Mystery: Solved (Moody, Stephan, Philip, Jericho)

Jericho leaned against the far wall of the 1st floor of the Ministry, keeping an eye on the portals for the Floo Network. To appear busy, he brought several papers in a folder that make him look as if he were reading up on a case. Really, the papers were blank, but looking busy kept others from talking to him. He needed his wits about him to catch this Malfoy if he was fool enough to enter the Minitry through the network. Jericho sighed deeply and scanned the portals, all was well. With a small grin, he went back to his 'file.'

Philip rushed through the street, as Victor disapparated. What he was gonna do wasn't of Philip's business. In fact he didn't care. He simply wanted to hunt down Jericho. As he started to get down the stairs, a hand was placed on his shoulder, and he was thrown backwards. "Wow, what the hell?" He asked.

As Stephan saw a familiar face run through, his huge hand fell on Philip's shoulder, knocking him back. He stopped leaning on the wall, and came out. "Hey Philip. Don't even say hi to an old friend." Stephan said, with a violently evil smirk stamped on his face. Philip was still a kid when Stephan nearly killed Abraxas. That was actually what landed him a job at the Ministry.

Philip's eyes narrowed, as that Avery jerk laid in front of him. "Stephan. Let me through. I'm not here for you." He said, getting up, and putting his hand on his back pocket.

"Of course not." Stephan said, as his smirk widened. Philip had been so foolish. How could he let Moody understand what he was up to. "You're here for Young." He exclaimed, with a quite long chuckle afterwards. "I shall not stop you. You can go, and if he asks. Simply state that you didn't enter through this place."

Philip's eyes widened extremely. But suddenly narrowed. How the hell did Stephan know about everything that was going on? "Yes, I'm here for Jericho Young." He stated, with a grunt. He moved into the bathroom, as Stephan suddenly disappeared. He used the bathrooms, and appeared at the atrium. His face searched for Young, but instead caught the glimpse of a familiar face. "Moody?"

As Alastor ran through the first floor, his frustration grew. He didn't usually get like that, but this man was attacking the Ministry. A one man army? Moody just plain didn't like stupidity. And suddenly, his wand's tip started to glow. Idiot. The man was quickly traced, as Moody smirked. He suddenly disapparated, and appeared in the atrium. Full of people. He turned and turned, and quickly and silently casted four points. It led him straight to the man he wanted to find. "Stupefy!" He moved his wand and casted at Philip. This man had come to his working place to try and kill a friend. He didn't care about attention. Philip was going down.

As soon as the glimpse faded, Philip turned his head. Big mistake. He flew all the way against the wall, and fell on a pile of papers, as people came closer to look at him. As he propped himself up and his assailant got closer, his wand slid down his sleeve, as he pointed it up. Fiery explosions exited his wand and many aurors and other Ministry workers were hit. His non-verbal spells continued to run free, "Avada Kedabra!"

As Moody saw Philip begin his onslaught, he slashed the air with his wand, saving some people from the confringo curse, and the throwing an unspeakable out of the way of the death curse. "You were a fool to come here!" Alastor stated, flashing his wand, and moving it in a circle, before blasting Philip away. "Bombarda Maxima!"

Philip was no fool as Moody said. He had simply made on miscalculation. It would never happen again. As the blasting spell came his way, the protego shield helped him not be thrown against another wall, although he still moved backwards a bit. "Not on my watch Alastor. I WANT YOUNG!!!" Philip moved his wand in the air, as a crimson and gold fire erupted from its tip. A vast lasso of fire was thrown in Moody's direction, burning the light in its way. Philip had come with one purpose, and one purpose only. Kill Young. If Moody got in the way, Philip would get rid of him as well.

As a gigantic fire lasso came his way, Alastor's first reaction was to send wind to his sides. No one had to be around. As the lasso came closer, Moody pointed his wand at it, and made a circular movement. "Partis Temporus!" The lasso was split in two, as Moody made another fast movement, "Expulso," he shouted.

As he saw his lasso be separated, Philip couldn't do anything but try to stop the spell. Too late, as he was sent crashing down, and his lasso vanished in the air. He held his hand by his chest, and as he got up, he was thrown forwards again. "Dammit," he stated. This time, instead of getting up, he turned around still on the floor, and pointed his wand at Moody. "Incarcerous!" he shouted.

Moody threw the stunning spell a bit too late. Philip's curse was already on top of him. Ropes tied around his neck and arms, and his wand fell onto the floor. This man had caught him out of surprise. How? Soon enough, Moody was on his knees, gasping for air, as he spotted Jericho. "R-...R-...Run!" He was able to say, still gasping for air.

Jericho snapped his head up as he heard a scuffle further down the atrium. "Damn...." he muttered to himself as he dropped the papers and took off at a sprint down the long hall. When he reached the scene, he stopped. Alastor was fighting the masked figure that Jericho could only assume was the one he had been warned about. Jericho's eye observed the confrontation unfold before him, knowing better than to just jump right in when Alastor was involved. When the last spell was cast, causing a rope to be wrapped tightly around Alastor's neck, he looked at Jericho and gasped out the command to run. Jericho's face hardened as he looked at the one who wanted him and stepped forward. "Let him go. You want Jericho Young, you've got him," he said coldly, drawing his wand from his leg pocket. "Let him go!" he shouted to the masked man.

