tt_dempster (tt_dempster) wrote in tutistempus, @ 2014-03-27 14:03:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | cecilia proudfoot, community: voldemort's return, date: march 2003, dempster wiggleswade, place: zealandia, status: complete |
RP: an unexpected development
Date: 27. March, 2003
Characters: Dempster Wiggleswade, Cecilia Proudfoot
Setting: The Jungle on Zealandia
Content: Graphic
Status: Closed :: Public
Dempster had seen more of Zealandia than the average citizen, he was sure. Of course he hadn't yet been over to Settlement 4 just yet, but he knew more of 1, 2, and 3 than most of his fellow Security workers. This area of the forest, though, he knew was uncharted territory for him, and so the Scouts had been called in. Dempster was grateful to have Cecilia Proudfoot with him as they traipsed through the hot afternoon jungle, sweat clinging to his back. He knew that the weather would be cooling soon, with spring coming on, but with the humidity as thick as it was just now, that knowledge was little comfort.
Proudfoot and Demp were well outside of the wards and walls of civilization, but he had faith in her skills and experience and so he followed barely a step behind quietly. Even when they heard the occasional flap of prehistoric wings overheard, neither so much as flinched.
His hunt for the murderer had lead him here, and he hoped that unlike the last weeks, today would end with more answers than questions. As far as Demp and the rest of the Security and Unspeakable force could tell, no one in the Settlements had any direct involvement with the murders of his colleagues, but Demp still wasn't sure everyone was free of suspicion when it came to hiding the culprit. Even Clearwater's new and creative locator spells hadn't been any help. So he'd been doing very much this sort of work since his honeymoon ended. It was painstaking, but at least this far outside of the wards, he didn't have to do it alone.
He'd spent two nights camping with Adrian Pucey, the Potionsmaster, who'd gotten special permission due to his work working the land to act as a temporary Scout. Clearwater had also joined him for a few nights, but they were the worst kind of oil and water in each other's presence and so she'd stormed back to the Settlement on the third morning muttering about "old fashioned wizards" and their "ridiculous ideas about magic." Today was the fourth time Cecilia had offered to join him and her quiet determination matched his own nicely. He never had to hold back on their speed through the woods or worry about noises or distractions coming from her - she was a pro, and it was a comfort.
Just as he mused on this exact thought, he caught a familiar smell and jerked his head to the right, stopping in his tracks. Cecilia caught the change and stopped as well, turning into his line of sight. The smell was one of old magic - how Dempster remembered the halls of Hogwarts smelling, only this was stronger and there was a sour, mouldy scent nearly overpowering it. He indicated with a jerk of his head where he assumed it was coming from and Cecilia nodded once. Putting up a hand, Demp indicated he'd go first and they both raised their wands and moved silently into the tall brush to their side.
Ahead of them now was a thicket of tall ferns and knotty undergrowth and as they moved into it, there was no mistaking what they found. A long, thin body - or rather, what was left of one. The tattered robes were old, dirty, and clearly from another time entirely, but now lay torn over broken bones and ragged flesh. Dempster wasn't sure of Cecilia's experience with such, so he looked to her just a step behind him and shook his head, whispering, "Stay back," gently but urgently. He then nodded and stooped low, sidling up to where most of the body was heaped toward the center of the thicket.
He moved carefully so as not to disturb the... 'crime scene' surrounding the body, even if whatever had happened to this person was fairly obvious. This far outside of the Settlements it wasn’t surprising that the victim had been mauled by one animal or another, or multiple depending on how long the body had been here. He cast a spell over the body and watched as smoke came from the tip of his wand, a ghostly animal figure he heard Cecilia identify from behind his back. He turned to her again and shrugged, never having heard the name. Turning back to the victim, he cast a simple identification spell, figuring if the person was magick (because of the robes), they'd show up. Letters formed, his wand taking its own time as it spelled out a name. Dempster's mouth dropped open, and he turned, his eyes meeting Cecilia as the reality of the name floating in front of them hit him.
TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE.