Knowlege just makes us more confused [Maeve]

[Moki Kagawa]

The Great Hall was nearly deserted. Only a few other students were still here, most having left for the holiday break. The early hour didn't add to the liveliness, either. It was only a quarter past 7 in the morning. Moki had been up all night, unable to get to sleep.

Dressed in comfortable Slytherin-green sweatpants and an overly-large white hoodie, Moki held in one sweatshirt-sleeve-covered hand a letter, which, for having been received only roughly 14 hours ago, looked a little bit worse for wear. It was from her father, and it was undoubtedly the reason that Moki looked like the walking dead today.

Next to her sat a large cup of coffee which was mostly ignored as she read and reread the letter. She didn't know why she was doing it, she had the damn thing memorized by now. As excited as the young girl had been to get mail from her father at all - a Ministry worker in this day and age hardly had time to send out a play-by-play of everyday life - she'd known it was bad news as soon as she'd seen the envelope. Her father never wrote letters in Japanese.

Her eyes roamed yet again over his script. Translated, the letter read:

Moki-chan,

How are you? It has been a long time since we have talked. Your mother misses you. Forgive me for getting right to the point. I am writing because I fear danger is forthcoming. There have been several strange reports to come through the Ministry as of late. Rumors are everywhere, and while I believe some to be nothing more than talk, I have some inclination to think that not all are false. You may have heard one of the kidnapping of a young Muggle boy. Muggle news is reporting him as a runaway, but recently there have been other theories arising. I do not know who the child is, only that he has a sister who attends Hogwarts. There is no official statement out on this case as of yet, Moki, so do not relay this information, but some believe this to be the work of a specific group working under the new Dark Lord. I can only speculate who they may be at this time, but it is important that you realize that if such groups are beginning to formulate again, members will be everywhere.

I believe Hogwarts will harbor many of these people. That is why I am telling you this, Moki. You know that I have always held loyalty to the Ministry, but it may be once again becoming corrupted. If this occurs, I will be in great danger by opposing the Dark Lord from within the Ministry. What I am telling you is my opinion - this may all come to fruition tomorrow or maybe it never will. I want you to be aware of these things so that you are never caught off-guard. Now is the time to choose a side and fight for it. As your father, with the wisdom that I can offer you, I think that no good can or will ever come from the Dark. You are a child, Moki, but these times may see you grow up faster than you think. I trust you to make the right decision, for yourself and the future of our world.

- Daddy

P.S. Your mother did not want me to tell you any of this, because she thinks you are too young. I also want you to know that the Ministry is not keeping careful watch on foreign owls at the moment, which is why I am writing in Japanese and sending this letter with a different owl.[/size]

Moki placed the rather tattered letter facedown on the table and stared off into space. Her mind had been running in circles for hours. What could this all mean? More importantly, what did it mean for her? She never doubted her parents, they had given her everything. If they opposed the Dark Lord, she trusted that they had the right idea. But... what could she do? She was only fourteen, for goodness' sake! And what was that Muggle boy's disappearance about? He had a sister at Hogwarts... Moki was so lost. She absentmindedly took a sip of coffee without even noticing that it was now a rather nasty lukewarm-but-not-really temperature.

[MAEVE and if you can think of anything to add, OPEN]

[Maeve Campbell]

A sniffle was heard from somewhere near Moki. It wasn't surprising that she had not recognized the lump of cloth for anything human. Maeve honestly didn't feel human lately. She could hardly sleep and since she had received yet another letter from home claiming not to worry it had made sleeping superfluous. Maeve was still waiting to hear form Mike. She desperately wanted to know if the men who had a hostage were holding her big brother.

Lifting a head that was unkempt from the depths of a large blue sweater she stared at the person who had sat next to her. It seemed to be Moki. Maeve blinked her large eyes experimentally. It wasn't a Moki she was accustomed to seeing. A serious and confused Moki. She held in her hand a crumpled letter. Maeve looked at her own hand which held her own crumpled letter. Damn owls. Why did they have to bring such stress. She leaned over and placed her head on the table where she could see Moki better.