A huge grin appeared on Philip's face once Alastor was struck. "Why didn't I cast the killing curse? Ava-..." Philip's voice stopped, as he heard yet another voice. He stood up, and looked through the eyes of his mask, as the other man stood in front of him. Jericho. "Why don't you do it yourself dear Jericho. Cut the ropes!" He said, in an imperative tone. He knew what to do afterwards. No way was Jericho gonna let Moody choke to death.

Jericho's blue eyes turned to ice a the man's words. If he cut the ropes, he was open to attack. If he didn't, Moody would die right there. He took the chance... Jericho waved his wand, "Diffindo..." The rope connecting Alastor to his assailant cut clean, releasing Alastor and allowing him to breath. Jericho held his blue ash wand out in front of him, pointing it as the masked man, ready for anything he might try to pull. "What do you want with me, since you demanded to see me?" Jericho growled.

Behind his mask, Philip grinned. He didn't try to attack the auror. Not just yet. "You see, some time back, I was, you can say, hired, to kill a certain auror. He wasn't home. So I took the next best thing." Philip said, as a heavy breath exited his mouth. "But I do have to finish everything. Avada Kedabra!" He shouted, twisting his wand, and then pointing it at Jericho,

As Young cut Moody from the ropes holding him prisoner, and taking his life force away, Alastor fell onto the floor. His wand was by his head, as he had his hand next to his throat. He couldn't get up, but was able to hear what the assailant said. So he did have a connection with Jericho after all. He was the one who murdered his wife. Bastard. Alastor couldn't say anything, as he was slowly getting air back into his lungs.

Jericho anticipated an attack, and when it came after the man's little speech, he was ready. Jericho dove and rolled out of the way of the green curse coming at him, just in time to escape it. The curse crashed into the wall behind him. As he finished his roll, he quickly waved his wand at the masked man, "Stupify!" As he stood, his mind replayed what the man had said... I was, you can say, hired, to kill a certain auror. He wasn't home. So I took the next best thing.... But I do have to finish everything... Jericho clenched his jaw as he realized just who this man was. "Joelle...." he muttered to himself.

Philip held out his shield, as the spell was easily dispatched. "Auror that can't do better? I mean c'mon." Philip teased. He actually shouldn't be so challenging. Moody had made quite a number on him already. He made a slashing move in the air, "Incendio," he said. A triangle of flame was created, and Philip threw it at Jericho.

"Aqua Eructo! Flipendo Duo!" Jericho cast is quick succession. The first to take care of the fiery triangle coming towards him, and the second to shove the weakened masked man into the wall behind him, hopefully knocking him cold. Jericho took a few steps towards him, putting himself between Alastor and the man. His fury was quickly building as his mind was accepting that this was the man who killed his wife.

As the triangle was dealt with, Malfoy tried to put his shield up yet again. Too late, as the flipendo made him start falling on his back, and at the same time, getting thrown at the wall. "Arresto Momentum" He moved his wand in the air. His body seemed to be thrown against an invisible gigantic pillow, as it stopped in its tracks, giving Philip time to land safely. "Nice hit..." He said rubbing his chest. His wand held high up, "Expulso," Philip shouted. He didn't use the killing curse for a simple reason. The chance of Priori Incantatem coming to happen. His wand's core was common, so no chances would be taken.

Quickly, Jericho cast, "Expelliarmus!" If he could just get this guy's wand away from him, perhaps they could question him on the allegations that he all but confessed to. As the masked man's spell flew towards Jericho, his spell in turn sailed towards the man. At the half-way point, the spells collided in a flash of bright light. Jericho had to hold his wand with both hands as he felt a surge of power flow through his wand as his wand connected with the masked man...

As the spells collided, Philip let his own energy flow through his wand. He kept holding it with one hand, as Jericho held his own wand with two. Soon enough, his tiredness came in, and his will wasn't powerful enough to hold the Priori Incantatem. He was thrown back a tad, and hit the ground, as his wand fell next to his hip. Spirits of some of the staff he had killed appeared from the tip of his wand. Finish him Jericho. Jericho do it!!! Hunny! The last spirit yelled. Philip laid on the floor, growling a bit, already trying to reach his wand.

The spell ended and Jericho was pushed slightly back. At seeing the spirits of the staff who had recently been killed in this confrontation, Jericho clenched his jaw and closed his eyes. But, then a familiar voice rang over all the other voices telling him to finish this masked man: Joelle. Jericho's eyes snapped open and locked, cold as ice, on the man. "You killed her... You killed her! YOU BASTARD!" Jericho growled loudly, the pain of her loss still a fresh wound on his heart. He began to approach the man and moved his wand in the first spell he could think of, "Avad-"