WHO: Eliza Diggle and Zach Sloper
WHAT: Death eater attack in the park! WITH THE BABIES D:
WHERE: A PARK
WHEN: RIGHT NOW
Eliza was very good at paying attention to her surroundings. She could tell you how many red bikes had passed the little picnic in the park that Zach and herself had set up for their boys, and she also recalled the number of dogs that had been chasing frizbees in the next field over. Two Labradors and strangely enough, a dachshund. She supposed that might sound too over cautious, especially for someone who was not alone and in broad daylight, but after years of being involved with a member of the Order of the Phoenix, everything you did, and everything around you, was part of the crime scene if it ever came down to that.
It was why she was paying particular attention to two men on nearby benches. She found them strange because they did not have newspapers nor were they checking their watches as if they were waiting for someone to arrive. They were just sitting, and to Eliza, it felt like they were avoiding eye contact with her.
Zach's voice snapped her out of her reverie. "Hm?" She looked down at Eric, whose hat was much too big for his little head. She rubbed his stomach, "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that."
Meanwhile, Zach had zero clue where they were at, let alone anything about dogs or frisbees. He was currently focused on trying to find something in his pockets and the pockets of the diaper bag. Jack was strapped in to his chest carrier pretty snuggly with Zach's jacket zipped up half way over him. Some of his friends made fun of him for it, but it was pretty much the best invention ever, Jack got to just chill out and hang there while his hands were free to do stuff, like dig through the pockets to find some napkins.
"Do you have any wipes, I think Eric and Jack are having a contest to see who can drool the most here," Zach said, looking up at Eliza expectantly. When she looked at him he blinked and gave he a boyish grin. "Dry wipes, napkins for the drool monsters over here. Did you find something interesting?"
Eliza blinked twice before her hand instantly moved to the left-side pocket of her diaper bag. It had been surprisingly easy for her to organize her life as a mother, after being absolutely terrified that she would have no clue as to what to do. She had thought that since her own mother had all but abandoned her because of the divorce, and then she literally ended their relationship by committing suicide...Eliza was still surprised that she had any maternal instincts at all. But, she supposed, that just showed that she was not her mother, and she was glad that she wasn't.
She handed Zach the wipes and lifted Eric up to see what kind of mess he had made. While her thoughts were elsewhere her little boy had drifted asleep; it was funny how adults set up these 'play dates' when the children could barely lift their heads. Eliza liked it though; she was taking her time with going back to work, and had been greatly considering staying home until Eric was much older---maybe Hogwarts-old, she wasn't quite sure yet. She hadn't felt the claustrophobia that some new mothers did after being home just yet. Eliza didn't think she would, but who knew.
"I thought I saw saw a Jobberknoll, but I think we're too far south---may have been a blue jay." Her eyes traveled back to the bench where she had seen the two men, but her eyes widened when she saw they weren't here. How had they disappeared in the few seconds she had looked away? Eliza knew that it was most likely nothing, but she couldn't help but quickly scan the rest of the park for them. Where had they gone?
"A Jobberknoll, really?" Zach said with an eyebrow raise as he took the napkin and wiped Jack up and then his leg. "A blue-jay would be interesting too. Can't wait until they're old enough to point that stuff out for us you know?" he said fondly, tucking Jack's hand back into the sweater. Some movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention and Zach turned to look, hoping it was the Jobberknoll again. When he saw two large figures in black robes, something inside Zack froze. He reached over to put his hand on Eliza's wrist, squeezing it hard but forcing a smile on his face.
"Put Eric back in his carrier right now. Don't react, okay, we need to get out of here right away, I think something bad is going to happen," Zach leaned in, laughing lightly as if he was telling a joke, "Over to your left, don't look, but those are wizards and this doesn't seem like a very good place for them," he said, "laugh like I just told you a joke, but keep packing up, get ready to apparate if you have to," Zach pulled back, nodding and grinning, but keeping one eye on the pair, wondering what they were waiting for, maybe back up or something. Why were they going to attack a muggle park? Zach wouldn't put it past them though.
Eliza couldn't keep her expression light, like Zach. She had been right and had waited too long to say anything. These men were most definitely death eaters, and by the way Zach had so easily identified them meant that they weren't scared of being seen by muggles or even other wizards.
"Death eaters, they're---" she tried to explain while frantically trying to move Eric into his sling. No, no, don't be fussy baby--Eliza winced as he started to cry, and she looked up at Zach. This was her worst nightmare, something she'd been fearing since her son was born and now when they were the most vulnerable...when Dedalus was
nowhere to be found. Eliza couldn't think about trying to keep anything related to the Order a secret, and she let out a shaky breath, "They're after---they---"
Oh, God. She looked down at Eric and all the terrible stories Dedalus had been coming home with. The children, Miranda, the Jordans, it was----they were attacking the children of the Order and what was a better time to do that in a place and time that no one would ever think---it wasn't a dark and gloomy night, it was a bright and sunny day, things like this weren't supposed to
happen now.
