He chuckles, trying to keep it light. "C'mon, folks. Don't want kids getting hurt." Davie being here is a good motivator. "Send her an owl, send the Prophet an owl, but let's leave the woman in peace, huh?" He's trying. He nods to Madeline, as he lowers his voice again. "Yeah. It's really tough to deal with. So many of 'em get the same idea, and it's…" He rolls his eyes. "Their brains go right out their ears."

—-

Madeline glances back over her shoulder as the one eyed witch shouts, but her attention isn't kept away from the mob for more than a fleeting moment. Either she doesn't trust them to turn her back on it, or she doesn't want to miss a moment here. "I don't … think they want to listen to you," she mentions helpfully to Jack, glancing around at the angry people. "If they call the Ministry, they aren't - We won't get in trouble for being here, will we?"

—-

"Listen to her! High n'mighty! Insulting our Minister and government!" Tomas's wand gives off a shower of red sparks as he restrains himself. For now. "She's coming here, telling us how to run things! Like she knows better n'us! Saying we don't know what we're doing!" Despite the stubborn nature of a few, there are some members of the mob that shrink to the back, waiting for the right moment to flee. Old one eye may make good on her threat to call the Ministry, they don't want any trouble! Tomas doesn't notice this, instead he's stalking up to get into Spencer's face, "Turning into a Black lover are you? Funny, never figured you for that sort. Bet you're just waiting on You Know Who's return too!"

The wizard with the chicken grumbles at Jack, and the fact that his hen just can't lay any more eggs. Charm be darned. "C'mon Tina, let's get outta here," he mutters to the hen before disappearing through the mob and then is gone with a POP of Apparition.

From the mob, a few more vegetables and things nastier than such, are lobbed Holly's way.

—-

She's American, so she's crazy. Just like everyone in the UK has bad teeth.

Holly knows she's not crazy. It just seems like the fact that one hundred percent of the population seems to believe that Sirius Black must be guilty is way, way too suspicious. There should at least be some people with a little doubt, but instead, everyone's thrown the man to the wolves.

"And I'm not saying he's innocent," she calls over the raised voices. "All I'm saying is that we need to prove he's guilty. That's all. Evidence that he's guilty." She stresses the 'guilty' part, even if she's not sure that's true anymore. Tell the people what they want to hear to get them out of your yard!

Unfortunately, Holly can't dodge everything that's thrown her way this time. The shield charm repels something particularly nasty, but a tomato explodes as it strikes her shoulder, sending a splash of red everywhere. Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath

—-

William stops. "We may not have much money," he says, turning around, "But we do have rights which the Ministry protects. It'd take too much of a change for anything like that to happen…" he growls. "The government's not perfect, believe me, I know more than most. But it's a long way off from that."

—-

"Aye," Jack's burr starts to peek through. "Aye, but if we're not careful, we'll get there fast enough." He sighs, and shrugs to Madeline. "I don't know. I'd hope they'd recognize we're trying to talk them down, for all th' good it's doin'." He's getting a little frustrated, running a hand through his hair. "Speaking of doing good, I've gotten ahold of my friend about the box. He's finding it for me." He continues to speak quietly to her.

—-

While not one for violent confrontation, Spencer also isn't going to back down or be intimidated. "Call me what you want, but it doesn't change the facts." Spencer smiles, calm and cool. "I'm not the one throwing rocks and vegetables at a visiting witch from an country that is considered an ally. Seriously, Tomas. Do you really think the Ministry is going to commend your actions? I think not." He neatly sidesteps the man so he's got a clear path down the lane. "I'll be in my shop if you wish to talk in a more civilized fashion."

—-

Madeline's eyebrows go up a little as that tomato finally manages to get through Holly's defences. They don't go down too quickly as she listens to Jack's response. "Yes. Well. Here's, ah , hoping then," she notes, as to the Ministry being able to sort out the helpers versus the hinderers here. As the talk turns to the box though, she manages a small smile. "Oh good. I - Thank you. I'll rest easier knowing that's secure." She glances askance at Holly and then looks back to Jack. "Do you … really think she's right about all this?" There's no judgement in her tone either way; she's just trying to confirm.

—-

Tomas's eyes bulge slightly at Spencer's words. They've been neighbors for years! Not that Tomas is seeing things particularly clearly at the moment. He just thinks that Spencer, the witch and that pretty boy are all in league with the enemy for the moment. Although, Spencer has a fair point. Not that he's going to admit it aloud.

More of the mob seems to be dispersing, grumbling and disappointed that things haven't gone further. Several are feeling the same as Tomas. They don't want any trouble with the Ministry, but they believe Black is Voldemort's right hand man, and guilty as sin, and that witch is just stirring up trouble.

—-

Once again, William turns to leave, narrowing his eyes at Holly and almost dragging Davie along behind him. There will definitely be some interesting discussions at the McAdam home…

—-

"I don't know. I kind of admired him and his friends at school, and it was a blow to hear that he'd done…" Jack sighs. "I do know that they just kind of assumed he did it based on Pettigrew's word. Which, yeah, is quite a heavy thing, especially if he was the one to kill him, but…" He shrugs again. "I really don't know, Madeline." He's used her first name again. "It wouldn't hurt to look at the evidence, would it?" He purses his lips.

—-

As the mob starts to leave - or at least quits being so violent - Holly finally steps off her porch. It's hard to distinguish between the people who were trying to help her and the people who were throwing things at her, so before she surveys the damage to her house, she gives them all a glare for good measure.

Inside, she's about ready to cry. She spent so much time making the house look nice.

