Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the wizarding world.
Chapter 1: The Scouring
Hedgeberry Row was a very nice and normal place to live, and the people in it were normal in every way. They woke up in the morning, got out of bed, and put pants on one leg at a time. The fact that they were multi-millionaires never much occurred to them until they got into one of their fancy cars and drove toward the city to work.
Each house sat upon its own little hill, cared for meticulously by grounds keepers, who at this time of autumn had planted hundreds of mums along the sidewalks to bloom in the waning light. No one had ever even heard of people appearing out of thin air, and yet, on that sunny afternoon, one did. Dressed in a leather jacket with a long black braid down her back, she deserted the shade of the oak tree at the bottom of the little hill and instead stood by the gate and stopped, as if waiting for someone.
Tapping her foot impatiently, she was rewarded by another small pop and the appearance of another young woman, this one with short buzz cut and a scowl that seemed to be etched permanently onto her otherwise gorgeous face.
"How much do you think we'll be paid?" asked the first as they began to head up the driveway.
"It doesn't matter- enough to feed us. I'm more interested in what she has to say. Gordon says she was crazy, talking about exposing the magic community."
"As a no-maj? This ought to be fun."
The sprawling modern mansion blended into the hill with clean lines and pale stucco with an Italian flair. The French doors were inlaid with wrought iron. Before they even knocked, a gentleman in modern livery opened the one door. "Mrs. Shaw is waiting for you in the parlor," he explained, and ignored the two women as they each took out a stick of wood, casting an understood cautious glance at one another.
If they were expecting some sort of Victorian parlor, this was far from it. Straight back through the grand foyer was a smooth, modern room, complete with brutal styling, and black and white furniture. The impressive windows looked out onto the country-side, the hills shadowed by one or two passing clouds on an otherwise perfect day. Their attention was not on the view, however, but on the middle aged woman wearing a slinky dress, her luxurious hair in a masterful up-do. Smoking a long cigarette and flipping a small coin in her other hand, she addressed the pair.
"How good of you to come. I see that Gordon received my request for the pair of you?"
"Lady if you're a No-maj, how do you know how to contact us?" asked the girl in the leather jacket.
"I am not 'Lady'," she countered in a drawling voice. "I am Victoria Shaw, heiress of the Shaw fortune. Which one are you?"
"Madison Ruthway. A girl who don't care how much no-maj money you have."
"Well Madison, I can assure I have plenty of Dragots for you as well, as long as you complete the job I have." She took a drag on the cigarette, long eyelashes fluttering. "As you have pointed out, I do not have any magic, and while I could very well do the work with non-magic means, I feel that this will be a better way. As to how I figured out how to summon you, it did not take much digging to figure out what sort of coin I needed, and then use it to contact your group. Gordon was most helpful in sending me exactly what I requested."
"So what's the job?" Madison asked, an impatient push in her voice.
"I want this woman and her kin eliminated."
Stepping off the raised portion of the parlor, she handed them a photograph with perfectly manicured hands. It contained an average woman with wild blond hair, laughing and holding a young girl on her lap. On either side were two more girls, and what apparently was a husband behind her, holding onto the chair and looking delighted to be in her presence.
"But this is…" Madison began.
"I know who and what she is. The man in the picture is harmless, but I'm sure the girls will carry on her natural proclivities."
Finally, the other woman spoke. "You want us to get rid of the head of the Auror department? You do realize how powerful she is right? Her family is one of the most powerful magical families in America. They say she's as gifted as Picquery."
"Of course," Victoria grinned, a light in her eyes that set the other two women on edge. "My family has suffered at her hands before. And it is the entire reason of all the other Dragot Dragon members, I requested the two of you."
The ebony beauty raised an eyebrow.
"According to your employer, Miss Ruthway has a strong desire to be the best of the best, and who better to challenge than the supposed greatest Auror on the continent? And you, Miss James, are not only a gifted witch at curses, but have a drive to topple the unfair justice system your little world seems to be ruled by, am I not correct? As you can see, there is more in it than money for each of you."
For a brief moment, the dark woman's scowl faded a fraction, and her dark eyes became hungry.
Madison folded the picture and tucked it into the back pocket of her leather pants. "So how would you like us to-"
"Mommy!" a young voice screeched as a door slammed and footsteps came tumbling down the hallway. A young boy, perhaps 7, dressed in fine no-maj clothes burst into the parlor and ran to Victoria. She embraced him as he clung to her.
"Did you have a good time with Nanny?"
He nodded and seemed to then notice that the room had other occupants. Even at the tender age of seven, the boy gave the two visitors more chills than Victoria. Something about him wasn't quite right, like a song sung slightly off key.
"These women are here to help us with our little problem dear," Victoria explained.
The boy stared without blinking, and the visitors could not help but feel uncomfortable under his gaze.
"This job may take a few months," the woman with the scowl finally said.
"Oh I expect it to, if it is going to be done right," Victoria said, and took another drag of her cigarette. "We will rendevouz bi-weekly for progress reports, and continued payment. Each part of the job you will be paid for immediately. 30% is already in your accounts. Do we have an agreement?"
Immediately, Madison raised her hand and shook Victoria's, the latter looking ever so slightly repulsed. "Carter will see you out." She said at last and turned away from them, barring the opportunity for other questions.
As soon as they were out the door, Madison stretched at looked at her compatriot. "This is going to be a good money job, eh Gerry?"
"I don't care about the money. I just want to see that woman's head roll," she growled, referring to the blond woman from the picture.
"Yeah she's going to be the hard part. The daughters shouldn't be difficult, once she's gone. You have any ideas already?"
"Of course I do."
"Discuss it over a pint at the Bear Bar?"
Gerry nodded once. Glancing out over the deserted street and hills, they retreated under the shade of the oak tree at the bottom. With a soft pop they vanished.