Black House/Basement/Archive 2

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 13:38, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” Once they were in the basement, she went straight to the back wall, pulling out her wand and murmuring her name. The wall dissolved, revealing a huge, empty room, like a warehouse. The floor was cushioned in some places, and in the middle of the room was a desk and a bookshelf. Half of the bookshelf consisted of journals; some had various notes and papers sticking out of them, while others looked cleaner, more polished. The rest of the bookshelf held all kinds of books, the biggest one being Secrets of the Darkest Art. Others included information about Legilimency, Occlumency, the Unforgivable Curses, and potion making. The desk was bare except for a flask of dark purple potion, half empty.

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 13:49, January 26, 2015 (UTC) He would follow her, looking around and taking account of everything. He would follow his wife through the room, then get her settled into the desk chair. "Alright...so before I ask the obvious questions about the things in this room...why don't we start at the beginning. How long has this been going on?"

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 13:54, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” She glanced at the Legilimency and Occlumency books. "It began with Legilimency and Occlumency, which I studied beginning in my last year of Hogwarts. As for the Unforgivables, I've been studying them since September 2021."

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 13:57, January 26, 2015 (UTC) "So...before we got engaged. Alright...I didn't know they offered Legilimency and Occlumency at Hogwarts, and I can't image learning those alone. Who taught you?"

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 14:03, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” Her voice was a bit dull, but stronger than before. "It took me a long time, but I actually did teach myself. Occlumency was easier- I could test it in most conversations, but it was difficult to figure out when I'd nailed it. Legilimency was trickier- at the time, Mary offered to help me, and let me practice on her. After that I tested it on various Muggles to make sure I had really nailed it."

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 14:06, January 26, 2015 (UTC) He owuld raise an eyebrow at that. "Ok...but why? As a seventh year, why did you do this, obviously knowing something was off about it because you did it in secret?"

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 14:10, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” "At the time, it simply seemed like a useful skill. I kept it secret because I knew of the possible dangers, and I was headstrong enough to believe I could repair any damage by myself. As it was, there was no lasting damage to repair from that research, though Kinsel definitely wasn't pleased when he found out."

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 14:11, January 26, 2015 (UTC) He would nod. "Ok...so what happened when the Headmaster foudn out?"

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 14:13, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” "He didn't find out until I told him two years ago. By then my focus had shifted to the Unforgivable Curses, and how I could mix the Occlumency skills with it to block the Cruciatus Curse in the same way as the Imperius Curse. I was asking for his advice."

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 14:14, January 26, 2015 (UTC) He would think about that. "Why did you go ask him for advice? ...and what did he say?"

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 14:18, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” "The research was controversial, and I felt I had to keep it outside the Ministry- but I needed a push in the right direction. Kinsel gave me a copy of an excerpt from Salavar Slytherin's journal, detailing an experiment that used Occlumency to protect the mind from the Imperius Curse, and a theory that it could be applied to the Cruciatus Curse." She glanced around. "That's the only thing from this you won't find in here. He ordered me to destroy it when I was finished."

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 14:21, January 26, 2015 (UTC) He would frown, trying to figure out where to add that piece. Kinsel had been involved...helped her. What did that mean? "Ok...So at some point your focus shifted to unforgiveable curses. When did that happen, and why? What made that change?"

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 14:23, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” "The change in focus was an accident. I was looking up something in the "C" section of a spell encyclopedia, and I just keep reading, eventually getting to the Cruciatus Curse. I had been working on Occlumency earlier that day. The theory developed in my mind, which led to more research."

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 14:25, January 26, 2015 (UTC) He would frown. "So...you started researching and practicing the unforgiveable spells....without any permission or knowledge from the Ministry? ...is that why you were gone for years in Poland?"

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 14:27, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” She shook her head. "The shift in focus happened after I got back."

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 14:28, January 26, 2015 (UTC) "So...since then you've been practicing these on...other people?"

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 14:31, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” She shrunk back in her chair. "Marlene had told me before that she knew how to block the Imperius Curse, so I asked her to teach me. A huge part of that was observation- which made me realize I wouldn't only have to learn the mechanics of blocking the curse, but the mechanics of performing it. I practiced for months on animals at a Muggle zoo before trying it with Marlene."

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 14:32, January 26, 2015 (UTC) He would frown. "Marlene who?"

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 14:35, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” "Marlene la Mercier."

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 14:38, January 26, 2015 (UTC) He would hesitate, frowning. "...you mean the auror who works for me?"

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 14:39, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” She nodded.

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 14:41, January 26, 2015 (UTC) He would shake his head, putting his hands to his temples. "Alright...so you practriced the imperious curse on her...what then?"

