Just after midnight of Saturday March 25th, early hours of Sunday March 26th
Wizarding Wireless Network offices, Diagon Alley.


“Would it be concerning if you received a live mandrake, or a knife?!” Cass screeched, throwing open the door to the second studio. She would be on air at 1am, but opening her post had become a hazard. “Did you forget I was nearly staked on my way home Thursday?!” She seethed at her producer, who raised his arms in a vaguely placating manner as her fangs caught the light. The latest Three Owl Standard release continued in the background beneath her protests.
“We’ve contacted the Ministry, see if they’ll send someone out. Look, I’ll put it over here and if they turn up, we’ll give it to them to look at. Just, go and get ready to be on air.”

Cass narrowed her eyes, hands on hips beside the front desk of the radio station. Her producer had set down today’s offending parcel. At least it wasn’t multiplying garlic, just a stake. She hadn’t looked more closely at it, truth be told. It smelled of garlic. It smelled of them from the other night.
“I’ll be ready!” Cass snapped, though she was anything but. This had put her in more of a flap and she was stuck between wanting to run home and hide under the bed, and remembering that she was the scary monster in this situation.

As soon as her producer had vanished back into the offices she flopped her arms and sank down in one of the comfier seats in the lobby which were reserved for guests, only to jump up in fright as there was a noise at the studio door.

Chadwick Blish was not a fan of working nights. Evenings were reserved for drowning one’s liver in alcohol and trying hopelessly to forget the day’s atrocities. Nights were for fun and entertainment – not for work. Only the creepiest and most dangerous of crimes were committed at night, the shadows seeming to breed unsavory characters and illicit activities.

Even so, a bounce found its way into Wick’s step as he apparated into Diagon Alley and started making his way down the cobbled streets toward the Wizarding Wireless Network station. He’d only recently been promoted to auror in full and was finally able to make a splash for himself without sharing the success with others more experienced than himself. Taking on a cry for help all by his lonesome was just another step on his way to greatness.

The auror had already changed for the evening – fully expecting a night on the town, when the notice for aide arrived. When Chadwick knocked on the door to the studio, therefore, he was not dressed in official uniform. Unsure of exactly what to do next, the auror simply pushed the door open and waltzed through as if it were the most natural thing in the world to walk into a radio network station after midnight.

“Good evening,” He said brightly, offering the lady in the room a broad smile while reaching into his robes for the scrap of parchment he’d taken down important information on, “I’m looking for a Miss Motley – any chance you’d be able to help me out?”

There was a man at the door. His fist lowered from tapping on the glass and wood panels to reach for the door handle. Cass' long fingernails sank into the arm of the chair she was in like a cat in alarm. It wasn't an auror, he wasn't in uniform. Why was he here after midnight, letting himself in? Why was the door unlocked!

Cass was about to yell for her producer again, and had sprung up with her feet on the comfier chair, ready to flee. She wasn't able to turn into a bat (something she had yet to figure out) but she could run.

“Good evening,” The intruder greeted brightly, fixing her with a warm smile which Cass examined with saucers for eyes. “I’m looking for a Miss Motley – any chance you’d be able to help me out?"
"Who are you?" Cass replied shortly, still crouched and perched on the seat of the guest armchair in her boots. The reception desk was empty, the parcel with the stake out of immediate view. The light levels weren't the best with it being so late, and Cass was calculating how quickly she could dash away.

"What's your business with m- her?"

Chadwick wasn't immediately sure why the lady in the room had reacted so strongly to his arrival. Normally when aurors descended on the scene fears seemed to melt away - not exacerbate into sheer terror. He had begun to step forward, hand reaching toward his jacket pocket to withdraw his badge when it occurred to the wizard: he wasn't in uniform and this was a lady who wasn't sure what kind of terrible monster could be after her. His wide grin fell into a mask of momentary sadness for the vampire's plight before giving her a reassuring nod. He brought his left foot back, keeping himself from moving forward and risking startling the lass more - his hand paused in mid-air and Wick brought his other up parallel to his head.