On the outside, she manages to look amused at the new paint job and the broken window, though her eyes betray her worry, should anyone get close enough to see. She's already in this up to her knees, and is currently unsure if she'll even make it past the initial stages. Bowing her head, she looks at the vegetable remains that are scattered around on her porch, and sighs.

—-

"There's … really no knowing people," Madeline points out neutrally, since it could be a point in either favour - whether he didn't know Black at school when he was looking up at him, or these people don't know Black now. Her gaze lingers around the thinning mob, though at the sound of him using her first name again, it returns to Jack rather promptly. "Apparently it might," she notes, nodding towards what's left of the crowd - though she does seem to get that isn't what he means by 'hurt'. Catching Holly's glare, her eyebrows arch slightly.

—-

Some of those who were just participating in vandalizing Holly's home now seem to be pretending to be nosey gawkers. What? We threw nothing. What's going on here? Even Tomas has seemed to have skulked off with his tail between his legs.

—-

Damsel in distress alert! Jack sees the glare and ignores it. He nods to Madeline, and walks up to the door. "Ma'am, may I help you set this to rights?" He walks slowly, speaking softly. Don't want her to hex first and ask questions later. "With two…" He glances at Madeline again, and then decides he'd better not make the choice for her. "With two of us, it would definitely take a much shorter time." He smiles, holding out a hand without a wand.

—-

Madeline is a bit at a loss as Jack angry woman with the glaring glare. But she doesn't exactly want to stand here alone with the fading remnants of the mob like some sadsack who doesn't know when to give it up. So she again begins to drift after Jack, but moves slowly, waiting to make sure there aren't any hexes being bandied about before she does more than cross the property line.

—-

Indeed! A damsel in distress, albeit an annoyed one. "Sure you don't want to throw a few things my way before hand?" she asks under her breath, surveying the egg that's dripping down her door. "Sorry. I've been putting up with this for most of the day. I'm just trying to make things right. Every— " Instead of going on, she shakes her head, reaching down to scratch Mo between the ears.

"I'd love your help," she eventually states, pausing before reaching out to take the hand. "Holly Maplewood," she says, and glances back at Madeline again. There are no hexes left on the property. The ward around her door dissipated when she stepped over it.

—-

"Jack Noble, ma'am. Pleasure to meet you. It's always good to find people who are willing to shake things up a bit." Jack smiles brightly. "These old codgers need to think things through from time to time. What do you want me to do?" He gestures to the window. "One of us could repair, and the other scour?" He notices Madeline moivng toward them. "Would you like to help?" He doesn't want to pressure. "Miss Maplewood, this is my secretary, of sorts, Miss Madeline Sagace." See, he's polite.

—-

From a safe distance away, a pair of pale eyes over a black muzzle peer out from the bushes. Now that the scene has calmed down, the eyes disappear as the form retreats. Even if there was an escalation, there was nothing he could have done.

—-

"All right," Madeline agrees quietly, but a little warily, still not entirely sure the American woman has completely calmed down and isn't going to throw any hexes her way. But she does venture further onto the property, giving the house a scrutinizing look. And then he gaze returns to Jack and Holly. "It's, ah … good to meet you, Miss Maplewood," she says politely, not quite sure if 'nice' is the right word, given the circumstances.

—-

"Hm," Holly offers quietly. It wasn't her intention to shake things up, really, though it's a hazard of the job. It's not something she's just doing because she just happens to be able to. "I'll work on the window," she says, nodding toward the broken glass. That'll take some work.

Then she looks upward. There are colour charms of all kinds dripping down the fresh paint on the walls. "I think those are going to give me the most trouble," she states.

"Sorry about the circumstances," is her reply to Madeline, with an added sigh. "It's not as if I asked these people to start throwing things at me and Mo. I honestly believe that everyone deserves a fair chance, though."

—-

Jack nods, gesturing to the color-changing charms. "Going to school with … well, with Sirius Black and his friends, I learned a charm or two to take care of those rather quickly." He grins widely, and pulls out his wand. "I'll take care of those. "Miss Sagace, would you like to Vanish the vegetables?" He gives Madeline a smile, as well, proud of the boldness she is showing.

—-

"It would be a strange thing. Asking people to throw things at you. Though I … suppose we've seen stranger," Madeline muses, still in that quiet voice, as she goes back to sizing up the house. When Jack gives her a suggestion though, her attention returns to them and she manages a small smile, nodding her head as she draws her wand. "I - Yes, all right," she agrees.

—-

More than anything, she needs a few friends here, and even if she doesn't really show it — her attention turns, with a scowl — toward the work they all have ahead of them. Her shoulder slump, and she points her wand at the window in order to begin repairing it, fitting the pieces together like a puzzle, finding every single shard of glass that's left on the ground.

Eventually, she turns from her work, wand still raised. "Thank you. Both of you," she offer simply. Not really a woman of too much sentiment, Holly still manages to make her gratitude heartfelt enough, and it's certainly real.

—-

"Certainly, Miss Maplewood." Jack says, turning from removing a particularly nasty chartreuse spot from her wall. "It was the least we could do after that abysmal welcome." He rolls his eyes. "Other than that, how are you finding your stay in Britain?" He makes small talk as he works, continuing to clean up together with two lovely ladies.

—-

"Of course," Madeline replies, still quiet as ever, but managing a demure yet sincere smile for the other woman. She watches Holly for a moment, and then, with a sidelong glance spared for Jack, she turns her attention to vanishing those vegetables. At least hers is a fairly simple task, even if there are quite a few veggies to vanish.

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