The decision was made before Ben could even get his bearings enough to protest. He could only hope—even pray—that Somersby was kept safe by the auror, though any man that suggested splitting up in a situation such as this, the Ravenclaw thought, was at best illogical and at worst had a death wish.

(This whole misadventure, Ben thought, was bringing out his inner cynic.)

Matters went from bad to worse when his companion, hindered by the darkness, evidently broke his ankle.

“Is anyone there?” Ben called out, loud as he could. “Fudge? Mr. Umbridge? Mr. Jameshill?”

---

  

---

— graphics by mj ❤ —

While everyone else continued their yammering, Timothy worked on a makeshift torch. He used the lighter that he had to light it and he was glad now that one of his many experiments had been tinkering with the muggle invention that had come about in 1823. His own additions to it soon found him and MacKay walking with light as the sky darkened.

"Salem," Timothy read out as each of the letters were made out by him. There was more to it but he couldn't quite make out those letters yet.

  

Wandering around in the woods without any semblance of lighting was perhaps not the brightest idea he'd ever had, but it was far better than getting murdered by a curse because they'd refused to follow the message. At least that's what he thought until he ran into a fucking tree. The hiss that left his mouth was sharp enough to send him into a momentary coughing fit, and it was only when he stopped that his hand flew to his brow to gauge the damage.

There was blood. Hanging skin. Stinging flesh. The pain trio. He let out an aggravated huff and hastily wiped the blood onto his robes, unsure of what his options were at the moment.

"Fudge, we need to find the others. I've got - you know what, it doesn't matter," he grumbled.

---

  

---

— set by MJ! —

It was dark as they wandered in a way that almost felt aimlessly. Somersby walked awkwardly with his hands out trying to feel for any obstacles in his way.

Beside him there was a thunk and a noise of pain. "Are you alright sir?"

A moment later he suggested finding the others. Somersby nodded before he remembered Umbridge couldn't see him. "We came from this direction." Somersby turned around fairly confident of it. Did he hear Ben's voice in the distance or was he dreaming things up now too? After the day they'd had he couldn't be sure.

  

---

Made by magic (MJ) <3

Conall had, for the most part, forgotten about the others in light of the unravelling message of the letters. Presumably, after all the hail and the fire, they could survive a little bit of dark. He had Ainsworth with him with a torch, admittedly (and might've been able to make one himself, with the matches in his pocket and a bit of cloth, if all the sticks on the ground nearby weren't still damp), but the light did make the letters easier to read. SALEM. But there was more.

"Keep up, and let's see the rest," Conall muttered with a shrug, hoping there weren't reams of words left, or they'd be here 'til dawn regardless.

---

  

---

Please let us not be walking in circles, for the love of Merlin, he thought to himself.

"I'm an auror but the entire team think I'm incompetent, the weak link." It was possible that he was just insecure and projecting onto others, but he wasn't convinced. "I thought I could prove them wrong if I helped solve this fog business but I didn't anticipate being in a group with Mr. Umbridge. I can't afford to screw up." If he wasn't immediately dismissed on his first day back, perhaps he ought to resign instead. He didn't like to quit but maybe being an auror wasn't for him, even if it had been for Lou. Maybe he should just admit defeat, he'd never be his brother because his propensity for fucking up was just too great. "You play quidditch, don't you?" He'd quite fancied the idea of playing for the house team but then he had chosen to focus on pulling up his grades instead so he could get into the auror training program.

---

The following 1 user Likes Theodoric Jameshill's post:1 user Likes Theodoric Jameshill's post
   Edric Umbridge

---

Thomas nodded at the mans words. Why did he always seem to meet those who didn’t place value in their talents? Without stopping – or turning to face Jameshill – Thomas spoke, “See, I don’t think that’s entirely true, Jameshill. I reckon you’re great. You got past your trainin’ and stuff so I reckon you’re a great auror. Better at it than me, I ‘ave no chance.”

Thomas shrugged and continued to walk for a bit, not entirely sure on the direction they were going. Nodding at Jameshill’s question, Thomas smiled a little. He was proud to be a quidditch player – and a good one at that – and he had no qualms on talking about his love of the sport.

“Chaser for Puddlemere, yeah. You watch it?”

---

  

Benjamin Turner Thomas Tilcott Theodoric Jameshill

Perhaps luckily for all of you, Mr. Tilcott walks directly into Mr. Turner. Luckily for them all, no one else falls in the ditch.

---

Edric Umbridge Somersby Fudge

Mr. Umbridge and Mr. Fudge return to the porch, and the SALEM scoured into the ground.

---

Conall MacKay Timothy Ainsworth

The last word follows: SQUARE.

Apparently the rain wants something from you.

---

The next 'prompt' post will be after either 48 hours have passed from the time of posting (7:00 PM EST on July 18th)* or after every member of the party has posted one time if this occurs before that deadline. Please remember that you must post within 72 hours to continue participating. :)
*Beans will be in Canada, have patience

  

---

Are your characters stuck in the smalltalk loop?
Does your imagination feel like it just can't perform as it used to?
Mid-thread crisis getting you down?
Unable to get that post up?
Is your relationship suffering because of your inability to satisfy your partner?
SUFFER NO MORE!
With a little intervention from The Suggestionizer your RP life could be back on track in no time!

