Chapter One

A Gentleman's Agreement

Albus Dumbledore appeared, as he often did, from nowhere; his aging form coming out from under the streetlight to walk brusquely down one of the longer alleyways of South London.

"Good of you to be on time Nathan...you've certainly changed from your years at school." Although Dumbledore appeared to be talking to himself, he was soon joined by a lanky, tall man with short-cropped brown hair who himself seemed to appear out of the wall beside the Headmaster; though from the way he leaned, it was obvious the man had been waiting some time. His eyes looked downward, the lean figure coming forward to greet Dumbledore with a nod of his head, glacier blue eyes flashing up at the elder wizard.

"Only devils and evil people walk the streets this time of night...what are you doing out?" His voice was charming but carried with it an air of toughness, the same sarcastic smirk etched on his chiseled features as Dumbledore remembered from the younger man's days at Hogwarts.

"I certainly wouldn't consider you a devil or evil person Nathan, yet you also seem to have taken to the streets this evening...but to answer your question, I have a favor to ask of you." Nathan sighed, peaking his head from the safety of the dark alley to peer down the streets as far as his sharpened eyes could see.

"How did I know you hadn't come here to ask me for dating advice?" Dumbledore chuckled wryly; the cynicism of his former student had always saddened the optimistic headmaster, but the wizard's quick wit and sarcastic sense of humor was a carryover from happier times; when the young man's pessimism had been less founded.

"Unfortunately Nathan, you are right again. I have a favor to ask of you, but I do hope it doesn't trouble you too much...you have earned a rest for the many troubles you have undertaken on my behalf." The deep circles under the eyes were unmistakable, the signs of the insomnia that plagued him. Hearing a deep sigh, Albus chuckled as the former pupil grumbled curses before waving for the elder wizard to continue.

"I am under no illusions of immortality or omnipotence...I cannot be everywhere or know everything, I can simply proceed with what knowledge and expertise I have. I have watched over Harry for many years, and know him I dare say better than most. The magic of his mother will protect him awhile longer...and I will be, personally, keeping watch over him...but he is, admirably in my opinion, very attached to his friends..."

"We all have friends...they're all in danger as long as Voldemort is on the loose. So why should I abandon them for the sake of this boy?" Nathan pulled his trench coat in against the cold winter chill, wand already in hand, so Dumbledore noted.

"I know you would never leave your friends Nathan, and I don't wish to ask you to. What I am requesting is that you gather your friends...come to the Order of the Phoenix and we can protect each other." The younger man grumbled for some time, pacing up and down the alley several times before returning; an answer jumping from his lips as a silver color faded into his eyes, a sign of anger that the master wizard didn't take for a good sign.

"Yeah, group them all in one place so the death eaters can take them out all together? That your master plan?" Dumbledore laid his hand on the broad shoulder of his companion, patting it paternally as the gaunt features began to calm.

"You know I would never lead them into such a thing. I will offer them a place of protection, in exchange for whatever services they can offer." The offer hung in the air for a few moments before Nathan quickly shook his head, checking behind him before leaning in close.

"Just tell me what you need me to do." Jerking away, the younger of the two noted a cat bolting from a trash bin, a pitiful creature that had almost been hexed.

"Many of our agents are out on missions...we haven't many allies, and the ones we have cannot be spared...one of Harry's dearest friends, a young miss Hermoine Granger, will need to be brought to our safe house; sooner than later, and I know you can get her there safely. Written here is the location of our haven, I will send word to your associates. Do make haste, and know you have my sincerest gratitude." Their arrangement made, the two, without another word, vanished in a hazy puff of smoke.

* * * *

The house was well-kept, signs of the family trade and modest wealth nearly disgusting to the young Wizard. Though he had made a nice enough living for himself; Nathan's early years had been plagued by poverty and wanting. Making his way through the house, the soundless steps alerted no one to the foreign presence. Tapping lightly on the door the directions instructed, Nathan laughed at the irony," Usually people knock on doors while still outside the house," he thought quietly to himself.

"Come in." Her voice showed the signs of this late hour; with his lifestyle Nathan often forgot that at 4 in the morning decent people were mostly asleep. Turning the door slowly, he darted inside the door and shut it silently, her initial gasp giving way to relief as she recognized her visitor.