"Sorry to startle you," the auror said kindly, "I'm Auror Chadwick Blish, someone called for assistance," He nodded his head toward the door, "You should probably keep the doors locked,"

One hand began to reach in his pocket again, "I'm just grabbing my badge," He said, "My wand's holstered on the other side," and indeed, it was. He pulled the shining metal from his jacket and held it up for Cass to see. "Now, would I be right in guessing that you're the Cass Motley I was called here to speak to? I love your radio show, by the way," Probably not the best thing to say to reassure the lady that he was professional and apt at his job - but he'd always found that finding a personal level to connect with people on made his job easier.

What a polite young man, Cass thought as Auror Blish introduced himself. If only she weren’t a blood-sucking monster she’d have definitely asked him out more than a few times until he gave in.

“… You should probably keep the doors locked,”
“I thought they were!” Cass snapped, still in a crouch on the armchair. She watched him reach for his badge, her lips parting to show her fangs. She hopped down from the armchair once satisfied, and stood up properly, hands on her hips as if nothing odd had happened, and flicked her blonde hair over her shoulder.

“… I love your radio show, by the way,”
“Oh my God, really?” Cass replied, actually chuffed. She didn’t get to meet many of her fans since she was stuck on the night shift. A lot of her fans were a bit weird, truth be told. People who were up in the night were more prone to it. “I suppose you haven’t got anything to listen to in the night when you’re working though,” she added in a gush, “Oh God, you’re going to tell me I am a good cure for insomnia…” She pressed a pale hand to her forehead and turned away.

“Look it’s about this.” She thrust both hands at the open parcel on the front desk of the radio station. “Someone has sent me a stake - a garlic stake - not an edible one - a trying to kill me one. Look!” She thrust again at the parcel, her mannerisms animated and her eyes wide. “And last night you guys arrested two blokes trying to stake me in person in the Alley. I’m in danger Auror Blish.”

And guilty of ever so slightly hamming up the drama in the presence of a hot wizard.

Unlike Chadwick, Ramsay arrived just down the street from the WNN offices—with a muffled crack—garbed in her work attire. She was on a two-week night shift rotation, which also included one weekend shift. She was, needless to say, somewhat less than thrilled with her current schedule, but she knew she'd get through it. Some of the shifts she had pulled as a trainee were far worse.

Ramsay mused to herself, adjusting the polished buttons on the front of her coat as she strode down the street purposefully, that she despised her uniform. Since adolescence, Ramsay had hated to dress in any way that might be considered proper—skirts and dresses were out of the question, and anything that she was forced to wear was utterly loathsome. She made concessions, however, as her career demanded it of her; if nothing else could be said of her, Ramsay was a woman about her job.

She reached the entrance to WNN's lobby soon enough, and—unlike Chadwick—simply entered. Pausing as the door shut behind her, Ramsay looked from her shorter colleague to Cass, eyebrows raised.

"Good evening," she greeted the duo stiffly, locking the doors behind her without comment.

"Didn't expect another auror to be here already, Blish," Ramsay confessed as she turned around once more. "I would've been here sooner, but... well... I got caught up in another 'case.'"

Ramsay had been sorting out a series of medallions sold by an illusive street vendor in Knockturn Alley that were advertised as imbuing the wearer with hitherto unknown magical powers, but which in reality caused one's teeth to double in size every half-hour after being put on. Thereafter, it was impossible for the wearer to remove the medallion. It had become a multi-departmental affair, and Ramsay's involvement should have ended after apprehending the peddler of the artifacts, but she had been forced to escort several wizards to the ground floor of St. Mungo's as their newly enlarged teeth proved too thorough a distraction for them to make it there on their own.

Placing herself at Chadwick's side, Ramsay inclined her head towards Cass.

"Ramsay. You must be Ms. Motley, and that... must be your post, then."

The door clicked again and Cass looked up in mild alarm, recognising a second auror. Oh gosh, they were taking it seriously then, two of them! She suddenly felt a little silly, it was just a parcel, it wasn’t someone in her studio brandishing the stake directly at her.

