You Know Who [Alex]

[Rowena Jones]

To say that it had been an emotional few days would be a complete understatement. There were moments of fragility where it all felt like it was too much, and the grief would threaten to overwhelm her, paralyse her, render her useless. Returning the hospital after saying her final goodbyes to her parents, seeing Max lying in that hospital bed, that had been one of those moments. Max was an island of solid ground in an ocean of shark infested waters all trying to devour her. But Max was also hurt, and there were moments where looking at him, covered in bandages and cuts, made that ground feel shaky.

She'd lost sight of the mainland, lost herself in the darkness. The research for her mother's treatment, years of hard work, a lifeline when everything else got confusing had gone. So instead, Rowena threw herself into new research. What exactly was happening to the Wizarding World, and why was it so interested in her?

And she'd listened to Alex Kameren as he'd pointed out that he knew those runes carved into Max's chest. And she'd listened as he'd said "And I do not want him--them, to come back and finish it."

Alex Kameren knew something. And Rowena Covington was going to find out what. Which was precisely why she was marching down the halls of the Ministry, ignoring the frantic shrieks of the Reception Witch demanding that she wait for an appointment with the Head of the Auror department.

She didn't knock or pause as she pushed open the door, too focused on her task to think clearly about anything other than discovering just who had attacked her boyfriend.

[Alecsander]

Alex had locked himself into his office, putting up the wards, and gotten to work. The aurors could manage by themselves for a few hours, especially now that Franks and Potter weren't starting fights in the bullpen. Having them work as partners did seem to be having the desired effects.

His desk was strewn with papers, books, and folders. It was not only the cannibal he was researching, but the Shadowloved. Alex had just summoned another book from his shelf when the door burst open. He looked up to see Rowena struggling in one of the wards, and hearing the whine of another winding up, he waved his hand to cancel it. It wouldn't do to leave Max's girlfriend splattered on the wall, which is what that second ward would have done. He left her hanging in the first trap.

"Can I help you?" he pulled the reading glasses off and raised a disapproving brow at the healer.

[Rowena Jones]

"Can I help you?"

Rowena had the decency to blush at his disapproving stare. In her emotional state and determination to discover what Alex Kameren knew, she'd almost forgotten who the man was. Not only Head of the Auror department, but Max's uncle too. Not exactly someone she wanted to think badly of her... but damnit, he knew who or what had attacked Max, and therefore maybe what was also targeting her. She needed that information.

"You know don't you? You know who attacked Max," Rowena said struggling to get out of the blasted trap she'd walked into. She should have expected it. But the man could at least release her. He knew her at least a little, even before she started dating Max. She'd patched up enough of his Aurors over the years!

"Urgh, could you let me out of this please?" she asked, pausing as she thought about the situation. "Sorry... for barging in. I just... if you know anything, I need to know."

[Alecsander]

"You know don't you? You know who attacked Max,"

He sighed, placing the glasses on the desk and rubbing his eyes. This was the past thing he needed, a civilian, and Max's girlfriend, even worse, barging in and demanding information. He hadn't even told the Watch of this yet.

"Urgh, could you let me out of this please?" she asked, pausing as she thought about the situation. "Sorry... for barging in. I just... if you know anything, I need to know."

"Healer Covington, you could get yourself killed. You almost did just now, and I don't even hold any grudge against you." he released the first ward with a second wave, closimg the door behind her. Barging into his office had very nearly been the last thing she experienced.

[Rowena Jones]

"Healer Covington, you could get yourself killed. You almost did just now, and I don't even hold any grudge against you."

“Thank you,” she said as he released her from her sticky predicament. “Look, I get it. Why would you tell me? I’m just a Healer, what could I do, except get myself killed. Believe it or not, I saw what happened to Max, and I have no illusions about my skills. If they could do that to Max, I would have been dead in an instant.”

Rowena paused before moving forward to sit in the seat opposite Alex. “But. I am skilled at research. Ask anyone. And all this, it has something to do with me. I need to know in case it comes after me again. Plus two minds are better than one right?"

The witch looked at Alex pleadingly. "Please let me be useful in this one way."

