Professor Severus Snape's Seminar, Scene 5-0: Interlude | Семинар профессора Северуса Снейпа: Ролевая игра, Сцена 5-0: Интермедия

University of Oxford, Oxfordshire, Britain

Role-Playing Game "Professor Severus Snape's Seminar"
Ролевая игра "Семинар профессора Снейпа

(Played in the Classroom
Играется в Подземельях)

Scene 5-0: Interlude
Сцена 5-0: Интермедия

Scene

03.08.2003 – 00:49:53

University of Oxford, Oxfordshire, Britain
All Souls College
Chamber of Wyrn
June 13th, 1997, 7:00 in the morning
Attendees:

Uriel Ollivander, Minister of Magic
Donald Willex, Chief Warlock of the British Isles, Head of Magic Intelligence
Lord John Rockwall, Senior Guardian of Merlin’s Original Staff
Milo Staledew, Doorkeeper of the British Red Gate
Jacob McNamara, Head of Magic Law Enforcement
Frannie Boldweede

Sir Wilbert Winter, owner of True Books

03.08.2003 – 00:52:04

assuming his position of the Chair, gravely:

Good morning, gentlemen.

Notices Frannie:

I can see you have brought your wife with you, Jacob.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 00:52:48

hotly:

She’s not my wife! Our relationship is rather more profound than that. We often go out together.

Jacob McNamara

03.08.2003 – 00:55:09

with a chuckle:

Obviously. Wives do not attend top-security Councils, they have matters of greater importance to see to.

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 00:56:00

smiling:

Welcome, Frannie. I am sure Jacob would have told you everything anyway. Please, all of you, sit down. I would like to reintroduce all of you to our two guests. Gentlemen, this is Sir Winter, Wilbert Winter, owner of True Books…

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 00:56:40

rises silently and makes a little bow.

Sir Wilbert Winter

03.08.2003 – 00:57:10

…and Frannie Boldweede.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 00:57:42

rises and makes a curtsy.

Frannie

03.08.2003 – 00:58:19

pauses, then turns to Jacob McNamara:

Jacob, did you know that your girlfriend’s lineage can be traced back to the Lady of the Lake?

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 00:58:51

with a puzzled expression on his face:

You mean just which Lady, Ollivander?

Jacob McNamara

03.08.2003 – 00:59:46

Why Arthur’s Lady, of course. Frannie has in her possession one rather valuable spell which we may well need before long.

Unfortunately it only exists in one version, on one piece of parchment, and is believed to be changing hands within Boldweede’s women line only.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:00:28

This is true, Minister.

Frannie

03.08.2003 – 01:01:25

offended:

You never told me that.

Jacob McNamara

03.08.2003 – 01:02:35

nonchalantly:

Ah, just make it a habit to do some background research on people you live with, Jacob. That will spare you a good many difficulties.

Frannie

03.08.2003 – 01:03:31

with a generous clockwise gesture of his hand:

We shall proceed. Sir Wilbert, Frannie, this is Donald Willex, Chief Warlock of the British Isles — captured many a decent… notorious, that is… Death Eater in his time. Also works part-time as a…

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:04:10

with a nod:

Don’t say part-time, Ollivander, because they pay me full-time.

Don Willex

03.08.2003 – 01:04:58

All right, works also as Head of Magic Intelligence. Participated in the well-known British anti-nuclear assault, during the War.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:05:30

Had to cooperate with them, true; they thought it was about nuclear bombs, but Grindelwald was about to unleash something really uncanny.

Don Willex

03.08.2003 – 01:06:19

impatiently:

Oh, Don!

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:06:47

Have you inherited the title from Albus Dumbledore?

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:07:22

cautiously:

Yes. Why?

Don Willex

03.08.2003 – 01:07:54

Oh because that must mean you’re a very powerful wizard.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:08:34

calmly:

There are some magi against whom my powers have never been matched. Had that happened, I do not believe I would emerge as a winner.

Don Willex

03.08.2003 – 01:09:36

with a visible start:

For instance?

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:10:25

evenly:

For instance, the Dark Lord.

Don Willex

03.08.2003 – 01:10:50

Do you mean Voldemort?

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:11:44

with a smile:

You must not be quite up to date, Sir Winter. I mean former Professor of Potions at Hogwarts, Doctor of High Alchemy, whose name I prefer not to mention... taking his present status into consideration.