--> Click here for more details <--

Known side-effects include: chronic ridiculousness, immense satisfaction, itching, uncontrollable laughter, burning, deep regret, despair, shock, horror, incidental dismemberment, joy, and death. Use at your own risk!

As Thomas continued to walk and converse with Mr. Jameshill, he suddenly found himself walking straight into a body. Jumping with an ‘umf’, Thomas took a step back and narrowed his eyes toward the figure, “Mr. Turner?” He asked, not entirely sure who Turner was – though he’d heard the name a few times throughout the evening.

“Where’s… erm…” Great time to forget the others, Thomas, “The other one? And where’d the others go off to? Have you moved?”

It then dawned on the chaser that he had, in fact, been walking in circles with Mr. Jameshill. Great.

He really was useless at anything but quidditch.

---

  

As nice as it was of Tilcott to say, Theo wasn't hugely reassured. He hadn't even mentioned the blunders he'd made...

Suddenly their conversation was brought to an abrupt halt as it seemed that the other man had collided with something, or rather, someone. "Who's there?" Tilcott had said Turner and Theo was pretty sure the name was one of the younger boys but he couldn't remember which. Oops. There was also the possibility that Tilcott had made a mistake in the darkness and it was someone else entirely.

---

  

---

The pair silently returned to the porch. Luck was with them and neither of them walked into anything again. Somersby looked about, no one was near. “Think anyone’s having any luck?” He asked the older gentleman, squinting into the fog, wondering at that ‘S’.

Curiosity got the better of him, that and he felt he should be doing something. Somersby stood up and walked to the bottom of the ‘S’ starting off in lower line, keeping his arms out. It made a word. “Salem!” He called back to Umbridge, triumph and curiosity bursting in his voice.

  

---

Made by magic (MJ) <3

"Square," Conall added, trudging back towards the boy who'd made the exclamation. He and Ainsworth had reached the beginning and end of the phrase, and it would have been a great pleasure to leave the rest of the group stumbling around in the dark and move onwards, but they'd been able to hear all their voices, so had begrudgingly come back.

He felt like the group assembled back at the porch had gotten smaller since they'd split up, but he couldn't be bothered to count. "You all comin'?" He announced, heading off without further ado towards what was the only lead they had, even though it was probably a trap. (Better if others did come, then; maybe they could put themselves to some use as bait.)

---

  

---

Edric was not too keen on wandering around with the skin of his forehead hanging in a very awkward, very painful position, but nevertheless followed Fudge with the hope of coming back to find Mr. Langley and put him to use. Much to his dismay, the healer was nowhere to be seen when he and the younger boy arrived back at the porch.

"I suppose so," he offered in agreement to MacKay. What else could they do?

---

  

---

— set by MJ! —

"Ooof!" the lad exclaimed as someone walked into him, knocking off his spectacles. Ben bent to retrieve them and straitened them back upon his face, only to see that it was Mr. Tilcott and Mr. Jameshill who had rejoined him.

"Mr. Langley was injured," the youngster explained, "and could not go on as we must. Perhaps if we continue to venture that way, we might find someone else?"

He was still decidedly uncomfortable with having split up.

---

  

---

— graphics by mj ❤ —

Benjamin Turner Thomas Tilcott Theodoric Jameshill
Edric Umbridge Somersby Fudge Conall MacKay Timothy Ainsworth

Luckily for Jameshill, Turner and Tilcott, they run into the other four as they proceed to the square. With Ainsworth’s torch, the journey passes without incident. Once they arrive, it’s long after midnight.

The casino is the only building lit up. The doors are wide open.

---

The next 'prompt' post will be after either 48 hours have passed from the time of posting (8:50 PM EST on July 21st)* or after every member of the party has posted one time if this occurs before that deadline. Please remember that you must post within 72 hours to continue participating. :)
*Beans will be in Canada, have patience
If you didn’t post in the previous round you technically had until 7 PM on the 19th, /earliertoday but since I’m late you can have until 11:30 PM EST on the 19th

  

---

Are your characters stuck in the smalltalk loop?
Does your imagination feel like it just can't perform as it used to?
Mid-thread crisis getting you down?
Unable to get that post up?
Is your relationship suffering because of your inability to satisfy your partner?
SUFFER NO MORE!
With a little intervention from The Suggestionizer your RP life could be back on track in no time!

--> Click here for more details <--

Known side-effects include: chronic ridiculousness, immense satisfaction, itching, uncontrollable laughter, burning, deep regret, despair, shock, horror, incidental dismemberment, joy, and death. Use at your own risk!

Timothy followed along after MacKay, who was his favorite of the lot so far. It felt pretty obvious that the Casino was the place to go but he waited to see what the consensus would be.