[Alecsander]

“Thank you,” she said as he released her from her sticky predicament. “Look, I get it. Why would you tell me? I’m just a Healer, what could I do, except get myself killed. Believe it or not, I saw what happened to Max, and I have no illusions about my skills. But. I am skilled at research. Ask anyone. And all this, it has something to do with me. I need to know in case it comes after me again. Plus two minds are better than one right?"

The witch looked at Alex pleadingly. "Please let me be useful in this one way."

He could see he was going to have to demonstrate this, she had no sense of her own danger. He set the traps again, something he hadn't planned on while she was still in his office. He summoned a log from by the fireplace and tossed it at the door. It hung there motionless, Alex took that few seconds to put up a shield before the whine started, increasing in pitch before the log suddenly splintered against the door. He looked at Rowena, raising a brow in query.

"Do you see what I mean now?"

[Rowena Jones]

What was he doing?! Rowena huffed impatiently as he didn't even answer her heartfelt speech, instead faffing around with a log and tossing it towards the door where it hung motionless. What was he doing?! Was he ok?  Then a whine started, increasing in pitch before the log suddenly splintered against the door. Alex looked at Rowena, raising a brow in query.

"Do you see what I mean now?"

Huh. It wasn't pretty imagery that was for sure. Rowena supposed he was trying so show her what could have happened because she'd been hasty. But it hadn't happened. She was fine. Except for the fact that Alex wasn't sharing the information she knew he had.

"Yes. I get it. Be more careful. But how can I do that if I don't know as much as I can? You can help me with that. Help me be more aware, more careful. Please. I'll tell you what I know." She didn't know if Max had told his uncle of her connection to the Earthquake yet, but there were details in that memory that she hadn't shared with Max yet. 

[Alecsander]

"Yes. I get it. Be more careful. But how can I do that if I don't know as much as I can? You can help me with that. Help me be more aware, more careful. Please. I'll tell you what I know." She didn't know if Max had told his uncle of her connection to the Earthquake yet, but there were details in that memory that she hadn't shared with Max yet.

"One would suppose you would know enough not to burst into the Aurora office and create such an uproar," Alex said disapprovingly. What was it with people having death wishes lately? And not his aurors, but civilians. Perhaps if he told her what they were up against she would reconsider. The head auror rubbed his face in frustration. "About thirteen years ago there was a string of bloody and horrifying murders..." He began to describe Winston and the way he had caused terror in the wizarding world. "It was my first time as leading auror on a big assignment, but about ten years ago we finally found a way to capture him." Alex paused, thinking back to those hard summer months.

"Winston is part of an ancient cult that call themselves the Shadowloved." He touched his chest subconsciously. "Those runes, I've seen him use them before. They trap the soul, the awareness. Not even death will release you." A heavy silence fell as Alex's face hardened, remembering Max's attack. He'd been trying to get a lead on Winston but... He hadn't wanted a lead like this, a personal attack on his nephew. He turned his piercing gaze to Rowena. She knew more than she let on. He said nothing, instead using the weight of his gaze to encourage her to talk.

[Rowena Jones]

"One would suppose you would know enough not to burst into the Aurora office and create such an uproar," Alex said disapprovingly.

Rowena's ears turned pink at the not so subtle scolding. What was it with this man and his ability to make her feel like a child? She didn't particularly appreciate it. Should she have maybe been a bit less rude in her entrance? Perhaps. But this was practically a matter of life or death! There was no time for niceties! Or even proper precautions. What kind of person had death traps at their door anyway?! She only had a simple stunning spell. 

The head auror rubbed his face in frustration and Rowena frowned. What was he frustrated about? He wasn't the one without the information! "About thirteen years ago there was a string of bloody and horrifying murders..." Alex began to describe Winston and the way he had caused terror in the wizarding world. "It was my first time as leading auror on a big assignment, but about ten years ago we finally found a way to capture him." Skip the history lesson, focus on the details, Rowena thought impatiently, edging forward in her seat. 

"Winston is part of an ancient cult that call themselves the Shadowloved." He touched his chest subconsciously. "Those runes, I've seen him use them before. They trap the soul, the awareness. Not even death will release you." A heavy silence fell as Alex's face hardened, remembering Max's attack. Rowena took advantage of the silence to process that information. She didn't linger too long on the runes for now, didn't want to think about what had almost happened to her boyfriend. But Shadowloved... she'd seen that name somewhere. Argh, it was going to drive her crazy. She wanted to take that information and run with it, search every volume until she found what she knew she'd seen. Shadowloved.