Don Willex

03.08.2003 – 01:12:26

Becomes silent.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:12:53

Now, please, gentlemen; that’s a topic we will touch upon soon. This is Lord John Rockwall, Senior Guardian of Merlin’s Original Staff.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:13:28

Suddenly:

What does it say?

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:13:56

What?

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:14:17

The inscription on Merlin’s Original Staff?

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:15:02

With a shrug:

Rendered in modern English, it says "Trot when you can’t gallop. Step when you can’t trot. Don’t ever stop".

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 01:15:40

With a satisfied smile:

True. A very straightforward summary of what it takes to live a life.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:16:18

Rather coldly:

Was that a test, Sir Winter?

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 01:16:51

Unabashed:

Yes.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:17:24

Quietly:

May I ask, Ollivander, why we have been so honoured as to entertain venerable Sir Winter this morning?

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 01:18:54

Looking at Lord Rockwall intently:

John, old goose, back off a bit. We’re not done with introducing yet.

Continues in a very serious manner:

This is Milo Staledew. Keeper of the British Red Gate.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:19:43

Makes no comment and sits motionless.

Milo Staledew

03.08.2003 – 01:20:14

With some arrogance:

What does it take to guard The Red Gate, Mr Staledew?

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:20:47

In a colourless deep voice:

Patience.

Milo Staledew

03.08.2003 – 01:21:12

Finally, Jacob McNamara, head of Magic Law Enforcement.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:22:01

Expectantly turns to Sir Winter.

Jacob McNamara

03.08.2003 – 01:23:32

Determined to make a comment at every introduction:

Dear Mr McNamara! How does it feel to be a successor to Henry Shadowing?

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:25:48

Airily:

Very well, thank you, Sir Winter! The salary is generous. We can finally afford electricity on the second floor of our mansion at Havensdome.

Jacob McNamara

03.08.2003 – 01:26:19

But you are so young. Youngish zeal may not be very expedient when applied to matters of enforcement… especially when it is Magic Law that you enforce.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:27:10

Amused:

How old do you think I am, Sir Winter?

Jacob McNamara

03.08.2003 – 01:27:45

Looks at Jacob appraisingly:

I would think thirty-something.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:28:06

Ah, the wonders worked by cottage cheese and fresh air!

Jacob McNamara

03.08.2003 – 01:28:33

Taken aback:

So you are in fact…

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:29:00

Fifty-four.

Jacob McNamara

03.08.2003 – 01:29:35

In precisely the same manner as Jacob before:

You never told me that!

Frannie

03.08.2003 – 01:30:03

How would you squeeze so many candles on a birthday cake.

Jacob McNamara

03.08.2003 – 01:30:28

Why is Headmistress McGonagall not here? The Full Council of Wyrn was normally always conducted in the presence of Hogwarts Headmaster.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:31:12

Because I’m rather reluctant to stage friendly chats with people who tried to poison me.

General discord.

No, I am telling you––Minerva is playing her own games these days. My only hope lies with her discretion.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:31:47

What does Wyrn mean?

Oxford Milo Staledew

03.08.2003 – 01:32:09

Wynn is a rune meaning ‘joy’. But why the chamber is called “Wyrn”, I’m afraid nobody knows.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:32:33

Omit me from the nobody, though, Ollivander. It is called “Wyrn” because the rune was originally inscribed on the hidden chamber door by a quill––a pirn. They decided to name it a chamber of Wynn initiated by a pirn; and so they abridged it as Wyrn.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:33:03

Few joyful transactions took place here, though.

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 01:33:26

A remarkable story. But the rune loses its powers if mishandled so.

Don Willex

03.08.2003 – 01:33:58

Correct. The sobriquet ‘Wyrn’ is just a fancy name, lacking any potency. To comment on Lord Rockwall’s concern here, this place did behold many pacts explicit and concealed. All of which, however, pursued one goal.

Turns to Ollivander.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:35:15

We shall begin.

Silence.

I have summoned this Council of Wyrn, or the Magiersenat, on Milo Staledew’s notice. But before we start, I would like to brief all of you on the purpose of the present Council. As you know, the Council of Wyrn is an informal congregation of high-ranking, noble-birth British wizards and occasionally witches. The Council is not a permanent body; it is strictly British and hence domestic affairs are given the priority; it is only assembled with the members’ full consent and has no obligation to meet periodically; half-breeds are not allowed, as are nonhuman creatures.