“Good evening.” The lady auror addressed her colleague and drew alongside. “Ramsay. You must be Ms Motley, and that… must be your post, then.”

“Er, hi… yes.” Cass replied, giving an uneasy smile, all fangs, at the newly arrived witch. “I was just explaining to your colleague here that this got sent in the post here tonight, the day after two blokes tried to stake me on the way home in the Alley, and I’ve had garlic sent to my home. Garlic which multiplied.” She wrinkled her nose up in disgust. As she did she caught a whiff of both of them and smelled Knockturn Alley on the newcomer.

“I mean, I know everyone doesn’t have to like my show,” and most of them were asleep for it, “but I’ve had hate mail for it in the past about my music choices, but not stuff that’s going to kill me because I’m a vampire.”

Chadwick's head snapped back quickly as the door opened behind him. Why had he not locked the doors when he entered? Oh yeah... because they were in a public building and there was nothing more alarming to a frightened person than feeling trapped. Especially when the person in question just happened to be a vampire - part of their community that had been beaten down and ostracized for centuries. Locking doors didn't create an environment of safety.

Head in his own thoughts, Wicky didn't immediately say anything as Ramsay approached. She had rank, after all - she'd been in the business longer than he. Though the longer he thought about it, the more he decided that was exactly the reason he should say something. Most of the seasoned aurors were complete arses - too used to being suspicious of everyone. That wasn't the way that Auror Blish liked to do things.

When Cass finished talking to his colleague, Chadwick stepped in front of Ramsay and smiled reassuringly at the vampire. "Don't worry, we'll figure all this out. You have my word," He said, before turning back toward his fellow auror momentarily, "I think we've got this covered," he said, "You could try and find the postmaster for me if you'd like," He was the primary auror on the case - regardless of Ramsay's seniority. He had answered the page, so he could handle the case as he saw fit - unless a superior officer took it from him, of course.

He reached down to the table and snatched up the envelope filled with wooden spikes, "Would you like to have a cup of tea while we chat?" This was an important matter - Chadwick really wanted to help Cass. The more relaxed and comfortable she felt with him, the more she would open up and the more he could learn. Details solved cases, not the stuff on the surface. Tea usually helped people to relax - though with a vampire for a drinking companion, tea might not be the best choice. "Or whatever you have available," He amended while kicking himself mentally. He probably wouldn't want whatever she had available - blood wasn't his first choice of a tasty beverage.

Wasn’t just a polite young man, but the sweetest too. Auror Blish was fast climbing Cass’ imaginary list of ‘top mortal beings’, which she kept transiently in her undead, vastly-lifespan-extended head. She didn’t mind that he conferred with his female colleague and took charge of the dialogue between them both.[1]

“Would you like to have a cup of tea while we chat… Or whatever you have available," He amended while kicking himself mentally. He probably wouldn't want whatever she had available - blood wasn't his first choice of a tasty beverage.

“Thoughtful of you,” Cass replied, flashing Blish a full-fanged smile, the slightest colour on her cheeks from the attention she was receiving from the auror. “But I’m alright - well, I’m not alright, but alright for beverages, do you get what I mean?”

The vampire was a little flustered, and sank down into one of the chairs in the waiting area of the radio station, covering her face with her hands as she took a moment to compose herself, (and maybe sneak a bit more of a look up and down Auror Blish from between her fingers, for he smelled really nice).

“Two nights ago, I got followed[2] from here by some idiots. They waited for me to leave at 4 o’clock. It’s the last time I was here, and although two good Samaritans from your Beast Division helped me and they got arrested, there’s obviously more of these arseholes out there.” She gestured to the package full of stakes that the auror had scooped up for examination. “I don’t understand, it’s not like I’m preaching on the radio - unless someone thinks wrock should be played in the middle of the night by someone who is meant to be asleep when the sun’s down…” Cass fussed. “I mean, am I the only one, or are you getting vampires agitated all over town?”


End - Closing this due to writer inactivity

1.	Given Augusta’s been inactive some time
2.	24th March Seeing Shadows