The Magical and the Magnificent
Disclaimer: Don't own either The Mag7 boys or the Harry Potter franchise, unfortunately.
A/N Thank you for the lovely comments. Couldn't resist putting up another chapter so that you can get a feel for the story - and I have absolutely no patience :D We meet some of the HP cast in this but it will be a while before the younger ones appear. Don't worry if you aren't familiar with the world of HP as I explain things as I go and it's heavily AU. But if you have any questions or ideas I'll be happy to answer them.
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Although Team 7 had magical talents they were, at least most of the time, just like any other federal agency. It was a decision taken right at the beginning, to limit their use of magic, as explaining the resulting inconsistencies and oddities in their reports was not often worth the hassle; so now they were being introduced into a world much different from their normal experience. As Chris led them into the small out of the way pet shop in downtown Denver multiple jaws dropped at the aviary full of all types of owls. As Chris wrote his letter to Remus he explained their use as the magical world's version of the postal service resulting in looks of incredulity.
"Owl Post!" JD grinned at the term given to the service and his natural bounciness reached Tigger like proportions.
"Gives a whole different slant on you're check's in the mail!"
"Buck!" In retaliation for the look of irritation that the store keeper gave him Chris left it to Buck to tell JD just why he couldn't have one as a pet.
Once outside the city Vin quickly began to get worried and frustrated, Ezra was, whether intentionally or not, blocking him and his heightened senses were useless because the southerner's unique scent was negated by his car acting as a shield. The ancient Sentinel Guardians had never had to deal with steel, plastic and reinforced glass. After a few minutes concentrated effort Vin had to admit to the others that he was stymied. Silence reigned as various ideas were mentally considered and discarded until Buck spoke up
"Vin I know you have limited empathic and psychic abilities besides your heightened senses, is that how you were planning to track him?"
"Yeah, but my powers aren't strong enough to break through."
"Well you can track emotion and I can't, but my empathic ability to feel emotions is greater than yours, so is it possible to combine our efforts somehow?"
"Stop the car Chris!" Vin was elated but it quickly turned to self reproach for not thinking of it himself earlier.
Vin and Buck quickly exited the car and found a clear patch of ground sheltered from public view.
"Okay Buck, I want you to take both my hands and concentrate on Ezra, only Ezra." Buck nodded and took up his position facing Vin. Both men closed their eyes. The others stood by fascinated, JD as usual, got impatient when nothing had happened after a couple of minutes.
"When is something going to….Whoa!" As he spoke the air around Buck and Vin began to crackle with static and a shimmering pale green aura surrounded them. The aura pulsed rhythmically, like a heartbeat. Ezra, Chris realised, and if that pulsing reflected Ezra's heart rate then it was far too fast; no wonder Vin was worried. As suddenly as it had arrived the phenomenon vanished. The two men staggered slightly, their clasped hands now supporting each other. Nathan stepped forward but they both straightened and waved him away which just increased the look of disapproval on the stern features.
"Got him." Vin's voice was rough with exhaustion and Buck was wiping the sweat of effort off his forehead.
"Where?" Chris asked as they got back in the Ram and he keyed the ignition.
"Your ranch."
"What!? Why?" Buck could answer that one; he'd picked up several conflicting emotions and when put together they formed a horrible picture.
"It's the only place he knows where he won't hurt anyone, no people to damage when…" Buck stopped, swallowing hard, his face paling.
"When what?" Chris commanded.
"When he totally loses control of his magic. He can't hold it in much longer and when he releases it he's sure that it will kill him and anyone near him."
"And will it?"
"Probably, yes" Buck replied, his voice breaking. He gave a sudden and unexpected chuckle though his expression was one of sorrow. "He's even made sure that he's far enough away from the stables so's he don't hurt the horses."
"He just wants it to be over Chris; he sensed us" added Vin, his voice almost unrecognizable with tension. "He said goodbye."
They were approaching the ranch house now and Chris took on a determined glare.
"He ain't going anywhere; not on my watch. Vin, I want you to go out to him and keep him calm and in one piece for me" At his friend's immediate nod Chris added, "Vin, I won't order you to do this, it could be very dangerous…." he tailed off at the look of indignation on the trackers face. "Okay" he acknowledged. As they pulled up and exited the truck Chris came to the end of an internal debate.
"That letter I owled won't reach it's target in time, I need Remus here now. I'll have to go fetch him."
"How?" asked Josiah, his tear filled eyes hardening. Like Adam and the apple in the Garden of Eden, once bitten the taste of the fruit becomes an addiction. For Adam it was knowledge but how much worse to open oneself to the dark world of magic. Josiah feared that the crows of his youth were returning. It did not bode well.
"No time to explain" Chris replied. "Vin take the pick-up and get to Ez. I'll get help to you as soon as I can."
"On it."
Larabee, followed anxiously by the remaining four of the seven, dashed to his bedroom where he rummaged frantically in his nightstand drawer. He gave a grunt of satisfaction as he pulled out a pepper shaker.
"Um, Chris…" began Buck.
"No time Buck. This is a portkey. It is spelled to take me to wherever Remus is. He left it for me after Sarah's funeral in case of emergencies; I reckon this counts."
"What will it do?" JD's love of technology had never had to cope with pepper shakers before.
"It will make me disappear, so don't panic; I'll be back soon, hopefully with Remus." He saw the sceptical looks and grinned evilly. "Trust me guys!" With that parting comment he tapped the base of the shaker, mumbled a word and vanished.
M*7
Remus Lupin was trying very hard not to glare at Severus Snape. He was above this sort of petty bickering but if it was inevitable he would conduct himself with dignity.