Makes a meaningful pause.

The only criterion used by the Chair in selecting members is the trust he bestows in them. The Council, as a rule, is comprised of people who have both the knowledge and the power to confront the problem in question. The strict selection rules I have just enumerated have, to my deep regret, precluded me from inviting here Gwyll O’Reilly, a great necromancer and wizard who, to my knowledge, had successfully communicated with the spirit of Merlin. I must urge all of you therefore to say nothing to him about this session of the Council. Any questions?

Lord Rockwall and Sir Winter start talking at once, but Lord Rockwall falls silent.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:36:07

What happened to the Seat of the White Power in Switzerland?

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:36:32

The Seat of the White Power scattered before the Dark Lord. Most were forced into hiding; yet some he drew to his side.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:36:56

You just said that O’Reilly invoked the spirit of Great Merlin. When and how was that done?

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 01:37:17

I have no knowledge of that, John. Direct your queries to O’Reilly himself. I do know, however, that it was done with the purpose of rebuilding Hogwarts.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:37:41

Is my understanding correct that we here represent all the magical authority in Britain?

Donald Willex

03.08.2003 – 01:38:03

It is so, with some notable exception though.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:38:26

Whom do you mean — McGonagall?

Donald Willex

03.08.2003 – 01:38:48

I mean the Dark Lord.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:39:25

Slowly:

Severus.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:39:57

Curving his lips:

Indeed.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:40:19

You can’t be serious, sir! Why, would you invite the Dark Lord to this Council?

Frannie

03.08.2003 – 01:40:38

Truth to be told, such was my intention.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:40:58

But he’s… he is supposed to be our foe, right?

Jacob McNamara

03.08.2003 – 01:41:18

Not so. This is a question I would like to explore in some depth.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:41:39

Which brings us, I believe, to the purpose of the present assembly.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:42:04

Uh-huh. I trust all of you here are quite familiar with the term of Balance, or, alternatively, White and Black Consciousness. You must be also aware of the fact that Balance rests on Responsible Poles taking turns on both sides. A Conscious Black Pole is offset by a mad White Pole, and vice versa. The Dark Lord we have right now is most Conscious of his actions… unlike his White counterpart, who seems to be rather shattered and unaware of her own intentions.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:42:24

Isn’t Don Willex the new Chief Warlock? How about… the White Responsibility? Remember, Dumbledore used to be the White Pole.

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 01:42:44

That does not rest with me. The titles and the energy poles do not necessarily coincide.

Don Willex

03.08.2003 – 01:43:03

Who is it, then?

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 01:43:39

A certain Fleur Delacour. But… why isn’t S... the present Dark Lord here?

Don Willex

03.08.2003 – 01:44:19

In agitation:

Because I don’t know where he is and I couldn’t find him! This seems most alarming to me; there can be no Balance without that, and while historical instances of Disbalance are few, accounts of what Disbalance entails are sufficiently picturesque to advance every effort towards avoiding it. In fact, this is the aim of this Council — to understand where the Dark Lord is and what may happen in his absence.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:44:49

Evenly:

I would think that the Dark Lord commands sufficient powers to remain hidden when such is his bidding.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:45:17

Turns to Sir Winter:

Of course. Of course. But you must understand this, Wilbert — there are no reasons for him to disappear right now. He sought to instill Balance, and moved far along that road… but there is no Balance.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:45:40

What makes you think so, Mr Ollivander?

Frannie

03.08.2003 – 01:46:03

Milo, your turn now.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:46:29

When we met last time, Milo said the Gate was at unrest.

General agreement.

Jacob McNamara

03.08.2003 – 01:46:49

Things have become worse.

Milo

03.08.2003 – 01:47:08

Relate the full story, please, Milo.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:47:29

There is little to relate, Uriel. Five days ago, Azmodan with a little host of junior demons tried to force his way out.

Milo

03.08.2003 – 01:47:53

Please, Mr Staledew, let me see if I have this correctly. You are saying that one of Arch-Angels of Hell tried to, um, ‘force his way out’?

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:48:21

Very perturbed:

This is impossible. How often do these things happen?

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 01:48:46

Last time on account is August 1227 — when Genghis Khan was killed. The main attack then was on the Asian Red Gate. The chronicle says the hordes were led by the Prince of Flies himself. But Asians can afford a much larger security zone around the Gate.