"Hey, shorty." Maeve tried to revive her usual humor and failed, dismally. For even though Moki was short compared to Maeve she was a veritable giant. Sort of. Ok, not really. It did sound good though. Sigh. Maeve closed her eyes again. She couldn't even make good jokes in her head.

[Moki Kagawa]

"Hey, shorty." Moki blinked. Had she just hallucinated? She swore somebody had just said something, but she hadn't even noticed anyone nearby. Looking around, she spotted a little redhead a few seats away, looking about as much a mess as Moki felt. Her eyes narrowed. "Maeve?" she asked incredulously. The little girl was hollow-eyed and looked like she hadn't slept in days. Moki grabbed her letter off the table and stood up, going to sit next to her friend.

"Where have you be-" she stopped dead when she noticed the letter in Maeve's hand. "So, you got one, too," she said, placing a finger on her bottom lip. She spread her own crumpled note out on the table. She didn't know what Maeve's letter read, but it looked like they were sharing some sort of inner torture. She glanced yet again at the paper. Without turning her head, Moki tried to make eye contact with Maeve. Her head bowed, she looked at the redhead out of the corner of her eye and half-whispered, "What's yours say?"

[Maeve Campbell]

Maeve huffed a sigh. It shook the small girl's frame from inside out. Blinking a bit she focused on Moki's letter. "It's personal." Realizing it was rude she decided to 'fess up. "Sorry. Got notice that my brother was missing. But hey everything's fine study hard blah blah blah."

Suddenly fired up as only a redhead's temper can do she straightened up showing a bit of life in her pale face. "As if I'm some stupid little kid. Lee would never ever ever EVER run away!" As suddenly as she had perked up she immediately collapsed again. "I don't know what's going on but I'm positive that's he's not run away. I know someone..." Here Maeve trailed off. She'd sworn not to tell Mike's secret and it was hard to involve him without telling her secret. So quickly she changed what she was going to say, "someone who can deliver me th eDaily Prophet. In case umm anything turns up." It sounded so lame but she had sworn and a Campbell never breaks a promise. Ever.

She gave a heavy smile to Moki and leaned forward on her arms. "Fair's fair. What's yours say?"

[Moki Kagawa]

Moki's face fell at Maeve's answer, only to be replaced by a look of shock as the girl broke down a moment later and told her the truth. Brother... gone missing? And a sister that went to Hogwarts? That could NOT be a coincidence.

"Your brother's missing?" she repeated dumbly. "But my letter - it's from my dad..." Moki realized she wasn't making any sense. She bit her lip so hard she hurt herself. "Maeve..." she squeezed her eyes shut, having a mental battle with herself. Her father had asked her not to mention the incident. But if it was Maeve's brother, didn't she deserve to know? Saying a quick prayer that she would not be struck dead for directly disobeying her father's wishes, she pushed the paper towards Maeve. "Look," she said, and pointed to a section in the letter. After half a second, she shook her tired head. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking. I didn't sleep last night. It says something about a Muggle boy gone missing, I'll translate it for you, but you can't say anything about it, I mean it! My dad didn't want me to say anything but... if it's your brother..." she quickly scanned and relayed the sentences about the missing boy. "I think it's him, Maeve. In which case... you're absolutely right. He didn't run away."

She knew Maeve probably wouldn't take this as an answer to her question; after all, it wasn't as if Moki had been up all night because she'd heard a horror story about a missing boy. "The rest, well... it's a warning. He says we'll all have to pick sides and the decisions we make will affect the rest of our lives, basically." She was speaking in a hushed tone at this point. Even though there was almost nobody around, she didn't want anybody to overhear whose business it wasn't.

[Maeve Campbell]

Moki seemed more shocked than surprised by Maeve's news. This caused the first year to poke her head out of her own misery and pay attention to Moki. The older girl had always been a good friend to Maeve and now wasn't the time to throw a baby fit. Even if Mokie wasn't making much sense.

