Minerva McGonagall slowly drank in the sobering sight in front of her. It was the door to the principal's office, only now it bore her name and not the name Albus Dumbledore. With a stiff upper lip, she opened the door and walked in. Nothing she'd ever done would ever prepare her for the sobering sight of an office that was dim and sullen without its former occupant.
"Why, Severus? WHY?" she lost her famous composure for a moment and slammed her fist on the desk.
The shock of it dislodged some papers, and seemingly innocuous piece of parchment floated down and landed on her lap. Distracted she picked it up and read it. Frowning and adjusting her glasses, she read the paper again.
'Floo to this place upon my death. Irons Manor,
Albus Dumbledore'
Curious beyond reason for a moment, Minerva grabbed some Floo powder and threw it into the fireplace. Calling out the name of the place, Minerva stepped into the fireplace.
She emerged in a large old English hall with a roaring fire in a conventional fireplace. Milling around in uniforms were five men, each wore a sand coloured beret that bore an insignia she didn't recognise: a winged sword with the words 'Who Dares Wins' across them. A tall man with salt and pepper hair and weather-beaten features stood up and smiled.
"Welcome Professor to my home. To attention gentleman!" he called briskly.
The other four men immediately snapped to attention. Then all five saluted her. Minerva was understandably shocked at this action and took a few minutes for her to compose herself enough to ask a question.
"Who are you people?" she asked.
"I ma'am am Captain William Irons, of Her Majesty's 22nd SAS Regiment. I am also, from Auror Elite Division. As are my four men here with me tonight" Captain Irons turned and got his men to step forward one at a time to introduce themselves.
"Lieutenant Jackson Hardcastle of Her Majesty's 22nd SAS Regiment and Auror Elite" a man with jet-black hair and scar on his neck.
"Corporal Alistair Lynx, as above ma'am" a dashing young man with glasses and winning smile said, his red hair reminding Minerva of the Weasley family.
"Corporal Eamon Vale, as above also ma'am" the quite man spoke softly but firmly.
"I'm Trooper George Fisher, newest member here ma'am" a more nervous man with brown hair spoke last, his accent was slightly Scottish.
This was clearly the best-kept secret in the wizard world. Minerva had never heard of them before. Auror Elite Division was known well enough and she'd met many members of it before, but never any of these men.
"I thought the Aurors only became a more combat ready unit in the 70's with the rise of Lord Voldermort" Minerva mentioned, trying to extract information.
"While it is certainly true that Aurors as a whole were little more than police officers before Voldie's little coup attempt, there was a serious problem happening in Germany" Irons got comfortable and began to tell his tale.
The SAS itself was formed in North Africa; part to improve the ability of British Army to defeat the enemy but also to stop Shaman's in Africa helping Rommel and his men. After that particular success, dire news reached them. A fact kept from most history books is that during World War II while the Nazi's decimated those they believed to not fit the Aryan model, another more secret crime was being perpetrated. Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler and Joseph Goebbels were all Dark Wizards, and upon seeing the political instability in Germany post World War I saw a chance to create a world in a vision of which Voldermort would be proud.
So they formed the Nazi party and although officially the party's policy is what you would read in any post war textbook, the most inner circle knew that the three would use this as a chance to also attempt to wipe out Muggle-born wizards and Muggles in general see to a perceived restoration of Pure Blood Wizard supremacy. The death camps that held and killed millions of innocent people did not discriminate between Wizard and Muggle.
Each of the three men had a particular area of expertise they would use. Hitler himself was a charismatic man who could orate so well he rarely had to lace his voice with magic to garner the responses he did. Goebbels could create posters, recorded voice and film and literature to hypnotise and place those that read it under a form the Imperious curse. Himmler was nothing short of a lunatic; it was he who devised the spells and charms that kept magical prisoners in his murderous camps and was also able to find a way to capture the Avada Kedavra power and recreate it into the powerful gas used in the extermination camps. The formula and notes on this practice were thankfully destroyed.
Irons stopped a moment to allow Minerva to catch her breath. Although the threat of Voldermort was closer now, some old Wizards say he could have had the seed planted from nothing. Minerva now believed she knew where Riddle's twisted ideology became the murderous delusions that he was famous for.