Milo

03.08.2003 – 01:49:12

Please, Milo. What happens during these attacks?

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:49:41

Demons try to get out of Hell.

Milo

03.08.2003 – 01:50:00

How do you fight them? Aren’t common spells useless?

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:50:24

Quite. They haven’t any flesh as we understand the word. Their reasoning and motivation is not always clear, as well.

Milo

03.08.2003 – 01:50:44

Well, what do you do?

Frannie

03.08.2003 – 01:51:05

We exorcise.

Milo

03.08.2003 – 01:51:27

How?

Don Willex

03.08.2003 – 01:52:06

With the aid of special verses for the Banishing of Daemons. The most innocent of those can be found at certain pages of Malleus Maleficarum, Saducismus Triumphatus, Daemonolatreia, and so on. Yet others, the more violent and effective ones, are very ancient and have never been written down..

Milo

03.08.2003 – 01:52:41

With a strange gleam in his eyes:

Recite one.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:53:03

I shall not.

Milo

03.08.2003 – 01:53:30

In an unpleasant tone:

I implore you.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:54:00

Raises his eyebrows.

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 01:54:24

No, Sir Winter. I realise that your natural longing for curiosities cries out against my stubbornness, but I shall not.

Milo

03.08.2003 – 01:54:53

Quickly:

Tell us, Milo, how does it happen?

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 01:55:40

Withdrawing his churchwarden pipe:

The Gate, contrary to what it is called, is not a gate but a rather large square pool. On most days it is pitch black. The air around the pool has been specially charmed to keep wizards from accidentally dropping into Hell. But it is, of course, insufficient to keep the demons out.

Puffs a couple of times.

Then, at times of strife, the pool grows murky. As the agitation mounts, the pool too becomes uneasier. It gives birth to maelstroms. Slowly it becomes more blood-like, purple in appearance. Just as slowly, it progresses to deep red. This is where the screaming begins — you can hear the souls scream ceaselessly. And that’s the signal. Immediately then, the whole pool goes ablaze, and the fire isn’t its regular colour; it is silver, gold, and green. And very, very hot. Sometimes it is colder — that’s when the lesser evils try to get out. They are weak and can’t hold off our Banishment for long. But five days ago, it was different.

Milo

03.08.2003 – 01:56:06

What happened?

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:56:31

Mayhem. Azmodan is very powerful. There were twenty-three of us, and three he despatched with a single move of his scythe. And he was not alone. There were inferior devils with him as well. We’d been exorcising them for twenty hours on end, but still eight more of us were felled.

Milo

03.08.2003 – 01:56:50

Does Satan himself ever get out?

Frannie

03.08.2003 – 01:57:28

Yes.

Everyone murmurs.

To our knowledge, he does. But he is not bound by the Red Gates.

Dreamily.

Nothing and nobody ever holds sway over him. Maybe that is why he, unlike most of his ministers, has no interest in blunt destruction.

Milo

03.08.2003 – 01:57:53

Well… how…

Jacob McNamara

03.08.2003 – 01:58:22

Coolly:

I’m afraid we have rather departed from our main point.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 01:58:53

True, Sir Winter. Have you noticed anything unusual, Milo? If indeed this word is applicable to the situation.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 01:59:40

Well, Uriel, Sir Winter, you have to understand this. My very business lies in dealing with the unusual — highly unusual even for Wizards, mind! Our affairs are to Wizarding world what common magic is to Muggles.

Pauses.

But I have noticed unusualties, yes. They seemed very eager to get out. Hell bent for it, they were. As if something was quite amiss in their dominion. Or maybe they sensed…

Milo

03.08.2003 – 02:00:02

What?

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 02:00:32

With a wry smile:

…Vacancies?

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 02:01:00

In a sweet voice:

Pray, Wilbert?

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 02:01:51

Remains silent.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 02:02:17

While the two of you summarise in a nutshell what it is that you would like to learn, I as an Enforcement chap would like to ask this, Milo: can ordinary magic conquer the hell breed?

Jacob McNamara

03.08.2003 – 02:02:49

Puffing:

The answer, Jacob, is no. While weakest evils are prone even to the most inept reciting of Banishment verses, the violent ones, like Azmodan, must be handled by only the knowledged staff. You must whisper the verses at him, and then only when you’re to the left of him, and you may never look in his face, or the whole exorcising is undone.