When she pushed the letter toward Maeve it didn't help much either. It was written in Japanese or something. It was beautifully written and honestly Maeve wouldn't have minded looking at it more for the aesthetic appeal alone. However, she couldn't read Japanese. It was with relief when Moki began telling her what it said. She hadn't wanted to hurt Moki's feelings by going, Duh! Can't read that. Helloooo! Yeah, Maeve was touchy right now.

The information revealed made Maeve feel vindicated. She wondered if the Ministry had bothered telling her parents. Probably not. Despite the better relations between Muggles and Wizards, the Wizards still held a rather condescending view of what Muggles could handle. It didn't help that her paretns weren't 'normal' Muggles they had been immersed in the Wizarding world for a few years now not just when the Hogwarts letter came. Maeve's pale skin flushed with anger as she figured out that the Ministry had probably kept her borther's cicrumstances secret not just form her parents but from most of the Wizaridng community as well. Her parents had good friends in the Wizarding community and they wouldn't have hesitated to tell her parents the truth.

She knew she had been quiet too long. Moki had finished her explanation. How everything seemed to point to a new Dark Order. Maeve was only eleven. It was hard to get serious about some half formed idea of a new Dark Lord. It was just too hard to imagine her safety crashing down around her ears. However, it was much easier to focus on the personal aspect of this supposed Dark Order. Her brother. Why would they have taken Lee? Was this some random act of violence because he was Muggleborn in a mostly Wizarding community? Was it ebcause of her? Had her parents done something? What?

Finally her fury and desperation boiled out. "Bloody hell and then some! What in the world do they think they are playing at? The Ministry should be telling everyone to prepare not hiding their facts. Especially that my brother is being held agianst his will by were..people." She almost had let Mike's information slip. She really needed to control her tongue. Not only would telling what she knew put Mike in danger but it would also put Moki and herself in danger. Even though anti-werewolf sentiment had died down mane werewolves couldn't get past the unfairness of the way they had been treated. Having read more than one history book on the subject (thinking it would be exciting like Muggle werewolves) Maeve had discovered that werewolves had a reason to be angry with Wizard folk.

She slammed her head down onto her arms. "I don't know what to do. If the Ministry is pretending this isn't happening I doubt they are going to do anything about it." The small girl bit her lip anxiously. Maybe...just maybe. "If I can find out where they are holding my brother then maybe...maybe I can do something about it." She looked up a faraway fanatic gleam deep in her blazing eyes. Maeve was not in Gryffindor for no reason. She was almost guaranteed to go haring off after Lee.

[Moki Kagawa]

Moki sat quietly, as the awkward silence threatened to eat her alive. Maeve hadn't said... anything. Finally...

"Bloody hell and then some! What in the world do they think they are playing at? The Ministry should be telling everyone to prepare not hiding their facts. Especially that my brother is being held agianst his will by were..people."

Moki blinked at this. Okay, so Maeve apparently knew something else about her brother's captivity, and she wasn't sharing. Well, it wasn't exactly Moki's business and she was too tired to try to get Maeve to tell her whatever secret she was hiding.

"I don't know what to do. If the Ministry is pretending this isn't happening I doubt they are going to do anything about it. If I can find out where they are holding my brother then maybe...maybe I can do something about it."

Moki looked rather unsure as Maeve said this. After all, if all this was going on, what was a first-year going to do? Sure, Maeve had the guts, but she didn't have the know-how. There was something to be said for being grown-up, even if most of the Ministry were being buttfaces about the issue. Mostly that involved knowing enough spells to not get your ass royally kicked by whoever you confronted. But why Lee? That was the thing Moki didn't get. "Why him?" she spoke out loud. "It doesn't make sense. A Muggle kid? What do they want him to do, show them how to use telephones or something?"