"I'm here to..."

"I was told they'd send someone." Glad he would have less explaining to do, the former Auror gestured for the young lady to make haste. No sooner had she stood then a mammoth blast shook the house, the young witch nearly losing her balance as the floor beneath her shook.

"Your parents?" He asked, wand drawn as her escort regained footing.

"Vacation. We only have to worry about getting ourselves out." Appreciating the calmness in her voice , Nathan decided quickly that now was not the time for heroics but apparating to the Order of the Phoenix headquarters straight out might present the attacking Death Eaters with too easy of an opportunity to track them; while his companions young age might prevent him from disappearing via his normal routes. Tossing the young lady a cell phone, Nathan dodged a jet of orange light...he had no plans to be taken hostage or disabled tonight.

"Charles Davis and Franklin Pierce. Call them, and give them your address." Nathan noted the smirk he had; even though no one would blame him for barking orders, he found no need to be unkind as more explosions shook the floors on which he stood. Seeing Hermoine nod in agreement, the protector returned to the task of saving her; stepping between the young lady and a laser-like green energy; batting it away violently as it rebounded off and began to eat away a portion of her bedroom wall.

"And what are you going to do?!" Hermoine called out, phone ringing as she looked up at her guardian's looming form.

"Keep a promise to an old friend." He answered quietly, shielding her from a Crucio-curse as he began to counterattack, wand a flash as Nathan began to strike back at her attackers.

"I won't let anyone harm you, just make sure to keep your head down and say your address clearly. The sooner reinforcements get here, the sooner you can rejoin your friends." Marveling at his own compassion, and remarking how it went against his usual nature, Nathan fired back several spells of his own. If they told the tale of the night they drug Nathan into hell, they wouldn't be able to say he didn't go down swinging...

* * * *

Franklin Pierce had rarely gotten a good phone call from Nathan, but then again, he rarely gave one either; so when the girl's voice on the other end stated they were under attack and gave her address, the lazy scholar rose from his computer chair, donned a purple traveling cloak, and checked Google maps for a picture of the residence. Pushing his shoulder length jet black hair out of his face; Franklin wondered why on earth Nathan was on the other side of the Atlantic ocean. Traveling long distances always made him nervous, even if the odds of anything happening were slim; in this case, doom could be almost certain. Of course, his younger brother had failed to fill him in on the details, or even speak to him at all; for all the elder brother knew he was walking into a death trap. Apparating; Franklin held his wand at the ready, knowing full well the first few moments of this battle could be his last.

* * * *

Charles Davis almost ignored the call…the lady of the night was in the throws of a rant about her life-story and loneliness…so against his better judgment Charles excused himself for a moment; murmuring about father in the hospital and took long strides out of earshot. The restaurant was his usual spot in the Vista section of Columbia, and he hoped they'd leave him alone long enough to converse with his recently disappeared comrade. Rubbing his fingers through the military-style cut blonde hair he wore even in peace time, Charles answered as he rounded the corner.

"Bonjour." The fake French accent was often a joke between the two, but tonight a girl's voice spoke out to him.

"Hello, I'm calling for Nathan. We're under attack and he needs your help…my address is…" Scrambling for a pen, Charles procured the nearest napkin and jotted down the girl's location before thanking her and hanging up. Looking up the address on his phone's web browser, Charles pictured it in his head; waved good-bye to his dumbstruck date, and made for the bathroom; where the towering wizard promptly disappeared before the elderly man in the stall could notice he had entered.

* * * *

Nathan, normally, would have rushed at his attacker's like a lunatic, raining down spells on the attacker(s) until he killed them or they fled…but the promise made to Dumbledore dictated a shift in tactics. While the lanky man had nearly stuck his head out the window to hurl insults at them, he had changed heart midway and remembered the true mission of his presence here; to safeguard the girl. Grabbing her with his free right hand, Nathan pulled Hermoine to the ground; blasts and streams of death flying above them.

