Morning After: Saphricorn

[Tye Coleman]

Tye moved through the corridors of the school the morning after the duelling competition to the sounds of a silence that did not welcome the living. He was not sure why, but there seemed to be many more people out and about this morning then any other morning. Considering most of the students in the school had been out the night before, Tye found this a curious thing.

Tye had actually not gone out at all but had remained at Saphricorn village watching the stars in the sky about the planes beyond. He had been pondering the universe for all the extent of his knowledge and wondering why things seemed a little more alive then usual. He found this morning that the same could be said. Here and there were little groups of people whispering quietly and giving him dark stares as he past them. He noticed very few people chose to move through the castle alone, which led him to believe that he was unwelcoming by behaving so himself.

He had not bothered to ask any of those he passed; why they were up so early or even why they did not feel the need to return his morning greetings. He had even seen a group of Ameraid’s bowed in silence and noticed that a couple of them even appeared to be crying. He didn’t think it was his right to intrude, though when he saw this sight again and again as he neared the golden hall, he was beginning to feel a little anxious.

When he gained the entrance foyer he looked out into the fogged morning to see that a group had collected within it. He could see there were many more people on the giant sized steps, some of whom looked like they had not been to bed yet. But more and more were discovered to not even be students. There were adults there in solemn black cloaks and bowler hats. Almost official like.

He did not let this interfere though his curiosity spiked when he walked into the golden hall and saw that a group of saphricorn’s whom had been out the night before were already sitting at the Saphricorn table. None of them appeared to have been to bed, in fact most of them appeared to be wearing the same clothes they had gone out in, and all of them looked solemn; “Hi Guys?” he approached them with a concerned look on his face. Something had happened and he wanted to know what it was.

[Jay Rastan]

Looking up at the new voice that was while not yelled would be certainly heard by all the group members, for even in silence a whisper become a shout, a simple exhale or sigh become noises loud enough to make a person wince.

In this time of which everyone seemed to grieve the loss of the boy whether or not they knew or even liked the Ameraid, Jay being a seventh year as well as a sort of unofficial leader for the Saphricorn students he had been trying to talk to everyone try to reassure them that the danger had passed that there were indeed no killers lurking around the corners waiting to do them in. Trying his best to keep everyone from the darker side of it all, offering comfort in anyway he could for saying he was there to listen to any concerns they had or try to answer any questions the best he could, but at the end, he was just as stumped as they were, although he would not tell anyone that.

Jay Rastan had a niggling feeling that there was more at play in this foul play than was obviously shown or common knowledge. Wisely, Jay decided to also keep that to himself, he would not speak ill of the dead and his speculation of whether or not the boy had done something to deserve such an ending would be nothing short of speaking ill of the late .

“Tye” Jay said keeping his voice down, his tone not betraying any of the mixing thoughts or emotions he was feeling inside as he stepped next to the other boy. None of the others in the group seemed to be read for talking. “Have you been informed of the events of last night?”

He had to be strong for his housemates, when he had arrived back the previous night back to the castle with Lady Saphricorn discussing the various duelling techniques and their flaws/advantages which had led to the outcomes of the particular duels when they had notice Godric, Elouise and a few others standing at the entrance to the Ameraid common rooms. While Lady Saphricorn has told them all to stand back, Jay had stepped forwards with her and stood next to Godric, a silent exchange of questioning looks had been shared between a few people, all wisely keeping quiet all comments and remarks. Lady Saphricorn had taken him aside and told him he would need to stay strong, help out with the younger students and his peers, such a tragedy would stir deep emotions in many of the Saphricorn students.

So Jay had stood in the courtyard, shoulders level, jaw set, his icy blue eyes determined, he helped students alike, regardless of house or age who had bore witness to the removal of the body. So he stood continuing his vigilant over his fellow Saphricorn’s, helping as much as he could where he could, he had been asked more times than he could recall the tale of events as he knew, so far he had yet had a chance to change his attire from the previous night, so he still looked extravagantly dressed but he took little notice, nor did he flinched when more than one of the female house members cried on his shoulder while he murmured words of reassurance. What was a silk shirt in the big picture when one of their own, a student of Koalingo had been murdered? Nothing.

Nerves were frazzled, looks dishevelled, clothing creased, over all most of the student body wasn’t looking even closes to its best, and Jay felt a dull ache in the region of his chest as he looked over the hall that at this time would usually busting at seams with chattering girls, snickering boys, hooting owls, and the clink and clanking of cutlery on china, the usual hum of a breakfast at Koalingo Academy.

Today deafening silence, only broken by the occasional sob, sniffle or quite rhetorical question of why, reigned supreme, not only in the Golden Hall but in all of the school.

It was a school in mourning.

[Shane Moonraker]

Shane had been sitting at the table already not far from Jay. He sat there watching everything occur around him and was quite lost as to what he was expected to do. He was a happy person by nature, and so when such monstrous acts occurred and directly affected his life, he was sad to say he did not know how to deal with them in a way that would not cause pain to others or make him look like a fool. Already it was difficult enough just to sit and stay quiet. No one liked what had happened, that much was a given, and if Shane was not careful, he might have sprouted off something inappropriate.

Black or white, day or night, it didn’t matter, he knew that Finnias Mark and his brother Andreas were worms. Shane had had arguments with both boys many times and did not like their increasingly cruel attitude of self importance against those they believed to be beneath them. Shane would never have wished death on anyone though, so even now it was difficult for him to handle the fact that the only feeling he felt was one of betrayal that such a thing could occur in the school grounds, and not have any feelings for whom it happened to.