Milo

03.08.2003 – 02:03:24

Whistling slightly:

I see. Frannie, what do you think?

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 02:03:42

Have you inquired at other Gates, Milo?

Frannie

03.08.2003 – 02:04:04

I have. It seems they have not tracked anything that would be out of the ordinary.

Milo

03.08.2003 – 02:04:24

Peculiar, Lord John, is it not?

Frannie

03.08.2003 – 02:04:43

Aye.

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 02:05:04

Let me remind you that to solve a problem, we must first formulate it. I thought Milo’s story was certainly suggestive of some wrongdoing, but exactly in what department?

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 02:05:34

Are you familiar with the original version of Doktor Faustus?

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 02:06:09

With a grunt:

You are the owner of True Books, Winter.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 02:07:26

Yes. Well, the only existing True Faustus — that is, one with meaning and wording not adapted for Muggle audience — was published in England in the late sixteenth century. It is based on this book that Marlowe wrote his famous play, Faustus. I have brought the volume with me here today as I have surmised that for the objective of this meeting it would serve a very good purpose. Allow me to quote a passage about Faustus, and see if you can think of any contemporary analogies... This was originally in Middle English.

I will condense and adapt the quotation somewhat.

Rises and opens the book; all fall silent.

“…Faustus continued at the University, and was by the Rectors and sixteene Masters afterwards examined on howe he had profited in his studies; and being found that none were able to match him in Divinity, or for the excellency of his wisedome to compare with him, they made him Doctor of Divinity. But within short time after Faustus had obtained his degree, he fell into such fantasies and deep cogitations, that he was called the Speculator; and sometimes he would throw the Scriptures from him as though he had no care of his former profession. He began a very ungodly life, of which more shall be said; for the olde Proverb saith, Who can hold [something] that will [surely come] away? So, who could hold Faustus from the Devil, that sought after him with all his endeavour? For he accompanied himselfe with diviners that were conversant in those devilish Arts, and that had the Chaldean, Persian, Hebrew, Arabian, and Greeke tongues, using Figures, Characters, Conjurations, Incantations, and with many other ceremonies belonging to these infernal Arts such as Necromancy, Charmes, Sooth-saying, Witchcraft, Enchantment, being delighted with their bookes, words, and names so well.”

Pauses and draws a deep breath.

“He studied day and night therein: so much that he could not abide to be called Doctor of Divinity, but named himself an Astrologian, and a Mathematician: and for a disguise sometimes a Physician. He did great cures with herbs, rootes, waters, drinks, receipts and clisters. Without doubt he was passing wise in the holy scriptures… Makes an emphasis on the following words. But he that knoweth his master’s will and doth it not is worthy to be beaten with many stripes. Pauses. It is written, no man can serve two masters: and, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God: but Faustus threw all this in the winde, and made his soul of no estimation, regarding more his worldly pleasure than joyes to come. Therefore at the day of judgement there is no hope of his redemption”.

This is one thing I wanted to share with you today, honourable Council.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 02:08:01

Whom are you hinting at, Sir Winter?

Jacob McNamara

03.08.2003 – 02:08:40

Curtly:

My hints are, as a rule, much less transparent than this, Mr McNamara. But take heed, and do not interrupt me. The other subject of my speech is this. Upon reading the book, one is forced to draw the following very distinctive conclusion. Spirits become agitated and seek to enter our realm in three cases. Firstly, whenever they feel that new souls — of great quantity, or quality — are to be reaped easily (that is during coming wars, or epidemics). Secondly, whenever they learn that great evil had passed away on Earth and there are vacant… energies. Thirdly, whenever things are amiss in Hell.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 02:09:09

And if all three factors combine…

Frannie

03.08.2003 – 02:09:34

A truly great outbreak ensues. Which is what Milo had experienced.

Don Willex

03.08.2003 – 02:11:03

Paying no attention to their comments:

Then there is another book, quite fresh, by a certain Russian writer of little renown outside of his native land. In this case also, the only surviving True text is in my possession. It confirms what Milo said about The Devil walking our lands in a disguise… as a Consultant in Necromancy, certain Herr Woland. It further asserts that there are select souls whom Satan nurtures, with unclear purposes in his mind. They sometimes become his close courtiers, and great Knights of Hell… sometimes they follow him into unknown lands. I will, with your permission, quote a passage from that book as well. The name of the piece is The Great Chancellor, the chapter is entitled The Final Path.

