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Post by Rutger Kilborn on Mar 4, 2011 1:20:52 GMT -5
Rutger shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Kryshna needs to believe that everything is clear. If she even suspects that we might be onto her, she'll probably turn and run, and we'll lose our chance with her. She needs to think that it's all going according to whatever was planned for her."
As it was, they were going to have to be careful not to leave any sign that they were there. He was even worried about whether or not she would be able to smell their scents. He'd have to tell Alana not to wear that perfume she always wore. Maybe there was even a way they could cloak their scents... he'd have to research that when they got back.
They had reached the turn in the hallway, and Rutger saw why the suits of armor could be a problem. The whole hallway was lined with them, all on the right side of the wall. A couple of them seemed to be engaged in conversation with each other, and one of them held out a long spear as they approached.
"Hark! Who goes there?" it said.
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Post by Isabella Rothschild on Mar 4, 2011 1:32:11 GMT -5
Isabella sighed. The suit didn't do this every time, but it did it often enough that it would be a concern for tonight. She had learned what to say to make it go away, and it was at least a little better than the one at the other end that asked a lot of questions. But this would definitely call attention to them if it happened tonight.
"At ease, good sir," she said in an irritated tone. The suit relaxed instantly and returned to its spot against the wall, frozen for the time being.
"It shouldn't see you if you use Disillusionment charm or an invisibilty cloak," she whispered as they moved past it. "My office is there, third door down on the left."
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Post by Rutger Kilborn on Mar 6, 2011 22:19:00 GMT -5
Rutger didn't like it. No matter what Ms. Rothschild said, he didn't quite believe that a talking suit of armor would be fooled by a Disillusioning charm. After all, it couldn't possibly "see" them as it was... it had no eyes. If it was motion-activated, it wouldn't need to see them to react. And anything that might call attention to their presence was a problem.
"Is it possible to immobilize it?" he asked. "Or silence it, at least... even temporarily?"
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Post by Isabella Rothschild on Mar 6, 2011 23:11:19 GMT -5
Isabella looked back at him and nodded. "I'm sure Dumbledore can arrange something. It doesn't do that every time, but you're right to be concerned. I want to make sure this killer is caught, too... I have a family to protect."
She thought of Voltaire, still down in his class and completely unaware of what was going on. He should be here for this... but pulling him out of class would only raise more suspicion. She would just have to explain everything to him later.
She reached the door of her office then, and quickly unlocked it, leading the two men into the room. "Our chambers are through there," she said, pointing to another door at the far end. "Do you want to set the trap in here, or would you rather hide in there to wait for her to show up?"
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Post by Rutger Kilborn on Mar 7, 2011 22:58:35 GMT -5
Rutger barely had to think about it. This room had too many variables in it... too many places to hide, and too many things that Kryshna could use to gain an advantage to escape. There were shelves lined with heavy books, there were file cabinets, cages filled with dark creatures, and a wardrobe in the corner that, judging by the way it was shaking, probably contained a boggart. Rutger narrowed his eyes at this. He did not like boggarts, and if this one were to get free, he would have a serious problem.
"I think it would be better to hide in your chambers, if you don't mind. Kryshna shouldn't suspect that we're waiting for her. Besides, the layout of this room makes it difficult to control. Someone should wait in here and hide, though, just in case she gets away from us and gets back in here. Can you clear that wardrobe?"
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Post by Isabella Rothschild on Mar 7, 2011 23:34:14 GMT -5
Isabella was afraid he would say that. She wasn't completely comfortable with having other people in her bedchamber. But it made sense, and obviously the assassin would want to come after them in their chamber, expecting that they would be asleep. The best advantage they had was the element of surprise--she would not expect them to be awake and ready for her, or to have aurors as backup. Still, it was hard to feel comfortable with the idea of so many people being in their bedroom.
She nodded, then glanced at the wardrobe. "Oh, yeah... there's just a boggart in there. I was saving it for one of my classes, but I'm sure I could find another one. I can deal with it now, if you want."
