December, 2015- New York City
It was morning in the congressional headquarters in New York City, and two women were marching side by side down a lengthy corridor. Reverberating through the hall was the sharp clicking of expensive shoes on decorative tile flooring.
Today was the day that Auror Beda Bishop introduced her new hire to the rest of her investigative team. The department head was beginning to wonder if she had made the right decision, especially as she considered how inexperienced her new underling had come across as they reconvened earlier that morning. Nevertheless, as they walked, she didn't speak to the girl. The pair of them hardly even acknowledged each other's existence.
The elder of the aurors was tall, nearing six feet, with short, dark hair and severe eyes. Stress lines were etched permanently into her face from years of undertaking. She towered over her subordinate, who radiated youth, and whose frizzy auburn locks sprung outwardly with every stride.
There was something of a gleam in the girl's eyes, an excitement that was foreign or lost to most of the others in the department. Every auror on site was aware of the devotion displayed by the young woman in her efforts to join this investigative team. She told anyone who would listen of her fixation, an ambition that took root from the moment she heard the news reports that detailed the terror attacks plaguing the States.
Upon reaching the end of the hall, the two aurors found themselves in a wide, open room, which was occupied by antique wooden desks, flying letters, and flittering quills scratching notes on parchment. The younger watched in awe as her chief approached the cluster of workstations, audibly clearing her throat: a gesture that, alone, was enough to prompt her team's immediate gathering in the center of the chamber.
"Good morning, everyone," the tall woman saluted, addressing the medley of diverse members that stood in the room before her, "When the time is right, I'd like you all to extend your welcomes to Auror Rosalind Warner, the newest addition to our Investigative Department. Ms. Warner is a transfer from the Ministry over in the UK, where she has spent the better part of a decade fighting against the forces of dark magic."
The young woman sent a bashful grin in the direction her associates, who nodded back as a demonstration of camaraderie. A few of the eyes that fell on her seemed skeptical, but most of the current team appeared content with a new addition to the task force.
"I know there is a lot to discuss," Bishop interrupted before any words could be exchanged, "For the time being, however, I want you all to get back to work."
The team had yet to budge before Bishop had turned to address he most recent hire directly. "Ms. Warner, I ask that you please accompany Auror Riley to the central office to go over our collections and get you up to speed on the current investigation."
Allowing the head of the task force to finish her sequence of requests, Ro Warner's gaze traveled over the team standing before her, quick to find the wizard among them who was ostensibly Auror Riley. The eagerness in his eyes and nervous energy riddled into his movements made her guide relatively easy to identify.
The man was tall and rather younger looking than the rest of the group: perhaps in his late twenties or early thirties. His body was slender, hair a bit flyaway, hazel eyes large and almost childlike. Though, his features were quite handsome in a way that was fairly hard to explain.
As she examined the way the Auror straightened his glasses, or the way he seemed to stare more to the ground than into her eyes, Ro guessed that he might be the type who was into books, and knitted sweaters, and warm cups of earthy tea. In other words, he was precisely the opposite of what she might think an American auror for the MACUSA would be like. She considered, however, that as a native Brit, her characterization was probably a bit unfair.
As she paced toward Riley, he offered her a half grin and gestured for her to follow after him as he began to stride down yet another long corridors in the government office. Ro followed suit, and their descent into the depths of the building began rather quietly. She studied her new colleague closely as he walked just a half-step ahead of her, somewhat intrigued by the auror. She found herself wanting to ask questions.
"I've heard good things about you, Mr. Riley," she stated plainly, keeping her gaze fixed ahead of her as they marched. This had been true; although she had only just met the man, she had been familiar with the name. In the few times she had heard 'Peter Riley' mentioned, the name was generally accompanied by a chorus of praises from whoever had spoken it.
"Oh, really?" he uttered innocently, seemingly a bit confused. He had to be taking the piss, she thought. No man could be this unaware of his own success. She continued to speak, however, playing into his claimed ignorance.
"Of course. Top marks at Ilvermorny, probably the brightest wizard and most capable auror of your generation," she listed, trying to keep the reverence from edging its way into her voice, "Also, I overheard Blackwood saying you spent time as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, all while still keeping your position here? You can't tell me that isn't impressive."
"I appreciate it," he replied simply, seeming almost embarrassed by the mention of his accomplishments, "Though, if you don't mind me saying, all that I've achieved is practically nothing compared to the difficulty you managed to overcome a few years back."
Ro went silent for a moment. It didn't take her any time at all to realize what he was referring to: The Battle of Hogwarts, 1998. She was thirteen when it happened, but she was among the group of the younger students who had escaped their dormitories to join in the combat. Ro was one of the few lucky ones, the ones who were still alive to tell the tale. Regardless, that all seemed like a lifetime ago.
"Please. I was a schoolgirl at the time," she replied softly, shaking off the eerie feeling that would threaten to overcome her every time she thought of those days, "That hardly affects my qualifications as an auror." It was true. She was frankly just lucky to have made it off the grounds alive that day, especially as she considered how inexperienced she had been at the time. However, Riley seemed to reject her modesty, politely shaking his head.
"I disagree," he replied in an uncharacteristically blunt tone, "In fact; I think that was a big part of why Bishop brought you on." Ro peered up at him, confused. She had been wondering why she was chosen; bearing in mind the immense talents of her fellow task force members, she didn't think she could possibly measure up. Riley picked up on her expression and frowned, deciding to go on.