Chants:

"Our riders trod now above quite unknown plains. There was no moon and the outbreak of dawn was imminent. Woland was flying very close to the poet, with their stirrups almost touching.

"Tell me," said the poet, "who am I? I recognised you, but it is inconceivable that I, a living man of flesh, would be removed beyond the edges of what is named the real world?"

"Oh dear guest!" replied his companion with a raven on his shoulder, "Oh how deeply entrenched in you is this concern for words! What does it matter if you are alive — or dead?"

"Nay, still I understand it not," spoke the poet; then he shuddered, let go of the mane, ran his hands along his body, and broke into laughter.

"What fool of a man I am!" he cried, "now I understand! I drank the poison and passed away into the other realm!" He turned and shouted at Azazello:

"You have poisoned me!"

Azazello grinned at him from his horse.

"I understand now that I am dead, as is Margarita," the poet began excitedly. "But tell me..."

"Messir..." prompted someone.

"Yes... What shall become of me, Messir?"

"I have received directions regarding you, and most favourable ones. Accept my congratulations, by the way, for you have made quite an impression. So I have been instructed..."

"Is it possible for someone to instruct you?"

"Yea. I was instructed to take you away..."

Pauses and remarks:

The original Muggle text ends here, but the True Text ends as follows...

"Take me away?" whispered the wretched poet. "But where, can it be that I must accompany you now to your domain?"

The company burst into laughter, and the sounds of it seemed to engulf the poet in some sweet, grim, and hopeless feeling.

"Would you rather stay with me?" questioned Woland.

"A life of wreckless adventure and a trade of wreaking misery!" commented Behemoth.

"No, I would rather stay with Margarita!" cried the Master (i.e. the poet.)

All grew very silent suddenly, very devoid of any living sound at all.

"That, I fear," said the dark king in a voice suggestive of menace, "is rather impossible. The instructions I have alluded to say nothing of your lady".

"Have you... have you selected her for yourself, then?!" asked the poet in a small voice.

Woland smiled and went faster. His suite roared with laughter.

"What a tactless question, dear Master," he replied at length. "I fear lest with this quickness of conclusions you prove to be unfit for the privileges that have been designed for you. But we have gone far enough. Let us make this your point of destination, before I have my mind."

"And Margarita?" said the poor madman.

"This will be your dwelling, then," quoth Woland nonchalantly. "Please, dear fellow, be comfortable. We shall meet again, I fancy".

"But my Margarita, will I ever see her?" persisted the poet.

"Very likely," shrugged the great chancellor.

The company left, leaving the Master with his little house and a vineyard behind.

Stops.

See, gentlemen... One shouldn't ever think he understands the ways of The Dark Sire himself. And finally. There is a True book called Necronomicon, widely considered by Muggles to be nonexistent. And there, it is described in great detail what quests Satan bestows on his chosen victims. He, ah, throws them around. In time and space. I have just recited a passage which might give you a faint idea of what it is like.

Sir Winter

03.08.2003 – 02:13:10

With sincere interest:

Well?

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 02:14:13

With a wry smile as he realises he dropped his narrative at a most interesting point:

Personally I believe it is rather too early to jump to conclusions at this stage… but certainly enough has been said here for you to see what the most probable course of events is. I will pray bid all of you a very fine morning, gentlemen. We shall meet again before long.

Sir Winter (exit)

03.08.2003 – 02:14:52

Grimly:

He is right. We can’t do anything right now because nothing has happened as yet. But be wary, all of you.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 02:15:15

Wait: there are a few points I would like to set straight before the Council is dismissed. Uriel, who is this Winter?

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 02:15:46

Oh, he’s a strange creature of a most noble ancestry. He lives not far from London, with his father, who is well known for his extraordinary collection of the so-called True Books—books that were initially written for the magical community, but were then recast in simpler terms for Muggles, and the originals destroyed or hidden. I must warn you, John, that you shouldn’t cross this fellow. His ways are very unpredictable.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 02:16:10

Like I haven’t anything else to do except cross him.

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 02:16:51

Was it his father as gave you and Dumbledore the real Fourteen Dry Willows and the Spell of Elementals?

Don Willex

03.08.2003 – 02:17:18

That is so.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 02:17:37

What was all that reciting about?

