Mission Briefing.

'Come along now, team.' Cornelius Fudge called in as cheery a voice as he could muster.

Alastor Moody sighed and sank down in his seat. This was not a good omen. Fudge never used words like 'team' unless he had a particularly unpleasant pill he needed to sugar coat. This mission was going to be a bad one. Alastor could feel it in his bones.

Fudge coughed loudly as the last few Aurors filed into the room, finding seats amongst their colleagues in the rows of chairs which faced the platform where Fudge sat. Tonks was at the back of course, she tripped over the carpet and swore loudly as she arrived. Alastor smiled affectionately.

Glancing around the room, Alastor noticed it was mostly the Advanced Guard in attendance, along with one or two other experienced Aurors from the higher ranks of the main team. It was clearly something important they were going to be tasked with. Important and unpleasant, Alastor thought to himself.

'Settle down now...' Fudge prompted as he tried to call order to the room.

He really was inept, Alastor reflected. It was well and truly time for him to retire. Kingsley Shacklebolt was hotly tipped to be his successor. In Alastor's opinion, Kingsley was something of a cad. However he was a charismatic leader, a strong character. Whilst as minister he would no doubt lead the newspapers a merry dance with his, shall we say... vibrant personal life, he would make a strong and likable minister for magic. Infinitely more competent and capable than old Cornelius Fudge, who should have stepped down years ago.

Not one person in the room had stopped talking when Fudge requested silence until Alastor, who was becoming tired of waiting, snapped at them.

'Quit your yapping and listen up.' He barked.

Instantly the room fell silent.

'Thank you, Alastor...' Fudge said nervously, feeling rather emasculated. 'Now, then team...' He continued. 'I have bought you here, a select group, you will no doubt have noticed, because there is a very important and extremely high-risk mission you are required to undertake.'

'And there I was thinking you were sending us on holiday to Marbella!' Kingsley called out, and a few of his friends around him laughed.

'Thank you, Shacklebolt! This is important!' Fudge asserted. 'There's a war on!'

'We know!' A man with a bandage over one eye called from across the room.

'Then you will know to listen carefully!' Fudge snapped. 'This mission is of vital importance, but it is a larger task than the Advanced Guard can manage alone, which is why some of you from the regular Aurors have been invited. Not picked at random, either, if I may say so. If this mission goes well for you, you may well find yourselves promoted.'

Some of the regular Aurors straightened up in their chairs.

'As you all know...' Fudge continued, getting into his stride at last. 'There's a war going on around us. At the centre of that war is a group of school children. Teenagers. Some of them young adults, admittedly, but very young adults at that. Only just of age, some of them. We in the ministry, as responsible adults, have a duty of care to protect them. Now, we all know, the key players in this war are Harry Potter and his friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger...'

Fudge tapped his wand on a book on his desk and from it arose translucent images of Harry, Ron and Hermione, almost like holograms.

'The three of them are travelling and working together.' Fudge explained. 'The ministry is of course concerned for their safety, but given that there are three of them, and considering the quite remarkable abilities of Miss Granger, we will not be putting Auror protection with them. Besides, from what we know of prophecies relating to Harry Potter, we know he must be free to act of his own volition in this situation.'

The room remained silent. So the task wasn't helping Harry Potter. Some of the young Aurors were disappointed. They had never actually met the famous boy. Fudge continued.

'There are, however, a number of young people caught up in the peripheral of this conflict. Youngsters who are vulnerable by association, or at risk because of their families or lack thereof. It's vital that we, as a team, get these young people to a place of safety before the war comes to a head. Each of you will be tasked with escorting one, or in some cases two, of the children to a safe house in Dove Town...'

'So... This is a babysitting mission?' An Auror named Savage interjected confrontationally. A few of the others in the room seemed to echo her sentiments.

'It's much more important that that!' Fudge snapped crossly. 'You will have to escort your young charges from various locations, on foot. The Death Eater presence in the area is growing by the day and they are tracing acts of magic left, right and centre! You will have to walk between shelters, protecting your charge at all costs! Your routes have been mapped out for you and there are concealed shelters for overnight stops along the way. Inside these shelters, you will be safe to use minimal magic. Warming charms, lighting fires etcetera, as required.' Fudge explained. 'You will have to cover a distance of up to 20 - 25 miles per day.' He added.

There was a murmur around the room. That was quite a long way to walk each day, especially with a teenager in tow!

'OK then, boss...' Kingsley called at last. 'Who are we lumbered with?'

'Much consideration has been given to who is to escort which child.' Fudge said formally. 'And as such, there will be no negotiations between you regarding who you are placed with.' He added firmly.

'Let's have it then.' Tonks called out.

'Very well.' Fudge replied.

He began to read out the names of Aurors and identified who they were to be responsible for. As he announced each child, he tapped his wand on the book, conjuring up an image of them. He described who they were and why they were considered to be at risk.

'Nymphadora, you will be responsible for two. All, well, nearly all of the Advanced Guard members will be escorting two people.' Fudge explained.

Tonks sat up and listened carefully.

'Firstly, Seamus Finnegan.' Fudge said. 'Gryffindor house, friendly with Harry Potter, although not close. His father, a muggle, disappeared three days ago and Seamus is considered to be in danger because of this. Either because the Death Eaters may come for him, or because he may be tempted to go looking for his father.'

Tonks nodded understandingly.

'Secondly, Neville Longbottom. Son of Frank and Alice...'

There was a deep, reverent silence.

'Say no more.' Tonks said seriously.

'Shacklebolt.' Fudge barked in an attempt to get Kingsley to sit up and look a little more formal. He was currently leaning back, one foot resting on his knee casually.