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Post by Rutger Kilborn on Mar 7, 2011 23:43:46 GMT -5
Rutger just barely managed to hold back a shudder as he held his hands up. He didn't want anyone to see how he would react to a boggart, which for him would become a dementor. And dementors paralyzed him.
"No... no, that isn't necessary right now... But it probably shouldn't be here tonight. If it gets loose while we're trying to catch Kryshna, it could be a problem. And the wardrobe would be a good hiding place for someone in here, to act as back up if she gets away."
It was convenient that he had an excuse for getting rid of it. He was sure no one would question that.
"Daniel, do you think you or Sean--or both of you--could hide in here, but let her pass through to get into the bedchamber? Just in case she gets away from us... it would be good to have extra backup in here."
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Post by Daniel Leviner on Mar 8, 2011 0:36:32 GMT -5
Daniel didn't care to much for dealing with boggarts either, but if he had to he could deal with them. The only things that really scared him was losing his brother, or being a huge disappointment to his father. Those were really the only things that he was truly scared of, or that he was actually willing to admit to himself.
He was busy looking at everything possible in the room. Daniel was taking mental notes, thinking of ways that they could set something up. His thoughts were interrupted when Rutger addressed him. "Yeah, we could hide in here. Of course, we have to cover our scent during this whole thing, that includes everyone else who helps out too." Daniel hated vampires with a passion. He never understood them, and this one was no different. He was more than willing to capture this one, especially with everything that had already happened.
"But we can worry about that later. We'll have this room covered." Daniel didn't really want to tell Sean that he couldn't come, but he knew that would just turn into a huge argument. He wanted to avoid tension as much as possible today, especially with the small chance they had to stop this thing tonight.
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Post by Isabella Rothschild on Mar 9, 2011 0:58:40 GMT -5
Isabella must have missed the part where they mentioned that they were dealing with a vampire. But if they wanted to mask their scents, then it would have to be either a werewolf or a vampire. Since it was nowhere near a full moon, it must be a vampire. Isabella shuddered at the memory of the vampire she had dealt with a few years earlier... they truly were nasty creatures.
"If you need to mask your scent, I can actually get a potion for that from Professor Slughorn. I've been working with him for my seventh year defense class... dealing with potions that defend against dark creatures and spells."
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Post by Daniel Leviner on Mar 9, 2011 13:32:48 GMT -5
"That would be perfect actually," Daniel said. He wanted to make sure that there was no way that Kryshna would see or smell any of them. After all, once she was caught, they would possibly have some sort of break for a little while.
"While we're in the rooms we could always use the disillusion charm." Daniel looked over to Rutger. "So, do you have any ideas of how we're going to actually catch her?"
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Post by Rutger Kilborn on Mar 9, 2011 22:07:47 GMT -5
Rutger was listening to all of this, but his mind was also working ahead. Daniel was right; they needed to make sure they were actually going to catch her tonight... they could not let her slip away this time.
"The potion would be good," he agreed. "Also, she could hear our heartbeats. If she hears three or four extra heartbeats than she's expecting, she might back out. We've got to find a way to conceal the sound, so she doesn't hear us. She needs to believe that there are only two people in the room. Otherwise she might not set foot in the room at all."
Maybe these seemed like minute details, but he knew Kryshna. She was careful. And if anything was out of place, she wouldn't go through with it. Everything had to be just right.
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Post by Isabella Rothschild on Mar 9, 2011 22:55:49 GMT -5
Isabella had to think about that one for a moment. It was a good point, and in fact, the sound of extra heartbeats in the area would tip off a vampire long before she had a chance to catch anyone else's scent. But it was a little harder to hide the sound if they were going to be in the room with her and Voltaire. A silencing spell would work, but it would have the unfortunate effect of silencing their voices as well, which could cause a problem if they needed to communicate.
"Well, if you are comfortable silencing your voices, too, we could use a silencing charm. And one of my students came up with a spell recently that creates a buzzing sound that sort of hides other noises... the kids use it to talk in class and not be heard by anyone." Just the other day, she had caught Potter and Black using that very spell, but she had a feeling that they had not created it. "But that one might make her more suspicious."