He looked up at Tye whom appeared perfectly indiscreet this morning. Shane knew his loud talk would not be welcome and so he gestured for Tye to sit by them. Surely someone had stopped him in the corridor’s and told him what had happened. If not though, someone would have to say something to him now.

“Tye, sit down,” he said in a level and low voice, he would continue only after he knew what Tye already understood, which by the looks of it was very little.

[Tye Coleman]

Tye looked at Jay with a curious look on his face. He could see that Jay appeared very serious, which, while unbecoming of a Saphricorn, was not exactly surprising for him. Though when Shane appeared to share the same serious motive, he wondered if there was something more going on here. It seemed that something should be up, so many people were out and about this morning and Tye was already curious enough, but then to see this sight, something serious must have happened.

He sat near his two friends and looked about, there really did seem to be a lot of upset people, something bad must have happened, “Did they cancel Quidditch today?” he said looking at Jay. He knew that must be it, both Jay and Shane were on the Quidditch team, and while Jay would be angered into silence, it would make sense that Shane was a little more upset.

“Dude, that sucks,” he grimaced thinking that must be it, “You know I had such high hopes for this weekends, you know I got kicked out of blood lust last night? I was coming back to the castle, I am sure I saw someone fly past me on a broomstick, but when I got here, nothing, it was strange you know, when I got back to common room most everyone was already sleeping, what a strange thing to do on a Saturday night, the castle was absolutely dead when I walked through it, didn’t see a single person,” he said as he thought it might be time for some discussion, so many people were saying nothing, so he thought he should perhaps start some noise; it was just a cancelled match, not that big a deal.

“So, yeah, um… what’s on the deuce magoose?” he said to Jay with a grimace smile of plain ignorance totally not knowing what was really going on, but he thought Jay might lighten up with his new attitude.

[Jay Rastan]

Jay tried his hardest not to grimace or flinch when Tye used the phrasing ‘absolutely dead’, thankfully all that happened was an uneasy look passing over his eyes. Tye didn’t know what had happened that much was obvious now, but the extent of to which he didn’t know would be frowned upon deeply by the faculty and other students if their conversation was not of a hushed tone.

“Well I think given the current circumstances its safe to say the quidditch match between Ameraid and Emerindyl is cancelled” Jay said, his tone remaining hushed as his friend sat down. “I’m afraid this is more serious that just a cancellation of a match”

Although Jay may have been more demonstrative in his anger and outrage if it was such a case of a Saphricorn qudditch match being cancelled. His anger and outrage was subdued by the over all sorrowful mood that was felt by all present in the hall, maybe with exception of some choice Ruberagon students that is.

Jay had seen Tye the previous night at the Bloodlust duelling event but before he had had enough time to finish off a few more rounds he had lost sight of the boy and figured that he had simply already left after seeing a pair he wanted. Although he had drank a fair amount the previous night, thanks to his oh so generous parents, Jay had always been able to keep his wits about him even when more than slightly intoxicated, his eyes just sometimes took on glassy appearance. Surmising the other boy must have arrived before the tragic events of the previous night, Jay started to inform him of his own return to Koalingo the previous night, the talking with their house founder about the display of duelling exhibited by his fellow students and talking about the over all atmosphere of it all up unto they reached the gates.

“So as Lady Saphricorn and I walked through the gates we noticed Godric and Elouise and a few other Emerindyl students all standing near the Ameraid fountain. Saphricorn said something to Godric about the duel or some comment before he pointed down” Jay took a deep breath for the first time since he started talking all of two minutes ago. “So we went around to where they were standing, Godric was in front of his little group and we saw what they were looking at. A body”

This time when Jay stopped it was to let it sink in, he didn’t have a clear idea of how much Shane knew about the incident, he boy had seemed to remain quiet and inward over it all, but everyone dealt with loss their own way so Jay didn’t think it his position or right to say or think anything of it. Jay himself would later take out his anger and frustration with the whole situation with a punching bag or a enchanted mannequin. Everyone needed to deal with it some how.

“It was of an Ameraid student. You know that kid, Finnias Mark.”

Jay reminded himself in time not to speak ill of the dead, while he did not exactly like guy he didn’t wish anyone dead, that’s why he called the boy who was a year his junior a ‘kid’, Jay had often witnessed him being just that a child, thinking himself superior because he was in Ameraid, and maybe that old fashioned pureblood family stature was in there somewhere. Jay also couldn’t help but think that nobody deserved a death like the way the eldest Mark brother met his fate, hit with the killing curse then left on the cold stone floor in front of his common room entrance to be stumbled upon by other students. It was rather gruesome in a clean cut, formulated way.

“There was no trace of any sort of struggle or foul play, all the obvious signs to the killing curse being fired upon him. Makes you wonder though doesn’t it? All the possible situations and reasons, but I guess the Auror squad will figure it out soon enough. Poor Ameraid’s though, lose on of their own, then have their head swimming with thoughts and whatnot from the other students. They told his brother about fifteen to twenty minutes ago. You could hear him from here”

Jay shook his head in disgust of it all, but that was the only emotion he showed outwardly, forcing him to hold tight reign on his outward display of feelings, he would have time later to deal with that. There were others that need him to be strong and needed his help he would not let them down. Scanning the students that all occupied the hall, he saw Godric sitting in silence and saw Elouise next to him crying on another girl, and as much as Jay wanted to go over and offer her his shoulder or any help or comfort he was able, he didn’t think Godric would appreciate the gesture even as a strictly platonic gesture, and he knew he should, and therefore wouldn’t, wander far from Saphricorn territory.

So he continued to watch and wait.

For something, anything. Good, bad.

Just something.