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 14:47, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” She averted her gaze. "Once I learned how to block the Imperius Curse, I shifted to the Cruciatus Curse. I wasn't willing to practice that curse on anyone else, including animals. So I found a way to practice it on myself." She glanced at the potion.

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 14:50, January 26, 2015 (UTC) His eyes would widen a little. "...and how's that?"

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 14:53, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” "I created a potion that breaks down one’s self-preservation without inducing self-destruction. It consists of two valerian roots, one powdered unicorn horn, two flying seahorses, three scarab beetles, and four pinches of powdered ginger."

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 14:55, January 26, 2015 (UTC) "So it...lets you hurt yourself? That's the whole point of the potion?"

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 15:02, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” She gave a short nod. "I wasn't willing to practice that curse on anyone else," she repeated quietly.

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 15:03, January 26, 2015 (UTC) He would glance at the potion. "That's...disturbing. I didn't know you were that good at potions. Did you have help with that too?"

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 15:04, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” She shook her head.

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 15:05, January 26, 2015 (UTC) "So...what's the goal? Why did you do all this? Curiosity?"

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 15:11, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” "To protect others. The Cruciatus Curse isn't just about the pain of the moment. It's about the permanent damage that can happen to the mind. Look at all the cases at St. Mungo's, where the mind is completely gone, like the Longbottoms. My goal was to make it so that when it happened, the ones being attacked couldn't feel pain- it wouldn't effect them at all, and they could keep fighting. My plan was to succeed first, then surrender the research to the Ministry, and to the Auror department, to do what they wished with it, and with me." Her voice quieted. "I took every precaution I could think of with this. Once I succeeded in blocking it using the potion, I started doing it without the potion. Never more than five times in one session, and the sessions have been at least 2 days apart as of late... it used to be 3 days, but I tried to speed up the process."

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 15:13, January 26, 2015 (UTC) He would frown, worried. "Teresa....honey...that's not healthy. You could have made yourself go insane. ...you need a complete physical and mental checkup to make sure you're ok."

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 15:15, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” Her heart pounded, and she closed her eyes. All these questions were making her feel physically sick.

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 15:17, January 26, 2015 (UTC) He would see her close her eyes and sway a bit, so he'd put a steadying hand on her shoulder. His voice would sound worried. "Teresa...are you ok?"

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 16:40, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” She nodded, opening her eyes. "I didn't realize how hard this would be to talk about. I thought I'd feel relieved, finally getting this off my chest. But instead I feel worse."

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 16:42, January 26, 2015 (UTC) He would nod, reaching down to help her up. "Well...I think we both need some time to process everything...so why don't we head back upstairs...lock this room up...and forget about it for now."

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 16:46, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” She nodded dully, not knowing what else they could do.

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 16:49, January 26, 2015 (UTC) He would help her up, keeping an arm around her waist, touching her as if she were delicate and he was worried she might break. "...and tomorrow I want you to get checked out as St. Mungos. Make sure you're ok. After that we'll figure out...everything else."

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 16:53, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” She put some strength back into her voice. "Okay." She paused. "Or Mary can come here?"

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 16:55, January 26, 2015 (UTC) He would nod. "That's fine too...but I want someone to check out your mind too and make sure you're not falling apart inside. If you don't mind her doing that, I'm fine with it. If you'd rather her not know another healer would be ok too."

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 16:58, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” "I guess it's time to come clean to her too," she murmured.

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 16:59, January 26, 2015 (UTC) He would nod. "I suppose it is...if you want me there to hold you I will be....and if you'd rather do it alone that's ok too."

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 17:02, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” "I'd rather you were there," she murmured.

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 17:03, January 26, 2015 (UTC) He would nod. "OK, then I will be. Right now our first goal is to make sure you're healthy and safe."

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 17:14, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” She nodded, then bit her lip. With every word and action, Ferlen was expressing over and over that he loved her. But that didn't mean he couldn't be angry- he was definitely hurt. She studied his face, trying to read his emotion.

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 17:17, January 26, 2015 (UTC) His face would be impassive, not showing emotions either way. With all the surprises he had gone into work mode where you didn't show your emotions in front of people you were questioning.

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 17:19, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” She sighed. "Let's go back upstairs."

Ferlen - Alistair Fitzgerald's Senior Undersecretary Send Me an Owl! - 17:20, January 26, 2015 (UTC) He would nod, his arm still around her, still holding her gently.

Teresa Black - Prisoner - Home Send Me an Owl! - Echostar 17:25, January 26, 2015 (UTC) ~“Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” She led him out of the room, then pulled out her wand to seal the entrance. She watched as the wall closed- there was no keeping it completely hidden again. She kept her head upright and shoulders squared as she walked steadily up the stairs.