She paused contemplatively. She didn't think running off into the wilderness trying to find a young boy was the answer, although in all honestly if she was in Maeve's position she'd probably feel similarly. Still, she had to be able to help somehow. "Maeve, do you think it would be a good idea if I write back my Dad and tell him it's your brother? Maybe he can keep us updated about anything they find out..." Moki was unsure if she'd be able to get much of anything relayed to her, considering the Ministry owl watch and the fact that she wasn't supposed to know anything about this boy to begin with. Still, she wondered if it wasn't worth a shot. Her father worked a very convenient job. She had no idea what exactly his title was, but she knew it involved monitoring suspicious activity... which, within the confines of that description, could be manipulated to include a lot of things. Moki was sure he had his assignments, but she also knew he kept on top of quite a few other things that maybe weren't so black and white.

[Maeve Campbell]

Maeve was gnawing at her fingertips. An old habit her older brother and sister had broken her of when she was tiny. Remembering Lee's admonitions she pulled her fingers out of her mouth and stared blankly at them. Moki was speaking so she tore her eyes away from her fingers and look at the older girl.

"It doesn't make sense. A Muggle kid? What do they want him to do, show them how to use telephones or something?"

Maeve laughed, true it was a weak laugh but still a laugh. "Nah, we're not typical Muggles honestly." She sighed it was hard to explain sometimes so she hoped she didn't confuse Moki. "When I was real small my parents moved to Carlingsford Ireland. My mum had inherited some land from a cousin four or five times removed. Turns out Carlingsford is a Wizarding town. They weren't sure what to do with us Muggles appearing out of nowhere. So they just pretty much ignored us. My mum is an artist and my dad a woodworker so they didn't leave much. When I was a little tyke they figured out I had some strange powers. Well, the neighbors caught me at one point and told my parents about the Wizarding world. They said it made it so much easier on them to tell my parents early." Maeve stopped for a second and recalled that day. It had been such a nice day while she played outside and she remembered Lee running in to tattle. 'Mum! She's doing it again!'

Shaking her head she continued on her theory why they took a Muggle boy. "So he goes to school in the next town over but lives in a Wizarding community. My dad wound up being the local liasion for the Ministry of Magic Muggle office. Mainly because they couldn't pass up the chance at a real live Muggle working for them. Makes sense in a way, who's best to deal with Muggles? Other Muggles. So it might be because my dad works for the Ministry. Or they just don't like Muggles who mingle with Wizarding folk." Maeve ran out of steam because here she lost her theory. She knew it was a slim chance that they took her brother because of her father's job but then again it seemed like there should be another reason.

For now though this was the theory she was going to go off of. "Ok, maybe me taking off isn't the best idea in the world. We- I mean- I need to find out more though. I mean if no one will tell me what's going on I'm going to have to ask around myself, right?" She looked imploringly at Moki. Without Caryn around she almost thought of Moki as her big sister, just more fun and not as bossy.

When Moki proposed her idea, Maeve nodded. "Yeah but we can't get him in trouble." She thought hard for a minute before she thought of something. "What if you write and begin the letter something like this. Dad, Thanks for your letter. Thought I would write back and tell you about one of my new friends. Then you can tell him about me and my fifteen year old brother Lee. It might sound to anyone else who reads the letter like you have a crush. If your dad is as smart as you though he might be able to connect the information he gave you with this sudden obsession with a friend's older brother?" She wound up making the last statement sound like a question because she didn't know if she made any sense. Holding her breath she hoped Moki understood what she was getting at. Moki's father could provide them with some vague information but he would probably be risking his job (and if the corruption had gotten too far, his life) if he tried to tell them too much.

[Moki Kagawa]

Moki nodded at Maeve's explanation. "Sounds... unfortunate, but sound. Loads of people still can't stand Muggles. The fact your dad's even in there at all is pretty impressive, but it's things like that the other side wants to take down first. Apparently, starting with your brother."

"Yeah but we can't get him in trouble. What if you write and begin the letter something like this. Dad, Thanks for your letter. Thought I would write back and tell you about one of my new friends. Then you can tell him about me and my fifteen year old brother Lee. It might sound to anyone else who reads the letter like you have a crush. If your dad is as smart as you though he might be able to connect the information he gave you with this sudden obsession with a friend's older brother?"