"Shall I continue, Professor, this tale is not one I like to tell, so I do not impart it lightly" he said softly.
"How could this have happened, surely the German Ministry would have stopped them" she said through pursed lips.
Irons said nothing in direct relation to that question, but instead continued on his tale.
Himmler became leader of a group in Germany known as the SS. When the time was right, Himmler, corrupt German Aurors and other dark Wizards within the community staged a coup, and invaded the Ministry building and executed all members inside. On the outside, the SS concerned itself with arresting enemies of the Nazi German state. In its inner walls, a group later known as the 'Verteidiger des reinen Bluts', or Defenders of the Pure Blood, were used to exterminate pockets of wizard resistance.
The British Ministry of Magic became aware via an agent in MI6 of the plans these three held and included some new ones to bring dark magic into the fold completely by employing Necromancy. The SAS were sent in behind enemy lines to destroy all relevant research and any fruits of past labours in what became known in the Intelligence Community as 'The Wolfenstein Encounter' and the SAS destroyed everything, both helped and hindered by and American Muggle Army Ranger who'd gone in to find out what was going on. With the help of Marquis Wizards and other POW's the facility was totally demolished. After the D-Day Landings, Aurors began filtering into Germany and France to bring the Defenders of the Pure Blood to justice and conducted trials at the 'Cour Du Monde De Magicien' in France much like the Nuremberg Trials for the Muggle War Criminals. The SAS were also responsible for the execution of Adolf Hitler and Joseph Gobels and removal of their bodies from the bunker in Berlin. A member of the Auror Undercover Unit was in Luneberg and used the Imperious to force Himmler to commit suicide.
Minerva was now aghast. How close had the world come to such madness before Voldermort. Having lived through the Second World War, Minerva knew of the atrocities to Muggles but had no idea how deep the hateful ideology went, or how far its evil perpetrators were willing to take it.
"I have been a friend of Albus Dumbledore for many years, professor; he would not send someone in his stead unless he was dead. You are seeking out help I take it?" Irons asked.
"Yes, Harry Potter is now in graver danger than he knows. And despite what he may want otherwise, he must return to school in his final year. He needs protection, but the Order of the Phoenix cannot protect him all the time. And since he is at school he is surrounded by possibly, innocent bystanders. I need you five to help me protect the students" Minerva explained at length.
"Of course. Any moment now, the British Defence Minister will be receiving notes telling of our demise in the service of Great Britain" Irons paused and rose again from his seat.
"Look sharp lads, this is the big one. Load up for a long term deployment of a covert nature" Irons spoke firmly to his men.
Again they snapped to attention and saluted. Then they dispersed into another room, with Irons and Minerva following. The next room was full of tables and on those tables were weapons, Muggle firearms to be exact, and all of them military grade.
"Pack your kits lads; you know the drill, assault, sniping and close combat. Alistair find some of that charming C4 we got from Seal Team Six last time we were with them" Irons began handing out the orders.
"Vale, get the special uniforms and weapon camouflage from that locker, we need to be totally invisible, so also make sure you pack those knives and triple check the silencing charms on those weapons" Lieutenant Hardcastle was making sure all the ammunition was charmed with the three newest and most secret charms in Britain.
Alistair, Eamon and George had put together a kit that would outfit just about any paramilitary force or counter terrorism unit on earth. FN-F2000, Steyr AUG, HK MP-5. In addition to the rifles there was a bizarre looking gun called a SPAS-15 as well as a HK Tactical and FN Five Seven pistol. A single large and long green coloured weapon that had a small bipod mounted beneath the barrel sat in one kit.
"We make sure all our equipment will serve our needs, be the enemy magical or otherwise" Irons noticed Minerva's somewhat nervous look.
"Kits are ready to be distributed captain" Jackson approached his superior and saluted before speaking.
"Excellent, Reducio the kits and change into some more, common wizard's dress robes and we'll be on our way" Irons replied.
Jackson went to each separate kit and performed the shrinking spell on each of them so they would fit into a special set of small cigar boxes. With their things, packed, Minerva saw about getting them back to Hogwarts.