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Post by Rutger Kilborn on Mar 10, 2011 1:09:17 GMT -5
Rutger frowned. Neither of those options were quite right. He wanted to be able to shout instructions to anyone, if needed. He wasn't worried about spells, however.... he was quite good at non-verbal spells and could immobilize her that way.
"Hmm. OK, well, if I can't come up with anything better, we'll use a silencing spell. But the Ministry should have a few slayers on staff in the Magical Creatures division... I'll check with them and see if they have any tips. For now, though, let's take a look at the room... we'll need to see the layout. I'm thinking the best course of action is to immobilize her. It would have worked the last time if her accomplice hadn't helped her. I'm convinced that she must have had help the last time, but he was not in the room with her. She does her killing alone, and we should use that to our advantage."
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Post by Isabella Rothschild on Mar 12, 2011 0:51:37 GMT -5
Isabella nodded. Rutger was careful and meticulous, and although it seemed like he was thinking too much, Isabella was glad that he was trying to plan this so carefully. She and Voltaire were, essentially, the "bait" for this little trap, and she wanted to make sure they didn't end up actually getting hurt.
Turning around, she opened the door to her bed chamber, then stepped aside to let them pass into the room.
It was mostly neat, although Voltaire could often be quite messy. Isabella always tried to pick up after both him and Conor, but she had still apparently missed a sock that lay in the middle of the floor. One of Conor's toys was also on the floor, probably having been expelled from the crib during the baby's afternoon nap. The bed was a large four-poster set a little to the left of the door, so one would have to step all the way into the room to see it. Next to the bed on each side there were two matching tables with matching lamps. The items on each table, of course, were both different. It was easy to tell at a glance which side of the bed belonged to Isa and which belonged to Voltaire. Isa had the right side, and her table was covered with hand lotions and face creams, lip balms, and tissues. Voltaire was on the left side, closest to the door, and his table had a book on dueling, a pair of reading glasses and a few potion bottles.
The crib was situated closer to Isabella's side of the bed, but was at least six feet away. Past that, along the back wall, were more bookshelves and a rocking chair in the corner. There was a door there, as well, which led to the bathroom, but that door was shut. On the other side of the room, there was a partition, which formed a corner living area with a sofa, armchair, coffee table, and a wizarding wireless. In the far corner was another door, which led to the closet.
"Er... I'm sorry if it's a bit messy..." she said apologetically.
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Post by Rutger Kilborn on Mar 12, 2011 1:13:09 GMT -5
Rutger waved off her apology as he surveyed the room. There were places they could hide, but the room wasn't so "busy" looking as the office was. He could definitely work with this.
He walked around, testing the door, looking in the bathroom and the closet and behind the partition. The bed had curtains around it, which bothered him slightly. If her prey was not in plain sight when she walked in, she might look around and see others in the room. However, it would be dark, which he could work to their advantage.
He walked over to what he thought was a window in the back of the room behind the bed, and was pleased to see that it was not a window at all, but a panel with an enchantment to reflect the outside weather. This was good.... it meant there was no alternative way out. She could only go out the way she came in.
He was silent for a while, walking around the room and standing in different places, aiming his wand at an imaginary target. It was clear he was working something out in his head.
Finally, he spoke, but it was sort of rambling, as though he was talking to himself instead of Daniel and Isabella. "The curtains on the bed should stay open, if possible," he said, pointing at these. "I like the false window, it may confuse her. I'm thinking.... someone should stand behind the door there... it opens in, so she won't see anyone standing there once she comes into the room. But they should use a Disillusioning charm, just to be safe... in case she closes the door all the way. Someone else could stand behind that partition there... they would have a clear shot at the door without being seen. I also want someone to stand here, next to the bed on the right side, to make absolutely sure you are protected. They can conceal themselves in the bed curtains, but should also use a Disillusionment Charm. Then, as I mentioned, someone will wait in the other room, in the wardrobe, just in case she slips past us, or her accomplice comes in to help her. She is affected by immobilizing spells, so we should plan to Stun her. As soon as she enters the room and approaches the bed, we should all fire Stunning spells at her non-verbally. I don't care who catches her... only that she's caught. The best thing we can do is catch her by surprise."