Fumbling with the straps became more of a problem as Eric squirmed, and before she could focus a searing red jet of a hex burst into the ground a few feet behind her. No, no, no---she needed to send out a patronus--
Zach cursed as Eliza started to panic, his wand was already in his hand and he cast a muttered silencing charm on both Jack and Eric - something he swore he'd never do to a baby, but this was necessary. He could fight, although the thought of dueling Death Eaters scared the shit out of him, he had to protect the babies. Except Jack was strapped to his carrier and so was Eric and there was no time.
They were firing spells already and as soon as Eric was in place, Zach grabbed Eliza's hand and tugged her away from the bench, "MOVE," he shouted, hoping to get her to run. He shot a stunning spell behind them and tried his best for a mostly solid shield to protect them. Why them? What was so special about two rather unimportant wizards sitting on a bench with their infants? "We need to get protected. I can apparate us, but I need time." He could do himself and Jack and he was sure he could get Eliza and Eric in side-along, but it took concentration, something he didn't have right now. "We need help, where are the aurors?" He asked, tugging Eliza behind a tree. Not really the best cover but it would do for a moment as he looked around, trying to gather his wits and checked on the babies.
Eliza knew how to get more time, but she didn't know if she'd be able to manage. There
had to be an Order member around here somewhere, and the sight of a pounding patronus would surely startle the death eaters. But would she be able to produce one with her mind in such a panic? In all the confrontations she had been in, Eliza had never had anyone to protect but herself---the baby in her arms was the most important thing in the world to her, what if she messed up? What if they
couldn't apparate out of here? There were wards and boundaries, what if the death eaters got to Eric before she could---
Eric, Eric, Eric. He
was the best thing to ever happen to her, he came from the love she had for Dedalus, and with a deep breath Eliza turned and hurled her patronus messenger directly at the death eaters, watching for a second as they stumbled around in confusion. A distraction plus a relay message, it was the best she could do right now. Her grip on Zach tightened as her other arm wrapped around Eric. Eliza looked down at her baby and smiled, "Okay, okay! Go---go! Help is coming!"
Zach blinked at Eliza, half stunned and half blinded by her...spell thing. He didn't have time to think though, he held her as tightly as he could without squishing either baby and without hesitating whisked them away to his and Brianna's flat. After a moment of just staring at Eliza he backed up a few steps, nearly tripping over one of the cats. With an angry swish of his wand he canceled the silencing spell which sent both cats running as the babies' cries started at the loudest.
"What the fuck, what," Zack asked, glancing between Eliza and Jack, taking off his sweatshirt and unbundling Jack in a panic, trying to make sure he was okay and holding him close on his shoulder before inspecting Eliza and Eric. "Are you okay? What the fuck was that? Help? What? Eliza, what the hell!" he asked, his voice going a little higher in panic. "Fucking fuck fuck seriously, what?"
Flabbergasted, completely---Eliza's mouth moved wordlessly as Zach seemed to panic more
now than he had at the park. Maybe that was a good thing, that he had held himself together, but now she was too in shock to do anything but allow Zach to nearly shriek at her. Eric was in hysterics in his holder and all Eliza could do was stand there, staring at nothing. Zach had every right to be in just as crazy as he was behaving right now, and Eliza wished she could just burst into tears and be done with it. But now he was asking questions, and she blinked slowly, trying to get herself back in the moment.
She couldn't tell him about the Order. It wasn't her place, and she absolutely did not need Zach or Brianna or
Jack involved with the mess this group of freedom fighters had brought into the world. Eliza had already given up too much for the Order, she was not going to let her best friend and her family get sucked into it. It had been terrible luck that she had been attacked with Zach and Jack, but Eliza was willing to avoid contact with those closer to her if it meant keeping them safe and alive.
Finally, she pushed some hair out of her face and proceeded to pull Eric out of his holder, "The...aurors," she said slowly, feeling like she was moving in slow motion as she took a few steps to sit down to the couch, "When...I was attacked last year, they thought---it could happen again," and it had, and it was going to happen
again, she knew, "So...they taught me a messaging spell to contact them quickly..."
Eliza held Eric close and looked up at Zach, "I'm sorry Zach, I'm so sorry," she apologized tearfully. She could have gotten them all killed just for being associated with the Order, how could she be so stupid?
Zach stalked around the living room for a moment trying to find a pacifier for Jack - their place was cleaner than it had been in awhile so it should have been easy to find but he was angry and upset and riled up and panicking because they had just been
attacked and it was really hard to focus on anything, even Eliza's words were sort of just washing over him. Finally finding one on the hearth, Zach licked it to get any dust off before wiping it and trying to get Jack to take it.
His son was redfaced and kind of crazy-eyed and Zach didn't blame him one bit. He probably would be the same way if he didn't have someone like Jack to take care of right now. Zach looked over at Eliza and shook his head. It made sense, sort of. Why would they attack again though? "Don't," Zach said, he really hated it when girls cried on him. "Just. It's not your fault they're sick fucks. We should probably floo call the aurors to let them know where we are," he said, sitting - no nearly collapsing, his legs seemed to lose all the will to stand - down next to Eliza, one hand on her back to comfort her a little. "And maybe you can show me how to do that thing, the light thing."