'Yes boss!' He replied without flinching.

'Two young ladies will be placed in your care...'

This information made Kingsley sit up a little.

'Miss Lavander Brown, 17 years old. And Miss Padma Patel, also 17 years old.'

Fudge tapped the book and a images of Lavender and Padma appeared.

A wide smile spread across Kingsley's face, reaching almost from ear to ear and he leant back, putting his hands behind his head.

'Both of age, you say...?' He replied with a playful grin.

There were several cat calls from around the room.

'Nice one, Kingsley!'

and...

'Always gets the cushy jobs!'

'Boss... I reckon you'd be better sending Kingsley with a couple of lads, you know!' Savage interjected and received a playful punch from Kingsley in response

'I will take this opportunity to remind all of you that fraternising with your charges is highly inappropriate and will be considered an act of serious misconduct!' Fudge asserted.

'Hey!' Kingsley spoke up. 'I'm a very moral man, you know! I can behave myself perfectly... Question is, can they?' He grinned.

'Two of 'em, fighting over you!' Dawlish laughed.

'There's enough of me to go round!' Kingsley replied confidently, glancing down at his crotch suggestively.

There were more cat calls from the others as no one took Fudge's 'serious misconduct' comment very seriously. Nor did they take Kingsley's boasting very seriously either. It was simply Auror banter.

'Enough!' Fudge shouted crossly as he continued with his task. 'Miss Brown has, in the past been romantically linked to Ron Weasley and is considered to at risk by association. Miss Patel, her close friend, accompanied Harry Potter to the Yule ball a few years ago. She is a gifted seer and may be at risk as she could be considered useful. I am informed that both girls are somewhat silly and skittish, but generally are considered to be biddable and compliant.'

'They will be by the time Shacklebolt's done with them!' Dawlish laughed. 'Fully trained to be part of his harem!'

'Jealous, Dawlish?' Kingsley teased. 'Just because you got a boy!'

'Enough of that!' Fudge yelled angrily.

These Aurors were a rowdy bunch, but the Advanced Guard should really set a better example! Fudge wondered why Alastor didn't pull them up about their behaviour, but deep down, he knew full well if Alastor Moody was speaking, there wouldn't be a peep out of any of them.

'Moving on...' Fudge continued. 'To the last child who needs escorting.'

Alastor sighed. He had not yet been awarded anyone and knew this last one must be for him.

'I assume you've saved the best for last?' He spoke up, sarcastically.

'The last young man is perhaps the most challenging.' Fudge said calmly and without apology. 'Which is why he is being placed with you, Alastor.'

'Wonderful.' Alastor grumbled.

Some of the Advanced Guard laughed, which shocked the regular Aurors, but the Advanced Guard knew Alastor well and understood his sense of humour.

Fudge drew a deep breath.

'Draco Malfoy.' Fudge said in a serious tone.

A commiserating murmur ran round the room.

Fudge tapped his wand on the book and the image of a slender, ice blond young man appeared. Although it was just a magical image, it seemed to sneer at the onlookers, a haughty expression of contempt on the fine, chiselled face.

'Unlucky!' Savage called over to Alastor.

Alastor rolled his eyes. He should have known!

'Draco Malfoy, 18 years old...' Fudge began. 'As you know, is the son of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, both of whom are currently in Azkaban prison...'

'I know.' Alastor spoke up. 'I put them there!'

'Quite.' Fudge replied. 'Draco is considered to be at risk for a number of reasons. He has grown up surrounded by Death Eaters. He seems to subscribe to some aspects of pure-blood supremacy. He allegiances are unknown and he certainly displays no loyalty or fondness towards Potter or Dumbledore. However, he did display genuine fear at the suggestion that his maternal aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange might attempt to find him and recruit him for the Death Eaters. Draco Malfoy has actually asked for protection. However it is generally the opinion of the Ministry that Draco Malfoy will not be an easy charge to manage.'

Moody sighed. Of course he wouldn't be!

'He will need constant supervision and should not be extended any trust whatsoever.' Fudge explained. 'That's why he's being placed with you, Alastor. 'We need someone with your experience and your vigilance to manage him. He's stubborn, selfish, argumentative and spoilt...'

'And those are just his good qualities!' Savage called from across the room.

Fudge shot her an angry look, although many of the others laughed.

'He's potentially the most likely to run and perhaps the most likely to be kidnapped if there's an opportunity. What we don't want to do is to lose him to the dark side, Alastor. He has his faults, but he's a competent wizard and he's gifted at Legilimency and Occlumency. For those reasons, he's dangerous. If we lose him, we potentially arm the Dark Lord with yet another weapon he can use against us.'

Alastor nodded.

'You will pick up your charges tomorrow. Now that you all know who you are to work with, you may come and collect the relevant files and read them. You will also see the maps of your intended routes.' Fudge commanded. 'Once you have read the information fully you may retire for the evening.'

A general conversational buzz picked up in the room again as the Aurors stood up and made their way to the desk at the front.

'You lucky git!' Dawlish teased Kingsley, who laughed at him.

Savage turned to Alastor.

'Bad luck, Sir!' She said jovially.

Moody grunted and looked for his file on the desk. Each file was marked with the young person's name. He couldn't see the name Draco Malfoy written anywhere.

'Here's yours.' Fudge offered, handing him a file of information.

Alastor scanned his magical eye over it. No name on it. Simply the words 'The Brat' written in clear handwriting where the name should be. He looked at Fudge questioningly.

'Oh... yes.' Fudge said, embarrassed. 'That was the, errr... code name we were using for him.'

Alastor sighed. Draco Malfoy, code name 'The Brat'.

This was going to be a long and unpleasant mission!