Mirrah Callaghan locked the buckles on her trunk and took one last look around her room. It was painted a pale yellow, a neutral color that matched her robin blue bedspread. She would miss this terribly, having the windows open so the Pennsylvanian summer breeze would flow through her room and play with the white curtains around the windows. But she had received orders from Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, to come and she could not disobey. Her family had been created and trained for one thing and one thing only. To protect the schools of magic in any way they were ordered to, no matter what might happen to them personally. Her parents already protected Salem's Institute for Young Girls, and her brothers had left for Drumstrang Institute not too long ago. Now, it was her turn. And she was headed off to England.
She looked at herself once more in the full length mirror. Her auburn hair was pulled back into a secure bun, her blue eyes shined back at her from the glass's surface, and she was dressed in her protector's uniform. Black fitted slacks, a black dress shirt with a green fist emblem over her heart, her hooded dark emerald green cloak, her long sword at her side, and her black boots. Mirrah slipped her wand into the special slot that had been designed and made into her leather gauntlets. She turned back to her bed and took a deep breath. Her hawk, for Callaghans never used owls, was already in it's cage. Mirrah lifted the cage in her left hand and lifted her trunk with her right. Turning, she effortlessly took her things downstairs.
A tall woman and man stood in a living room that, if no one had known better, would have would have been viewed as completely normal for a muggle family. A young girl in pigtails was standing next to the man, a finely made broom clutched in her hands. Mirrah stopped in front of the man and woman first. "Do you have your letter?" the man asked as the woman smoothed a lock of hair from Mirrah's face. Mirrah nodded, patting a pocket under her robe.
"You'll write?" the woman asked. She sounded worried, but they all knew it was for sending her daughter off and not what danger might lurk ahead. They could handle anything, Callaghans.
Mirrah smiled. "I'll write and take care of myself, mum," she said. She then looked at the young girl holding her broom. "And I'll send you some sweets all the way from England, Ally."
The girl smiled. "Just send me a book or two, sis," she said. Ally then threw her arms around Mirrah. It was hard, letting a family member go. There had been a similar show for their brothers. Mirrah squeezed her little sister and then stepped back, taking the broom with her.
As a group, they went over to the large fireplace. Mirrah quickly cast a sticking spell on her belongings and tossed some Floo into the fireplace. She stepped into the flames and called, "Hogwarts."
"Don't fail Dumbledore," Mirrah's father called as Mirrah was rushed away into the Floo Network.
The journey lasted only a few seconds before she calmly walked out of the fireplace and into Headmaster Dumbledore's office. He sat behind his large desk, his phoenix sleeping on it's perch. He looked up and smiled behind his half moon spectacles. "Ms. Callaghan," he said, standing up. "A pleasure to see you. I trust your trip was pleasant?"
"As pleasant as Floo can be, Headmaster," she said.
He chuckled. "Quite right," he said. He motioned to the seat opposite his desk and said, "Would you care to sit down?"
Mirrah shook her head. "With all due respect, sir," she said. "I would like to start on the reason you sent for me."
Dumbledore nodded, his wise eyes sparkling with mischief. "Of course, my dear," he said, sitting back down. "But would you like a candy or something to drink first?"
Mirrah had to bite her cheek to keep from smiling. Dumbledore was like a grandfather who loved to dot on his grandchildren. "No, thank you, sir," she said.
Dumbledore shrugged and said, "Very well. Now, the reason I've asked you here. The war is over, as you know."
"Yes, sir," she said. "A proud day for everyone. But my family has been asked for to protect against rogue Death Eaters." She paled slightly. "Is there a threat of Death Eaters, sir?"
"I'm afraid so, Mirrah," he said, sighing. "Threats have been placed against many of our heros, but there are two that I am most concerned for." He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the desk before him, pressing his fingertips together.
"Who may they be, Headmaster," Mirrah asked.
He was silent for a moment. "Mirrah," he said. "I'm going to ask you something no Headmaster has ever asked a Callaghan. I want you to protect, not the school, no. I do not want you to do that. I want you to protect our new Head boy and girl. Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger."
Mirrah blinked. "But my main purpose I to protect the school, Headmaster. I have never protected people before. And don't they hate each other?"
Dumbledore chuckled. He stood up and said, "Come with me, Mirrah. I'll explain as I take you to your new lodgings." He walked around the desk and drew his wand. With a flick of his wrist, her trunk and hawk cage were floating behind him. "Shall we?" he asked, waving his hand toward the door.
Mirrah carried her broom as she followed Dumbledore down a set of stairs and into a hallway. There were no students and very few ghosts. It was clear that school had not started yet. "Mirrah," Dumbledore said. "Oh, you don't mind me calling you by your first name?"
"Not at all, Headmaster," Mirrah said.
"Good. Now, Mirrah, I understand that the Callaghan family was set up to protect and defend the schools, mostly from invasion and such. I am sad to say that, unfortunately, we could not call for you when the Dark Lord had risen." Mirrah shrugged. She knew the reason. Politics in the wizarding world were dangerous. If she had been called in, she would have ruined a lot of good plans for the Light side. "Anyway," Dumbledore said, continuing down another stairway. "I've asked for you because, though they may have fought in the past, they are both the most targeted of the death threats from the Death Eaters still out there. The mere fact that I had to call for a Callaghan speaks for itself, I think."
"I am to be their bodyguard, then," Mirrah said as they stopped. They stood in front of a large portrait depicting a lion and snake lounging by a lake. It was quite odd, but everything about Hogwarts was odd.
"Yes," Dumbledore said. "That has a nice ring to it, don't you think? Bodyguard. Guarding a body. Yes, you will be their bodyguard. They'll have the same classes, so it should make your job easier. Now, you will be staying with them in the Head Rooms. The password is 'Protection'." The portrait swung open and they walked in.
Dumbledore lead her over to a door right near the portrait and pushed it open. Inside was a large bed, a dresser, a full length mirror, and a desk with a matching chair. "It's not much, but you can decorate it however you want," Dumbledore said as he set Mirrah's things on the bed.
She walked in and propped her broom in a corner next to the window. "It's fine," she said. "Will Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Granger be sharing a room or just the common area?"
"The common area," Dumbledore said. "They'll fight a bit, probably giving you a headache a time or two. Just bear with it until we can find whoever it is that's threatening the two and take care of it. Now, dinner is in a few minutes, so just come down when you're unpacked. You'll be briefed on when you'll meet your charges and anything else about the situation. Will you be alright wearing your uniform most of the time?"
Mirrah nodded. "I would feel useless without it, Headmaster," she said.
Dumbledore smiled and said, "Good. But, remember, Mirrah. A uniform does not a person make. There is someone beyond it, and you will need that person to calm over the angry tides you will soon face." He winked and said, "Until dinner."
He closed the door to her room and Mirrah sighed. Yes, Hogwarts was odd.
AN: So, tell me what you think. Most of the story will bounce between Mirrah's, Hermione's, and Draco's perspectives, and it will be Hermione and Draco...but it will be later on. So, bear with me on this, okay? Thanks. By the way, her name is pronounced 'Mere-a'. sounds like mirror, but with an 'a'.