"Sounds like a plan," Moki agreed. "Yeah, I know I can't get him in trouble, it's just that I don't know what to do... your idea is definitely safe, at any rate. Worst thing that can happen is the Ministry reads about my interest in your brother." She rummaged through the bag that sat at her feet. "Have you got- oh, wait, I've found some," she said, pulling out a rather crinkled piece of parchment. "Okay..." Moki grabbed a quill and tapped her nose with the end of it. "I wonder if I should use the foreign owl system," she speculated. "But... I don't know. Owls going out of the Ministry are probably not checked as often as those going in, wouldn't you think? Well, let's just make a draft and then I can decide however to send it."

She dipped her quill in her ink bottle and wrote in curvy printing,


Hi Daddy,
Thank you for your letter. Tell Mama I miss her too. The weather here is cold but at least with snow. Things at school are fine. I have a new friend named Maeve Campbell that I met a few months ago. She is a first-year student from a Muggle family, but knows a lot about magic because she grew up in a Wizarding town. Hopefully one day I will be able to meet her family - they sound like a lot of fun, especially her older brother Lee, who is 15. Right now, Lee is away but Maeve and her family can't wait to see him again. I think a meeting with him will be very interesting and informative so I am hoping that we will be introduced soon!
Hugs and kisses,
Moki

"Well, what do you think about that? Pretty ambiguous to anyone who doesn't know what I'm talking about but chock-full of double meanings if you do. Do you think I should add anything?" she questioned, pushing the letter towards Maeve.

[Maeve Campbell]

Maeve nodded as she read Moki's letter. It sounded really good. Much better than her own lame attempt would have been. It sounded very innocuous to the average reader. In her own small opinion it would have been hard to get anything out o fit except her brother's name. For all the Ministry knew Maeve bought the whole running away theory; hook, line, and sinker.

Clearing her throat because even just to read her brother's name made her get choked up. "I think it is excellent! I just hope the name Lee doesn't set off any alarms...or my last name." She bit her lip. "I dunno about the foreign owl system. You probably know more about that than I do..."

Her voice trailed off because just then she spotted Mike Blaze walking in. He looked to be mildly out of sorts. Maeve ducked her head guiltily. She didn't want him to see her. She shoved her hood back on and slouched down hoping to hide next to Moki. Hoping against hope that he wouldn't approach her. He might be able to tell she almost slipped and told his secret.

[Mike Blaze]

OOC: Wasn't planning on joining the RP this soon, but since I noticed you set me up an appearance... lol

Mike had been taking a lot of time to himself lately, he still had the urges to find Audrey, but he knew they needed some time for both of them to just talk to friends or whomever, they had all the other time in the world to see each other. That whole thing wasn't the only thing bothering him. The fact about Maeve's brother also bothered him, as well as the letter he received the other day from his father. Walking in to the Great Hall from one of his walks outside, he instinctively began his walk to the Ravenclaw Table when someone caught his eye, turning his head slowly, he saw Maeve and Moki. He knew Maeve had been looking at him a second before, did she tell Moki? A mixture of fear, anger, and a few other emotions gripped at him. No, maybe she just wanted to give him a signal as if to find out if he had any news, which truthfully. he didn't with all the other stuff going on. One second thought told him Maeve had said something, with a cold look, he changed his destination heading approaching the two girls, he would've put on a polite act but things were getting to him, and he wanted to get down to the point, if she told Moki, there was even a higher chance his life and family were in endanger, as well that Maeve promised not to tell anyone. "You told her, didn't you." were his first words, staring right at Maeve, his face almost expressionless.

[Maeve Campbell]

As the accusation hurled itself seemingly out of nowhere Maeve knew Mike had approached. Dammit. She lifted her head and met his eye. The small girl almost quailed at the look in his eyes despite the fact his face was expressionless.

She had to keep her cool no matter how bad her temper wanted to flare. Otherwise he would wind up spilling his own secret. An almost imperceptible movement of her head as shook it to say no. Hopefully she covered up that movement to Moki by raising her hand to remove the hood. Still staring straight into his eyes she tried to tell him silently that she hadn't actually said anything.