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Post by Daniel Leviner on Mar 12, 2011 20:33:47 GMT -5
For once, Daniel kept his mouth shut and let Rutger look over the room. He had a feeling if he really interjected a lot then it wouldn't be good for either of them. Of course, Daniel couldn't crack a joke either because he had a strong feeling that Rutger would not understand it.
As Rutger spoke, Daniel started going over the plan in his mind. If Sean had been there, he could have cracked a few jokes about how awkward it was more than likely going to be for the couple they were trying to protect. Daniel did understand the level of seriousness this case was, but he also knew that one couldn't be serious all the time. There had to be some sort of amusement in life.
"So there should be around six of us then, including ourselves and Sean," Daniel stated. "Do you have any preference of aurors or MLE officers? If you want another officer, I know of one who would do a fairly good job, or if you want aurors, then you can go talk to Angelique about who she would send out. I know that there are a few that patrol around the school, but it would look a little strange if their numbers changed I think."
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Post by Rutger Kilborn on Mar 13, 2011 1:23:52 GMT -5
Rutger was deep in thought, running over the plan in his mind. It almost seemed a little too easy. After all the time he had been chasing Kryshna, could it really be that simple to actually catch her?
He was barely even listening to what Daniel was saying, as he tried to imagine how everything would go. He figured he could stand near the bed and hide in the curtains. Alana could stand behind the partition, and Daniel could stand behind the door. Sean would wait in the office....
"No.... no, I think it should just be the four of us," he said absently. "Maybe a couple of officers could act as backups in the hallway, just in case, but I don't trust anyone but the four of us in here."
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Post by Isabella Rothschild on Mar 13, 2011 1:38:35 GMT -5
Rutger might not have been thinking about how very awkward it was going to be before the assassin got there, but Isabella was certainly thinking about it. She and Voltaire would have to be in bed, pretending to sleep, while strangers were in their room, waiting. She realized that it was probably the best way, but it was still awkward and embarrassing. She already planned to stay dressed tonight, and she was sure Voltaire would do the same.... but it was still their bed, their bedroom.
"Voltaire and I can help," she pointed out. "Voltaire was a professional duelist. And I teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. Neither of us is completely helpless... we used to be two of the Dark Lord's greatest Death Eaters. If you need extra help, let us do it. We can't just sit here and expect you to do all the work."
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Post by Daniel Leviner on Mar 13, 2011 9:12:12 GMT -5
Daniel shot Isabella an apologetic look. He knew that tonight was going to be extremely awkward and he only hoped that Kryshna wouldn't pick up on any of it. Of course, this had to be done. It was really the only way they could get her and it would be a surprise after all.
He thought about what Isabella said. "You know, that would actually be an additional surprise for her. I mean all of a sudden you two jump up ready to possibly attack her would probably scare her a bit." Daniel looked around the room once again. This was a high possibility that everything would work out for them tonight. He only hoped it would. "If you two helped, then we wouldn't need to tell anyone else about it, then the better it would be."
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Post by Rutger Kilborn on Mar 13, 2011 23:40:59 GMT -5
Rutger looked up at her suddenly, as if he had been shaken from his thoughts. He sized her up for a moment, trying to decide whether this was a good idea. He supposed that, because she and her husband would be defending themselves against attack, she had every reason to fight back. And he already knew from his investigations that most of Kryshna's past victims had not fought back. Most of them had not even had the chance to fight back.... they were killed in their sleep. She would not be expecting them to defend themselves.
"Yes," he said slowly. "Yes... I think that will work. We'll wait until she's almost upon you, and then you can turn and fire spells at her. Just... don't use a killing curse. Or any Unforgivable. We want to catch her, not harm her."
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