But then she noticed Alex's piercing gaze focused on her. So like his nephews, those bright green eyes, and yet with none of the usual warmth she usually saw. There would not be the same comfort she got from Max when he found out the story behind her own near death experience.

"It wasn't a male," she started. "At least I don't think it was? I never saw their face or even anything that would help identify them, but the figure was slight, I could tell that much..." she paused, shivering a little as she remembered that voice. "Then again, it didn't even sound human, but it's hands were so..." Rowena shrugged, her information coming in bits and pieces.  "It came to my home a few weeks ago, before the Azkaban attack but after the Morrisons. Threatened my parents, demanded my help or it would kill them." She bit her lip, worried that he would not understand that she had given in to the things demands. "I did it. And then it made me forget everything. I got sick but didn't know why... until the morning of the Earthquake. Max saved me. From what we can understand, it was using my energy, it had drawn a rune on my wrist and it was killing me. Max cut through the rune and the next thing we knew was that there had been an Earthquake in Hogsmeade. I can't say for sure that I caused it, but Max's attack seems to suggest it's all connected..."

[Alecsander]

"It wasn't a male," she started. "At least I don't think it was? I never saw their face or even anything that would help identify them, but the figure was slight, I could tell that much..." she paused, shivering a little as she remembered that voice. "Then again, it didn't even sound human, but it's hands were so..." Rowena shrugged, her information coming in bits and pieces. "It came to my home a few weeks ago, before the Azkaban attack but after the Morrisons. Threatened my parents, demanded my help or it would kill them." She bit her lip, worried that he would not understand that she had given in to the things demands. "I did it. And then it made me forget everything. I got sick but didn't know why... until the morning of the Earthquake. Max saved me. From what we can understand, it was using my energy, it had drawn a rune on my wrist and it was killing me. Max cut through the rune and the next thing we knew was that there had been an Earthquake in Hogsmeade. I can't say for sure that I caused it, but Max's attack seems to suggest it's all connected..."

Alex tapped his fingers slowly on the desk as he thought. This was the kind of thing the aurors should have been told! Hunting dark magic was their job. Max should have known better. His eyes dropped to her wrists, not seeing any scarring. "Where is the mark?" This seemed like something they should have a memory of. Memories were often reliable in ways the witch or wizard couldn't be. You could see things a person might dismiss in the telling, or not know that they remembered.

"I'd like a memory." His eyes lifted from her briefly as he addressed the room at large. "I know you're there."

[Cain the Scorched]

"I know you're there."

"Don't you always?" Cain joked, coming into view. Listening in was something he tried not to do. But Alex always had the juiciest information. Plus he usually ended up needed Cain's help. He waggled his eyebrows at Rowena. "Cain the Scorched, at your service." He seemed to take a seat on the corner of the Head Auror's desk before being shooed off and taking residence in the chair beside Rowena. "Cursebreaker extraordinare. At your service. You seem like you've got a problem." He smiled genially, slouching back against the chair.

[Rowena Jones]

"Where is the mark?"

"Oh.." Rowena said holding out her wrist to prove what she was saying. "... there's nothing there now. I don't remember much about that bit, sorry. It just hurt... but Max might remember better? She glanced at the bare skin, still finding it hard to believe that one small rune there had been the cause of so much. She pulled it back quickly not wanting to think about her almost death and the destruction of Hogsmeade.

"I'd like a memory."

Urgh. She hated sharing memories. It was so personal. She hadn't even wanted to share this, her failure, wouldn't have but she needed information more than she valued her pride. At least when it came to Max. She sighed heavily. Things like this made it very hard for her to remember they needed to take it slow. Rowena was quickly realising that no matter how slow they tried to take it, she would still do just about anything for her boyfriend. He'd saved her life after all. And killed your mother in the process, said a snide voice in her mind that she quickly shoved away. That wasn't worth thinking about... She glanced up at Alex with a resigned look in her amber gaze.

"Fine, wh-"

"I know you're there."

