Elphais

Elphais had found himself working longer and longer hours trying, yet failing, to lose himself in reports and research. The problem was, he had no choice but to keep Antonin continually updated on his every interrogation and the pressure was beginning to wear on him. He couldn't recall how many times in the last months he had been on the very verge of apparating to Charlotte's, telling her the truth and then taking his own life.

The knowledge that her life would then be forfeit was all that kept him from doing so; was all that kept him walking this path and doing precisely what was ordered of him.

He had never thought, though, that he would be forced to face down his old Professors and even a man who, as much as he loathed the other for his relationship with Charlotte, he had an immense amount of respect for - despite the other's well known half-blood status. Still, this was what he had been reduced to and he had no choice. No recourse but to follow the masked person in front of him through the doors and to pull his wand in the same moment.

"Praemo!" he shouted with a downsweep of his wand, his intended target none other than Slughorn, a man that he had found exasperating during his time in the school. He just couldn't bring himself to attack the doddering Sprout or his old Head of House, Flitwick.