"I think that you have some of the most experience with dark magic of anyone on this team," he clarified, "A person could train for years to go up against this kind of stuff, but you really have no idea what the fight requires until you experience it firsthand."
They had reached the main room. As he stood on the other end of the table, retrieving stacks of parchment and periodicals with the flick of his wand, Auror Riley met her eyes with visible sincerity. As a somewhat uncomfortable feeling washed over her, however, Ro could only offer her colleague a weak smile in return.
"Well, the training certainly doesn't hurt," she replied, staring more at the flying bits of parchment than at the man across the table. He turned to grab a few documents as they fluttered by, analyzing the texts while still addressing the woman across from him.
"I'm curious though, why MACUSA?" he asked conversationally, "I mean, I know things aren't perfect across the pond, but this case in particular… If I weren't from here, I'd say the U.S. was on its own." Ro laughed for a moment; she was familiar with that sentiment. Many of her friends back in England said she was mad for trying to change the state of things in the States.
"I've seen movements like this grow before, from their roots," she answered honestly, allowing her gaze to trail into the background, "Maybe it's an American problem now, but the ideas they're propagating are a threat to the entire wizarding world. I'm willing to go anywhere or do anything to stop that happening."
Riley smiled and nodded. He seemed to understand completely what she was getting at.
"I'm really glad to hear you say that," he said softly, "We never expected them to get this far." The man appeared more sad than combative as he analyzed the readings in his fists, quickly passing them over to Ro and allowing the emotion to drain from his face.
"Here is our record of their movements in the last few months," he informed her softly, watching as her eyes trailed down to the documents. Ro accepted the stack of papers, examining the topmost piece of evidence first. It was a newspaper from not too long ago.
"There was an attack at Ilvermorny?" Ro asked, completely startled by the story laid out in front of her. In the photograph, a group of four teenage boys were shouting and laughing while they were being apprehended. Bits of saliva flew from their mouths as they screamed, looking more akin to wild dogs than young men.
"About a month ago... A couple of sixth-years rounded up fifteen students from No-Maj families and tortured them in an empty classroom," Riley responded solemnly, avoiding her eyes, "Three were killed, and seven of them remain in the hospital to this day. The oldest among the victims was thirteen."
"Blimey," Ro responded, staggered by what she had come to learn.
When she read the reports, she was instantly reminded of her third year in school, during which the Death Eaters known as the Carrows were using the Cruciatus Curse freely on schoolchildren. Even those monsters had limits, though. No student had been driven mad, or killed within the castle walls. This level of brutality was something unique: and to be committed by children, no less.
"How were you able to identify a connection back to Heirs of Grindelwald?"
A dry laugh escaped Auror Riley's lips at her question, and he ran his fingers angrily through his light brown curls.
"The older kids wouldn't shut up about it, to be honest," he muttered, seeming as though he might spit upon the images smiling up at him from the papers, "I think the whole attack was just a way of proving their worth." The woman nodded in agreement, and Riley began to flatten out the newspaper article and corresponding auror report onto the table. "As they were being dragged out of Ilvermorny, they were shouting to anyone who would hear it Für das Allgeminwohl!"
Ro had not been fluent in German, but she certainly was familiar with the phrase.
"For the Greater Good," she whispered, to which Riley nodded gravely.
"Additionally," he continued, biting his lip in noticeable discomfort, "They were reported as saying that they were showing those students their rightful place in society." Ro gulped at the horrid images that flashed through her mind, trying to maintain her ability to properly consider the facts.
"These certainly mirror the rantings of your typical blood supremacists," she admitted dispassionately, "But can we be absolutely sure they have ties to the H.O.G.?" Her male colleague seemed to guess she would press the matter, nodding along as she spoke.
"The level of organization required to round up these students, and to administer such complex forms of torture, all undetected…" he trailed off for a moment, seeming almost fascinated, "…regardless of if they are directly involved with the organization , there is no doubt that their influence was at play here."
Ro couldn't argue with his logic; she could not wrap her head around the incredible lengths that the boys went to in order to commit the attack. And for what gain? Were they simply hoping to send a message? It seemed far more likely that something greater was at play.
"Furthermore, the boys cited a name that we've been hearing a lot around here lately," the male auror reported. Ro was suddenly even more intrigued.
"What do you mean they cited a name?" she probed, putting the documents aside and staring directly at Riley for answers, "Did they implicate other potential group members?" The man shook his head nervously.
"If our suspicions are correct they did a lot more than that," he informed her, "These boys may have actually helped us identify the organization's leader."
"Leader?" she blurted, somewhat muddled, "Are you telling me that, in the multiple places H.O.G has cropped up across the States, they all take orders from the same bloke?"
"That is our current understanding of the matter," Riley confirmed flatly.
Ro was not sure if she was properly grasping the situation. She couldn't believe what Riley was saying: the fact that these boys had been the key in confirming the identity of perhaps the most dangerous wizard in America.
"Well, spit it out, Riley," she pressed on, "What's the bloody name?" As Ro stared up at him with eager green eyes, the man bit the inside of his cheek, peering down at his feet before gathering his thoughts to answer.
"We believe the man we are looking for is called Edmon Ryszard."
