One Dark Night..... (Terrance)

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There were few joys in Zerod Grimp's life. While some felt he enjoyed scaring the students into doing their studies now and then, he simply felt that was part of the job. No for Grimp, his short list of joys included riding his horse Icabod on Sundays and smoking his pipe outside once the students had all gone to bed.

Stepping out, Grimp pulled out his old pipe. Striking a match, he lit it and began puffing. The vice was particularly pleasant on cold nights. Grimp seated himself on an outside bench and looked around. Even with things much claimer at Hogwarts now, he was still on his guard. As an Ex-Auror and a member of the Order of the Phoenix, he was always on alert, always ready for a showdown. Even when relaxing with his pipe, his wand was at the ready.

So far, there was only quiet and calm, and despite his willingness to fight, Grimp was perfectly fine with not doing so.

TERRANCE JEREMY HARPER

[TERRANCE JEREMY HARPER]

Terrance was more or less worn down from the days work. There had been a few pranksters that wrecked havoc in the castle that he had to take care of before finally getting any shot of rest. It was pretty much the same for him each day, clean up messes and deal with pranksters, it was all rather troublesome. Then again, he had caused some problems for his predecessor when he was a student years ago. Yet there he was now taking care of the school he'd often create some sort of chaos in.

Figuring for a breath of fresh air, Terrance went outside, spotting Zerod Grimp, the Head of Slytherin and Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. The older man was smoking a pipe, yet didn't seemed relaxed, his wand hand at the ready. It was odd, yet it was something Terrance figured was just normal for an ex-Auror. "Not exactly a warm night is it?" he said to alert Grimp of his presence without seeming like a threat. He knew quite well that Grimp would probably obliterate him just out of shock if he wasn't careful, and he hoped he had been, but one could never really tell.

@grimp

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Harper's calm approach worked, so Grimp knew not to be overly jumpy. To do so was endanger a student or staff member, possibly even kill one, and Grimp would not be able to live with that. However, his head did jerk quickly to look as he heard the voice. Grimp of course could not chastise Harper for being out and doing his job. He knew there were nights that Harper must have hated his job with what he had to deal with in the past. Grimp respected the man a great deal.

"No, Heir Harper, it certainly isn't," he said. "But I keep warm... as you see." He looked at his pipe and chuckled. "Did you resolve the issue with the student pranks? If anyone of them are from my House, feel more than welcomed to bring them to me. I have a cluttered office that needs cleaning." Grimp was about to go on with there was a loud noise nearby, like a flower pot smashing. This time, he grabbed his wand.

TERRANCE JEREMY HARPER

[TERRANCE JEREMY HARPER]

"Good to see. As for the pranks, it wasn't easy, and there were mostly Gryffindors behind it, but there were a few Slytherins. I'll send them yo-," he replied, hearing the noise as well. He quickly reached for his wand, his eyes tightening as he did so. He wasn't an auror, but he knew it was still part of his job description to keep the castle and even then really the students safe from harm. That alone was enough for his eyes to start roaming about for whatever danger there was. He knew there was a little too much risk for him to be the first one to move towards the danger. As a result his best choice of action would be to let Grimp take the lead rather than him launching right into the fray without any kind of caution. The older man's experience was necessary for whatever they were heading towards, so he had to trust Grimp in the lead rather than take the lead himself. That would just be throwing his life away. He looked towards Grimp, waiting to follow his lead into investigating whatever in Merlin's name was going on.

@grimp

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Grimp was ready for anything. Just because the Headmistress had been recovered didn't mean that the Dark lady and her minions weren't still lurking around Hogwarts like the bloody cockroaches they were. Grimp was more than anxious to tangle with a few of them too. Damn did he miss his days as an Auror.

As he moved about with Harper behind him, he looked for any movement. At first, things seemed quiet again... but that mattered little to Grimp. Things were always quiet before Merlin knew what leaped out and tried to kill you.

Nothing leaped, but he did eventually see movement. Grimp looked at Harper and motioned his head toward the movement. He knew who the culprits were judging by the size and shape of the shadows and their speed.

"Students... out of bed," he whispered to Harper. "You go to the other side and cut them off. I'll be waiting for them then."

TERRANCE JEREMY HARPER