we are not the same as you || Malcolm & Mary & Mulciber
The plan was one Mulciber was particularly proud of, this time - not for it’s complexity, but for the gravity of it, for the profound effects it was going to have not only on their victim, but also on their entire career as wizards, on the development on their magical abilities, and, lastly, on their very selves.
Here it was.
The boy had never before actually went through with performing an attack of such gravity, and the thought of actually getting to test out his knowledge, to hold all that new, forbidden power in his hand filled him with glee and excitement.
He did not get the chance to wreak havoc like that very often, not with all that oversight, and wary voices behind him telling him to watch out. Tonight, however, everything was cleared, and they had taken precautions to make sure that their target would not give them trouble.
No more trouble than they would enjoy, at least.
”You can always back out of it if you want to, Malcolm”, he said, almost a note too calm, too soothing, “I won’t give you any trouble for it, I promise”
Neither voice, not demeanor gave away the boys intentions at this point, as of course, there had been a reason why he had brought Avery along, of all people, and it was not because he liked him best, even though Malcolm might as well believe that.
If he had wanted to, he could have easily bright with him someone who would be more useful to their intent. There was Snape, who could have assisted him with skill, or maybe Wilkes who would have been an extra charge of raw strength.
Yet, it was Avery who he focused on.
With keen observation he ha found that Malcolm Avery might as well be called the weakest link in their little group. While everyone else had something useful to add to their conquests, Avery tended to hide his talent behind a veil of cowardice, and sheer stupidity. Who was to say that he was even capable of taking the next step with them?
Everything that happened from now on was a test.
It was dark, it was quiet, and it was creepy - as per usual, really, late at night in a Hogwarts corridor. She had been out s t u d y i n g, of all things. It made her stomach turn, and she felt herself frown as she thought on it. Hogwarts was supposed to be a safe haven, and perhaps it was, in some ways, but it was lacking in terms of safety for some students. Namely, muggleborns.
Luckily, Mary had only experienced verbal abuse. Perhaps a hex once or twice, but it was hardly something to dwell on. It most certainly was not something Mary would be able to change. Not anytime soon, that was. But she’d heard whispered threats, she’d felt the glare of students perhaps waiting for their chance to pounce. And perhaps that was why she felt uneasy as she walked down the halls, unaccompanied, alone, vulnerable.
But this was a school. Schools were safe. That was what she had been told, and she chose to believe it.
So, walking down her presumably safe space of a school, she felt alright. Uneasy, but manageable. She held her head as high as ever, her gait was as confident as always, and her expression was neutral, but with a tinge of that trademark Macdonald smirk.
She was f i n e. Even if she was a l o n e.
‘I won't give you any trouble for it, promise.’
Malcolm knew that his best mate would never knowingly deceive him, but he didn't for a second believe that backing out would be so easy. Sure, Mulce may have thought that he'd be fine with him abandoning their quest at the last moment, but Malcolm knew him, knew how important this was to him, and was sure that there was no way he could just let this slide.
If Mulce had one major failing, it was that he could be a tad judgmental at times.
And so, despite the fact that his fear was urging him to bolt back to his dormitory and bury himself beneath the covers until Mulciber returned, Malcolm held his head a bit higher, attempted (mostly unsuccessfully) to pitch his voice lower, and said, “No, no. I'll stay. I want to stay.”
The pair walked together, unspeaking, the silence of the abandoned corridor broken only by the soft pattering of footfalls and the steady tap of Mulciber's cane. Though Malcolm generally found the sound to be soothing, comforting, proof that his friend was readily at hand, right now the noise did nothing but heighten the uncomfortable tension stretching through his entire body.
He almost shook his head, trying to banish the sensation. This was going to turn out fine. After all, even if they were caught, it wasn't as though the administration would take particularly rash measures against the heirs to the Avery and Mulciber estates.
A sound.
Malcolm's spine straightened further, his eyes quickly locking on the source of the disturbance. A girl, dark hair, though her features were difficult to make out at this distance.
He turned to Mulciber and, loathe to speak, pointed at the form and raised an eyebrow, the unspoken is that her? plainly written across his features.
Merlin, please let it be her. The sooner they found her, the sooner this would all be over.