"You mean did I tell her about my brother gone missing? Yes, of course I did. Moki is a good friend of mine. She asked what was bothering me and I told her about how everyone thinks Lee ran away but that I don't think he ran away. Even though I have no proof or anyone to tell me otherwise." This last she said with a slight emphasis on her words.

As distracted and angry as Mike looked she expected him to either blow up or just stalk off. She knew this wasn't the greatest place to have a much needed conversation. Besides she didn't know how much information Moki wanted spread about her own father's involvement or information. It was a risk to his job and now it seemed the whole situation posed a risk to everyone involved. Maeve heaved a despairing sigh. This was almost too deep for a preteen.

((you dont gotta stick around but this made ofr more drama and mystery))

[Moki Kagawa]

Moki looked utterly befuddled at Mike's question. Did he mean about Maeve's brother? The redhead's answer seemed to confirm that theory. How did he even know about Lee? Moki hadn't thought Maeve and Mike were particularly close friends. He seemed an odd third party to notify. She glanced at the letters before her. Her handwritten letter seemed utterly harmless, and Mike had about as much chance of reading the one from her father as he did of sprouting wings and joining the circus, so she relaxed and let the scene play out. She wasn't sure what Mike was getting at, but he seemed angry about something.

"Maeve's one of my closest friends. Of course I know about her brother," she defended herself. Not for all the money in the world was she going to offer her own information. She didn't dislike Mike (haha that rhymed) but they were hardly bosom buddies.

OOC: Shower time... I just came from the gym and smell like armpit.

[Mike Blaze]

OOC: Was gonna post this last night, I started it, but then I started feeling sick and didn't have the motivation to finish, so now I finihsed it.

"You mean did I tell her about my brother gone missing? Yes, of course I did. Moki is a good friend of mine. She asked what was bothering me and I told her about how everyone think Lee ran away but that I don't think he ran away. Even though I have no proof or anyone to tell me otherwise."

Mike stood there for a moment, almost a murderous look in his eye, as he continued to stare Maeve down. Despite how angry he was at this point, his breathing remained calm, only coming out heavy once in a while. He took a minute to study her face after he heard her words, not sure whether he wanted to believe her or not. Either she was telling him this because Moki really did not know or she was trying to cover up so Mike wouldn't know. "Maeve's one of my closest friends. Of course I know about her brother," Mike's eyes scanned Moki for a moment, she seemed to be completely unaware of the true reason for Mike's visit. His eyes still not loosening up, fell upon Maeve, "Remember our deal." he said in a cold voice, and with that, he turned and walked off.

[Maeve Campbell]

Maeve tried not to collapse with relief. He didn't seem if he believed her but at least he wasn't willing to risk the secret being shouted out to the whole room. She didn't know Mike that well and even though he seemed nice just then...well, he scared her.

Shaking her red curls, she realized she needed to try to explain his cryptic remark and attitude away to Moki. The young girl just couldn't really come up with a plausible excuse.

"Well, he got up on the wrong side of the bed." Maeve forced a stiff laugh. "I guess he thought I was still telling the world how Lee didn't run away. He, um, seems to think that panicking about it won't help me find out what's going on..." Maeve listened to herself babble on before abruptly cutting off her mouth. It didn't make sense but hey she didn't make sense either so maybe that would make sense. Right? Wha--?

Maeve picked up the letter and looked at it. She might have had a point with her rambling just then. "Do you think I should stop stressing that he didn't run away? Maybe if I stop harping on everyone then people will let things slip when they talk to me..." Again her voice trailed off.

This made sense to her. If she didn't freak out people wouldn't be as on guard around her. She didn't want to just sit back and let 'grown-ups' figure it out. In her opinion grown ups just made simple things complicated. To her it was the most simple thing in the world. Find who took Lee. Find where they took Lee. Get Lee back.

Now Maeve didn't think she could go find him but maybe...just maybe...the kids could find out who had taken Lee and let the Ministry know so they could do something about it.

Maybe.