----------------Hogwarts---------------
Remus Lupin and Hagrid were waiting in the Headmistress's office at Hogwarts. Headmistress, that really would take some getting used to they both thought. Dumbledore had few personal effects and Minerva even less so the move was barely noticeable to casual visitor, but these two men had been friends of Albus Dumbledore for a long time and could tell the office lacked the sparkle it once had.
"How've you been holding up Hagrid?" Remus asked.
"Oh, not s'bad. Fang's been mopin' about something awful. Can't say I blame 'im" Hagrid answered.
"Yeah, I've been feeling pretty down myself" Remus chuckled mirthlessly.
"When's 'Arry coming back to Sirius's place?" Hagrid knew that the death of Dumbledore affected the boy greatly.
"In a week, I'm going to get him personally. Moody will be with me, and after that I dare say Harry may never have to go back to those horrible people" Remus hated the Dursley family almost as much as they hated him and other wizards.
Both looked nonchalantly as the fireplace erupted in green light and Minerva McGonagall stepped out. Both men went to speak but were struck in silence at the others accompanying McGonagall out of the fire, all dressed in what looked like Auror robes. Remus looked between his old teacher and the new arrivals and awaited an explanation.
"Hagrid, Lupin. These gentlemen are the best kept wizarding secret in the world; I wish to keep it that way" she paused to allow that to sink in, and then continued.
"That being said, Captain Irons, this is Remus Lupin and Rubeus Hagrid. Hagrid is our Keeper of the Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts and Remus Lupin is to hopefully to return as our Defence against the Dark Arts instructor" Minerva introduced them to Irons.
"Pleasure to meet you both. Hagrid, you'd know this castle fairly well wouldn't you say?" Irons asked the half giant.
"That I do, sir" Hagrid pronounced happily.
"Hagrid would be willing to show one of my men around so he can draw me some tactical maps?" Irons requested.
"I'd be honoured, I'll get Filch to help as well he knows it better than anyone" Hagrid felt a little more important than usual.
"Good. Corporal Lynx, if you would" Irons assigned the task and watched as the two men began to chat amiably.
"Okay, Lupin I will be having a word with the Ministry in a little while as we need both a Defence teacher and a Transfiguration teacher. I must sadly give up that role with my new duties" Minerva spoke to Lupin with a tight lip.
"Minerva, who are these men?" Lupin managed to ask his own question.
"We are the Elite Aurors of the ministry, Mr. Lupin. We're here because the times call for a higher loyalty than that of government needs to be recognised. Albus Dumbledore was a friend of mine, and I intend to see his school safely though these times" Captain Irons stated.
"With due respect, you cannot hide five very conspicuous looking Aurors, even in a place as vast as Hogwarts" Lupin pointed out dryly.
"Do not worry, Mr. Lupin, me and my men have a particular talent for concealing ourselves. How long until the students return?" Irons turned Minerva.
"Two months" she replied.
"Okay, at the end of two months Lupin, you'll never see us unless we are really needed" Irons smiled and asked a final question.
"Yes, you may use one of the Dungeons. I trust you can see to the appropriate charms and spells to keep it a secret" Minerva had her last conversation with Irons.
"Yes, we can. Men, lets go" Irons instructed after being given the paper with the name of the Dungeon on it they were to use.
Over the course of the two months, William and his men setup a base of operations inside the spare dungeon. Alistair had made a map of Hogwarts that would have had the Marauders salivating in its detail. Listing every secret passage way and every position of post and most importantly, every entry point: including magical ones.
"Okay, we've established a rotating patrol that allows us to cover the most ground during the day. The only time of real danger is a Hogsmeade Weekend" Eamon was their surveillance specialist.
"Because they're all out and about doing kids things. Okay, it's a stretch but Eamon, draw us up a schedule for us to take rotating shifts in Hogsmeade, a chance to take off the suits and order a butterbeer" Irons made a small concession to that.
"Aside from that sir, we're done. Everything is in place; we've tested our communication equipment and our charms are strong enough counteract the ones in place here, so they work" Jackson gave his own report.
"Well, the children come back tomorrow; so suit up, comm units on and lock and load at 0600 tomorrow, we will be on the Hogwarts Express" Irons gave the final order.