"I'm going to distract them; wait here for a man in a purple traveling cloak. He'll protect you; just tell him which way I went." Scrambling to the door, Nathan opened it with a jerk and dashed; with exceptional speed Hermoine noted; until he found cover again. Though she could find no reason for his hurry; she realized, with a start; that the rush was due to his lack of activity and he would presumably wish to keep them at bay. At close quarters, her guardian would be overwhelmed by their superior numbers. What could only be described as a bomb going off ripped through the teen's living room, blowing out her back screen door and sending two death eaters collapsing limply to the ground; the luckier Death Eaters shielding themselves from the blast just in time; but were now scrambling to avoid the shards of glass.

"If the murderers don't get me; my parents might…" she thought to herself, fingers coming across her wand as the familiar feeling of its weight and texture seemed to fit neatly in her hand. But whether to use it? If she revealed the presence of two spell-casters instead of one, it might begrudgingly force the attackers to withdraw…but it could also reveal her position. Deciding against it; Hermoine grumbled to herself; if only she could think of something in her information-stuffed cranium that could be of use…but as the perfect spell came to mind; a loud pop interrupted her thoughts and a quizzical, light voice uttered, "Keep your head down and proceed to a safe corner; your talents won't be needed tonight." Crawling to the corner of her room where none of her body was exposed and she was relatively shielded from the house; Hermoine looked up at the towering Franklin Pierce.

"How could they not hit him? He's a walking wall." She thought to herself; the purple traveling cloak being placed neatly on her bed as curses flew past him. Turning lightly, the wizard went to work.

* * * *

Nathan turned; hoping not to see a swarm of death eaters clawing their way through to end his life prematurely…and his hopes were rewarded; the only sight in the darkness was a pair of headlights…a pair he instantly recognized as belonging to one Charles Davis.

Outside, a customized Dodge Viper slid in a drifting turn that collided with two of the three death eaters firing from a defended position behind a neighbor's wall. Stepping casually from the magically-enhanced car; the large wizard drew a sword and let it drop on the roof; his curse-resistant auto keeping him safe from the remaining Death Eater's best attempts. A sharp crack later; and Nathan was watching the mystified woman being thrown against a tree…where she was then made to dance like a puppet before Charles allowed the lifeless form to collapse. Nathan motioned through the living room window for his comrade to enter…but instead of simply walking through the front door; the American soldier choose instead to drive THROUGH the front door. Nathan shrugged, reminding himself he never promised to protect the young girl's house; just her; and watched as the bulky wizard turned up his stereo briefly before turning off the engine and exiting the car.

"You called?" Charles laughed, sword gleaming in the light that cascaded in from the moon, the same light that revealed the approach of several more death eaters……who were felled by precision streams of purple light.

"Franklin is here then?" The grinning Charles noted; Nathan nodding and, behind his back, throwing several more gun-shot like spells out the back screen door. Ducking a hex, Charles motioned for Nathan to take cover, though the adrenaline in the guardian's system tempted him to make a charge at the remaining enemies.

"If we can get her to my car; we can get away." Charles' decisiveness made the situation at least appear simple…certainly not many Death Eaters could be remaining and though her attachment to Potter would be valuable to Voldemort, losing this many from the ranks must be hurting even the Dark Lord as he sought to rebuild.

"Sounds like a plan…I'll get her, you get the car running." Parting ways as swiftly as they had come together; Charles dashed for the car as he used the flat of the blade to knock away the curses thrown at him; Nathan rushing back down the hall.

* * * *

Franklin Pierce had always strived to avoid conflicts….armed or otherwise, but that didn't mean in the least that he lacked skills at either. Cutting down the over-enthusiastic attackers; the wizard scoffed at his comrade's almost barbarian tactics….but in light of the situation, he noted it as effective and scanned for more foes; finding none within eyesight. No sooner had Franklin stopped to consider his options than his younger brother came barging in the door; both narrowly shooting the other in angst of encountering resistance.

"Shall we leave?" Nathan's request simplified the matter; the elder sibling helping Hermoine to her feet and leading her out of the room. A honk from their ally sped up their pace from a leisurely walk, the few remaining Death Eaters desperately hexing the soldier's Dodge Viper. Pushing Hermoine into the back seat, Nathan slid in behind her, the taller brother taking the front seat as Charles reversed back and out of the young girl's shattered home.

"Should we finish them off?" Charles inquired; Nathan shaking his head incredulously as his old friend chuckled. Slamming the gas pedal down, the Dodge Viper disappeared into the starry night…

Chapter Two

Lost in the Mist