RP - Location - The holding area, a Scottish valley.

[hl_npc]

Further up the valley from the viaduct, where the steep slopes steepen and the sheep seldom stray, the sun has already withdrawn after touching fading fingers to the gorse that clings determinedly to the impoverished soil. Occasionally, a gust of wind rattles the thorny twigs, then hurries off to find something more amusing to do. Here, amongst the

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[badger_ernie]

Ernie, never the most comfortable of fliers, landed at the holding area with something of a thud. Looking round, he was relieved to see that the others had not yet arrived to witness his somewhat abrupt landing. Dusting himself down, he started to explore the area he was to secure. It was at this point he noticed the tent.

[val_visconti]

Shortly afterwards, Valerius landed softly and glanced about, alert for danger. The view from the air had not revealed anything suspicious, but you could never be too certain.
He sheathed his wand and walked quickly over towards Ernie. "Ciao, Ernie. Nice day for it."

[badger_ernie]

Ernie had spotted Valerius as he came in to land. Banishing unworthy thoughts about surprise hexes (well surely he wouldn't...would he?) he turned to greet him.

"Hello Valerius. Yes it is a nice day I suppose. All in all I'd rather be sitting down for dinner though" A spasm of anguish crossed his features as he realised it mught well be some time before his next meal.

Pointing over at the tent, Ernie asked "Do you know anything about this thing? Is it supposed to be here?"

[val_visconti]

"I do not know. I very nearly missed this place completely. If you had not have been stood here, I might have flown past.." Valerius glanced cautiously towards the tent; there was clearly somebody inside. They should investigate...

...First things first. Knowing Ernie's tendency to become distracted at mealtimes, Valerius had come prepared. With a sly grin he pulled a bar of kendal mint cake from his robe pocket and offered it to his companion.
"It is traditional for adventures, I think?"

[aculeatus]

Severus drew his wand, examining the dark wood for any signs of imperfection or damage. There was nothing, and he continued to pace, casting a glance around the holding area. The simple tent outside gave no clues to the dimensions of the spacious interior, although it was as spartan as the worn canvas might suggest. Severus had no patience with fripperies. Such as chairs.

Anyone with an eye for such things might have made out a faint distortion in the air around the perimeter of the grassy space, where powerful wards had been erected earlier, under Lucius' instruction. The gloom afforded by a circlet of hanging lamps rendered the traces of dry blood that stained the grass almost invisible.

[val_visconti]

There was definitely something... there. Valerius blinked and checked again.
"Eccolo...si." He muttered under his breath.
Cautious not to get too close, Val levelled his wand towards the distortion and paused, testing, picking up the subtle play of energies. Yes, there was definitely dark power here, subtly disguised, and quite powerful. He knew better than to interfere with that.
The old familiar prickle was... distracting. Valerius shook himself out of the allure and lowered his wand. Now was most definitely not the time to become lost.
Ernie had spoken to him, hadn't he?
"I .. sorry?" He looked up.

[badger_ernie]

Ernie binked as he watched Valerius move his wand around. What on earth was he doing? Once more he whispered "I said, I think I heard Snape's voice a moment ago. And I think he might have been talking to Madame Pomfrey"

[val_visconti]

"Ah, Severus is here?" Val had not heard anything above the energy of the spell. A momentary lapse. It would explain the wards though.
"Is he inside the tent, yes?"

Medical station

[hl_npc]

At the back of the tent, a plain curtain screens off a healing area. Unlike the 'reception' part of the tent, it is equipped with several chairs and a bench draped in towels.

Poppy Pomfrey is here.

Medical station

[aculeatus]

Severus could hear the mediwitch chuntering to herself and rolled his eyes, amused. She might be anxious about the potential casualties, but he was quite sure that, underneath, she was enjoying herself immensely. I should have known, the first time I saw that scowling wooden mask on her wall that she was a bloodthirsty old besom.

"Patience, Poppy," he addressed the curtain, restoring his wand to its sheath for now, and pausing at the edge of the circle. "I'm sure you'll have someone to prod and bother soon enough." He raised his voice a little. "Assuming Mr Visconti and Mr MacMillan don't scare them all off stamping around outside..."

Re: Medical station

[val_visconti]

At this, Valerius gave Ernie a reassuring grin.
"I was not stamping." He replied, amused. "I do not stamp. And Ernie was not stamping either."
He sheathed his wand once more and walked over to join his companion at the tent flap.
"It must have been the sheep."

Re: Medical station

[badger_ernie]

Ernie flushed bright red. "Wasn't stamping" he muttered - very quietly. Turning to Snape he asked "Well anyway, now that we're here, are there any particular preparations required?"

[lunatictide]

Luna felt very strongly that the broom she was on did not like her.

She was able to land..or rather it grew close enough to the ground that the fall wouldn't kill her. And then she fell off.

She rolled to her side, and spent a few instructive minutes trying to pull air back into her lungs, with her hands cupped over her mouth to keep the noise of her whoops down.

Once she could breathe again, she felt around cautiously to make sure that she hadn't broken her wand. Reassured by *that* at least, she got to her feet, and began to look around.

[val_visconti]

Val whirled suddenly at the sudden crumpled noise, just in time to see Luna's less than spectacular landing.
Ah, we make such a crack team.
Hiding a grin, he watched as she got to her feet, ready to assist if she appeared to be injured.
She seemed to be unhurt. Was she laughing?
He moved away from the tent, leaving Ernie to talk with Severus for a moment.
"Are you all right Loon?"

[lunatictide]

She was still a bit red in the face from trying to catch her breath. And she had to cough a few times before she could talk. "It's all right. The ground hit me," she said by way of explanation. "I brought you something to eat, and some more first aid supplies, in case Madame Pomfrey needs them." She offered him a packet of sandwiches. "I really think they need to make brooms more reliable. Maybe they should make them ..you know..with little broom-lets out to either side of the main broom? Like outriggers on canoes. For stability."

[val_visconti]

Smiling at this image, he glanced down at the sandwiches.
"Grazie. I will eat these later, and I think Ernie will be your friend forever." He grinned, slipping the packet inside his cloak.
"They are inside." He ushered her towards the tent.

Outside the Medical Station

[dragonesk]

Charlie and his mixed band of captives appeared with a loud "crack" He was attempting to lead them to the medical station, when his robes were clutched by an officious hand.

"I'll take charge from here" said Ernie "Must make sure all the correct procedures are followed"

"You... err yeah, course we must" replied Charlie grinning. This lot are from the end compartment in carriage three. I reckoned it was safest to tie em all up, can never be too sure if they are all real prisoners eh? Still I bet you'd thought of that"

"Do you think s....Oh yes...yes of course. That was the first thing I'd thought of." With that, Ernie turned to the group. Right you lot, walk...well shuffle over to that tent over there." And he walked behind them, shooing them along, towards the flap of the tent.