» Group #5

[Sophronia Van Helsing]

"We found you entirely on accident," Sophronia added brightly, "and we're sorry for the trespass. You will not be seeing us again." Her hand wrapped around the wand in her pocket. She wanted to get out and go home, where she could deal with the Marius Problem and also catch up on her Daily Prophets, which she had not been able to get delivered to her on the trail.

Hopefully Corinne hadn't run into these people. Sophronia would have asked, but that wouldn't have helped with Oxford's cover story, and Corinne could take care of herself. (And if Corinne wasn't back when Sophronia returned, well, she could always apparate back here.)

[Isabelle Peverell]

Isabelle decided to remain silent unless it was completely needed for her to speak. Mr Lovegood was good with words and Belle was sure that they would soon be able to leave and return home. She was afraid, but she couldn't show it. If she wanted the strangers to believe Oxford's story, she had to act in a natural way and showing fear would only make the strangers more worried about them.

She smiled warmly, fighting the temptation to draw out her wand. That would be a false move. It would be better if her wand stayed in her pocket until they left the village.

[Marius]

"I am Marius Sinnet, a biologist" the vampire added to prove Oxford's story. Being the biologist was close enough to being ex-druid. "My friend, Oxford, is archaeologist. I help him to find old places where druids could live basing on flora, which grows here. As you all know druids used plants for their sacred rituals and for healing." Marius smiled to the man, looking into his eyes. "We had no idea that someone lives here."

[Harry Ilkin]

Harry had kept silent. He had wished he'd brought a weapon with him, but seeing as how the strangers appeared to be unarmed, perhaps he hadn't needed one after all. After hearing their explanation and mulling it over a bit, the man decided that they were telling the truth.

"Well now that you know someone lives here, it'd be best if you leave," He said and crossed his arms over his chest, "Go on and study your plants somewhere far from here. If we see you again, we won't be so friendly." The strangers didn't know it, but they had women and children to look after. They couldn't very well risk their lives just so that some silly group of scientists could study plant formations or some such thing.

[Oxford Lovegood]

Oxford was grateful to his fellow trail-blazers for going along with his little lie. He nodded at Marius’ explanation and tried to look as apologetic and good-natured as possible. When one of the men made it clear they were free to go, but never free to return, Oxford was more than willing to stick with those parameters. “Indeed. Good day, sirs.” Oxford turned, back facing the men, and gave everyone a pointed look that clearly said <i>’let’s get the hell out ofhere’</i>. “Come along, everyone. We’ve bothered these gentlemen enough.” He followed the group, glad to be out of that sticky situation. Speaking low, once out of earshot, Oxford leaned in towards Marius. “Good show, my friend. Now, I say we get somewhere secluded and owl the Ministry. I think we’ve explored quite enough and have more than enough data for them. Do you all agree?”

[Isabelle Peverell]

Perhaps Mr Lovegood as not such a bad person. It was thanks to him that nothing bad happened to them. The strangers seemed unfriendly and Isabelle was glad they were going to leave their little village.

" Yes, let's write the Ministy." Isabelle said. She was looking forward to return home. She did not want to spend any more time in the woods. She tried not to look behind her to the houses and then said to the others, almost whispering. " Should we mention them as well?" By them, she meant the strangers.

[Marius]

The vampire smiled to Oxford and nodded slightly in return to his comment. Marius was, after all, a con man. He lived to deceive people. If they resisted, they became his meal. He sent last gaze toward strangers and followed the rest of his group. "Thank you, Oxford" he said finally. "I second opinion of Miss Isabellle. We should write to the ministry about everything, what happened here."

[Jeremy Rohlwing]

Harry Ilkin spoke up after the strangers had explained they were merely scientists studying the area, and sent them off on their way. Jeremy did know Ilkin was usually reasonable, and there was a reason the elder man had taken it upon himself to take charge their little group. So he kept silent, waiting until the supposed scientists had marched off on their way, apparently never to return.

They may well have been telling the truth, but Jeremy didn't like it. He hadn't known they were anywhere near a village, a town or a city, or wherever these people came from. He wasn't sure they could survive out here forever, and if there was a town nearby...
Back by the shoddy houses and making sure the strangers weren't lurking anywhere in sight, he turned to Harry. "You think they're alright?" He questioned the man darkly, his own arms folded and his brow furrowed in thought. He didn't mean alright as if he were wondering after their wellbeing, but whether they were to be trusted, whether they really did mean no harm. "An' where're they from? They didn't say..." He had half a mind to keep an eye on them, just to see in which direction they were headed and to prevent them from turning back and sneaking up on Irvingly.

[Harry Ilkin]

"Let's hope so, for all our sakes," He replied glumly, "But I'm not dumb enough to think they won't be back. Maybe it won't be them, but it'll be somebody they've told about us. Scientists or not, I don't like the looks of 'em."

Harry scowled in the direction that the group had disappeared to, "They'll leave us alone if they know what's good for 'em." Little did he know that later in the day, they would have a not so friendly group arrive. Said unfriendly group would out themselves as what the Irvingly believed to be wizards and would then be taken hostage.

[Hogsmeade Trail]

EVENT ANNOUNCER

Your group retreats from the strangers and writes to the Ministry. Within an hour, you're sent back an owl. It tells you to return to Hogsmeade immediately and to refrain from interacting with the strangers any further. When you reach the Ministry, you'll be given your share of the money with land to be divvied out at further notice. Then, you're free to carry on with your separate lives.