"What? Who?" Rowena said startled, glancing around anxiously only for her eyes to fall upon a ghostly form.

"Don't you always?" Cain joked, coming into view. What was a ghost doing here? And why on earth was he waggling his eyebrows at her?! "Cain the Scorched, at your service." He seemed to take a seat on the corner of the Head Auror's desk before being shooed off and taking residence in the chair beside Rowena. "Cursebreaker extraordinare. At your service. You seem like you've got a problem." He smiled genially, slouching back against the chair.

Rowena blinked, not quite sure what to make of this most recent development. "Lovely to meet you?" she asked before glancing back at Alex. He didn't seem all that bothered about the ghost casually sitting next to her so she assumed it was OK to continue talking about the subject. She wasn't overly happy to talk about her side of the situation though in front of a total stranger, so she turned the conversation back to the information she wanted. 

"How did you catch him then? Are there others? Do you know where they are? It must be them doing all this right?"

Then she realised there was another source of information by her and Rowena was not one to pass on knowledge. "Do you know anything about the Shadowloved?"

[Cain the Scorched]

"What? Who?" Rowena said startled, glancing around anxiously only for her eyes to fall upon a ghostly form.

Alex sighed, shooting a glare at Cain as he settled on the corner of his desk that sent the ghost to settle in the other chair instead. He’d known he would need to involve Cain at some point, so in a way it was good that he had come on his own. Cain grinned at Rowena, waggling his eyebrows.

"Cain the Scorched, at your service." He seemed to take a seat on the corner of the Head Auror's desk before being shooed off and taking residence in the chair beside Rowena. "Cursebreaker extraordinaire. At your service. You seem like you've got a problem." He smiled genially, slouching back against the chair.

Rowena blinked, not quite sure what to make of this most recent development. "Lovely to meet you?"

“It is, isn’t it?” Cain agreed happily, placing his chin in his hands. He exchanged a glance with Alex, the story this woman had to tell was quite interesting. It was uncomfortably familiar for him especially. Two years of madness, of pain he hadn’t imagined previously and which had haunted his dreams after.

"How did you catch him then? Are there others? Do you know where they are? It must be them doing all this right? Do you know anything about the Shadowloved?”

“Too much.” His jovial attitude started to wear thin as he remembered the past. His ghostly body shivered, but he spoke. Oh merlin how he’d wished the past would not come back to haunt them. “From what I can tell however, I’m not entirely convinced this is the Shadowloved. I think they may be something more.”

[Rowena Jones]

"What? More than the Shadowloved?!" Rowena exclaimed looking at the ghost incredulously. Urgh, but they'd thought they'd had answers. With a name of a sect or something, it was at least a start. But if this Cain the Scorched thought it was something else... then they were practically back to square one. Then again, how much did He with the Weirdly Waggly Eyebrows really know? The witch glanced at Alex in the hopes of finding some measure of comfort there. Was the ghost mad? Please let him be mad, she thought desperately. Then they could stick with their original theory...

Though, it would be foolish not to gather all available information. A good researcher should not dismiss information without thorough prior examination. Perhaps Cain had something to offer. "What makes you think that though? Is Winston not Shadowloved then? What do you know of them?"

[Alecsander]

"What? More than the Shadowloved?! What makes you think that though? Is Winston not Shadowloved then? What do you know of them?"

"They definitely seem inspired by them, but there's more to them. For one, the Shadowloved had hidden in shadows for generations, a sect so secretive there are few mentions of them in history. And then they attack a minister and raze Azkaban?" it didnt fit. And worse still were the other small pieces they were still fitting together. Cain was vibrating in his agitation by now his form threatened to go to pieces. He had stayed to warn future generations but this... The memories that had been dug up so recently. They took a toll.

Alex sighed, throwing a glance at his friend as he opened a drawer and pulled out an empty vial, which he held out to Rowena.


"Do you need,me,to,extract it?" he asked, watching as she took the vial and did the extraction herself. He shuffled some of the case files on his desk. "N-now Healer Covington, I'm afraid you'll haaave to go. I-iI have a lot of,work to do." nearly 20 years later he still stuttered or misplaced words. It was something he found extremely aggravating. He folded his hands and eyed her, silently daring her to protest.