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 02:18:10

Turning to Lord Rockwall:

Tell me, my friends, what your perceptions are.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 02:18:30

Everything is calm.

Jacob McNamara

03.08.2003 – 02:18:48

Our country is at peace.

Frannie

03.08.2003 – 02:19:09

Geistmeisters have disappeared utterly. All seems to be in a kind of harmony.

Don Willex

03.08.2003 – 02:19:57

And yet…

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 02:20:27

Keenly:

Yes?

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 02:20:46

Why Azmodan then?

Milo

03.08.2003 – 02:21:07

Well, remember what I said about the Balance? This seems to fit nicely with the picture, doesn’t it?

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 02:22:06

Hesitantly:

Listen. All this is abnormal. Why did poor Milo have to fight off an attack of Demons of scale unseen since the beginning of thirteenth century, with many old and powerful Banishers elegantly slain by Lord Voldemort? Do you think this is just routine life of British magical community? And where—the hell—is the Professor?

Don Willex

03.08.2003 – 02:22:33

Maybe he is in Hell.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 02:23:01

Puzzled:

In Hell?

Don Willex

03.08.2003 – 02:23:29

Angrily:

Positively, everyone else must be gone fishing! What do you think all Winter’s hints were about—Faustus, and the True Books? He must have been killed!

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 02:23:50

I don’t believe he was killed.

Frannie

03.08.2003 – 02:24:35

Why?

Jacob McNamara

03.08.2003 – 02:24:57

Simple. Firstly—who could have killed him?

Frannie

03.08.2003 – 02:25:18

Possibly a well-trained squad of Whites.

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 02:25:51

The only person who could possibly initiate that would be McGonagall. I believe, actually, that she did hire a number of hotshots to capture "The Professor", but they went rather awry in their transactions.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 02:26:29

Whispers to Jacob McNamara:

It must be them who murdered Chapelmold, Dukeshill, and Finesbury.

Jacob McNamara nods gravely.

Frannie

03.08.2003 – 02:27:00

Whatever. He is extremely forceful, but not omnipotent. He could be overpowered or out-numbered easily.

While he may resist one Avada Kedavra, I doubt if he would stand a series of them.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 02:27:28

But there is a second point I wished to make. From your stories here the new Dark Lord emerges as a sensible chap… that, in fact, corroborates what I know about him. And sensible people do not just disappear without telling anyone where they went. Someone would know. On the other hand, you must understand that once a person is killed, especially so prominent as the Dark Lord, there must be—suprisingly but true nonetheless—grief on someone else’s part… be that a lady, or a child. And where there is grief, there can be no conspiracy. All becomes very widely known instantly.

Frannie

03.08.2003 – 02:28:01

With a look of fatherly concern on his face:

Don’t you think that’s a shaky argument?

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 02:28:35

Boldly:

Worded, yes. But I feel I’m right.

Frannie

03.08.2003 – 02:29:05

Slowly:

I think I agree with Frannie. Someone would know. I am positive that there is someone who does now… but will not tell. Why keep silence if he’s dead, though? That would be meaningless waste of time. People don’t rise from the dead.

Lord Rockwall

03.08.2003 – 02:29:38

Wearily:

What then? What’s the conclusion?

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 02:30:20

I can’t figure anything. But for some reason, I’m convinced he’s alive.

Milo Staledew

03.08.2003 – 02:30:53

I must tell you, my friends, that we have left out a decent lot of other viable opportunities where The Professor would be dead. There is simply no way for us right now to arrive logically at the only possible course of events, because there are several.

Ollivander

03.08.2003 – 02:31:57

All fall silent.

With resolution:

However, it is clear that the infernal activity absolutely must be in some way connected to The Professor’s disappearance and to this highly suspicious tranquility that we now behold.

Reflects for some time and breathes heavily.

But I see I have to contact Fleur Delacour. The Council of Wyrn is dismissed until further notice.

Ollivander (Exeunt)

03.08.2003 – 02:32:33

Act Drop

1 Not a Proverb in Biblical sense, but just an old saying. Quoted, for example, in Ben Johnson's "Bartholomew Fair", and in the play "The London Prodigal", published in Shakespeare's Third Folio of 1664

2 Luke 12:47

3 Matthew 6:24

4 Matthew 4:7; also Deuteronomy 4:16

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