I repeat Severus, I absolutely refuse to drink a potion that will turn my fur pink!"
"Surely, Lupin, it's a small price to pay for increased potency in the wolfsbane potion. It's not as if anyone will see it. You are a werewolf and as such will be confined. You are not going to a fancy dress party"
"I'll see it." Remus was determined not to sulk. He knew he would lose because Snape was in the right, but why did it have to be pink! Anything but… "Red."
"What?" Now it was Snape's turn to be nonplussed.
"If you can make my fur red instead of pink I'll drink it."
"Well, I suppose it's feasible, but adding so many extra blood bugs will make it taste vile."
"Severus your potions always taste vile, it's one of your greatest pleasures, to watch your victims suffer."
Before a smirking Snape could reply there was a sudden shift in the rooms atmosphere and they were joined by a tall blond man in a black suit holding a silver pepper shaker.
"Chris!" Remus stepped forward to greet the agent as he simultaneously gestured for Snape to sheath his wand.
Chris silently thanked God that it had worked, he hadn't really had much faith in it working after so long.
"What's wrong?" Lupin could see the anguish on his friend's face. Snape, not actually having been asked to leave, lurked as only a Slytherin would or could, and listened with interest to the rather intimidating looking muggle.
"I've sent you an owl Remus but things are moving too fast. One of my men is about to die; his magic is spiralling out of control and he could take others with him." Remus introduced him to Snape and Chris quickly explained about Ezra's predicament and their fears for him. Before either wizard could comment the door opened and an old man entered who, Chris thought, looked like he had taken on board every fictional wizardly cliché ever described, yet despite the twinkling eyes, colourful robes and long white beard a sudden shiver of apprehension slithered down his spine. He shrugged it off as being among so many powerful wizards, it was enough to set his radar onto overdrive, or possibly an over reaction to the situation, he recognized the headmaster from Sarah's many stories about her schooldays. He was one of the good guys.
"Welcome Mr Larabee, my name is Albus Dumbledore, headmaster here at Hogwarts. Care for a lemon drop?" he held out a paper bag.
"No thank you sir, I'm in a bit of a hurry."
"Don't fret dear boy, he is strong, he can hold on a little longer." Dumbledore turned away from the confounded ATF agent toward Snape. "I believe your conclusions are correct Severus." he commented as he viewed the bottles that the potions master had picked out as soon as he had heard Ezra's symptoms. I think that you will also need the dreamless sleep potion."
"Even after he is stabilised?"
"Oh yes. Ezra's dreams are a long standing affliction that he will well do without while he is vulnerable."
Snape nodded, Lupin raised an eyebrow and Chris just concentrated on trying to keep his breathing even. He was used to being in charge, in control and at this moment he had never felt so out of his depth. Just how did the headmaster know so much about Ezra? Even Ez hadn't known about his magical capabilities, that had been obvious from his panic. He knew that the answers would have to wait but the questions would be asked, he would make sure of it.
Dumbledore turned back to the scowling agent.
"I know that this may seem very confusing and frightening to you Agent Larabee but I also know that you will rise to the occasion. Any choice of Sarahs could do no less. A most remarkable witch.
"Thank you Sir, she always spoke very highly of you too, of all of you in fact." Chris's sweeping gaze encompassed everybody in the room finding it odd to finally put faces to some of the names he had heard so much about. Snape's eyes widened at his inclusion but he was not entirely surprised. Sarah had been one of the more tolerable of his fellow students and had, unlike his nemesis James Potter and his club of so-called Marauders, Remus having been the least annoying of the group, always treated him well.
"She was a kind person and an exemplary potions student" he confirmed. Chris saw, by the look of shock on the other two wizards faces that compliments were rare from the other 'man in black'.
"Thank you Professor Snape. Please…" he begged them all, "I need to get back to Ezra. He won't hesitate to kill himself if he feels that he has become a danger to others."
Dumbledore's placid countenance dropped to be replaced by a puzzled frown as though something had just tipped out of kilter and Snape queried curiously "Is he so altruistic?"
Chris sighed, explaining Ezra was impossible at the best of times. "It's more that he values his own life less than other peoples" At Snape's raised eyebrows Chris waved a hand randomly through the air, "You'd have to meet Maude to understand."
"Maude?"
"His mother."
"Alright, I'm ready" called Remus, who had retrieved a few essentials, including a spare cloak and wand from his own rooms using the 'accio' spell.
"Good luck gentlemen" commended Dumbledore, his twinkle re-established as he handed them a new portkey in the guise of a garden gnome.
M*7
Buck, JD, Nathan and Josiah stared at the now empty spot where their leader had been standing just a few seconds ago.
"WOW!" gasped JD as he bounced on the spot.
"Useful." Buck had an immediate vision of how, with a gadget like that he could spread his wonderful loving to more than one grateful lady in an evening.
'Not right.' Nathan Jackson hadn't voiced his opinion out loud because it wouldn't have been taken well but he was prepared to do anything required to protect his fellow team members; the damn southerner was unpredictable at the best of times. He would do whatever was needed but until then he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut and hope to God that he wouldn't have to intervene. None of them understood just how dangerous a Dark Wizard could be and he would bet the farm that Standish was as dark as they came. He still couldn't understand how such an amoral man could have been gifted with so much power when he, himself, who could have done so much good with half the talent had been so unfairly denied. A little voice inside of the medic whispered that it was hardly Ezra's fault but he was in no mood to listen to it.
Josiah sighed. The crows were gathering.
After several minutes not daring to move they began to pace or fidget. After thirty minutes they began checking their weaponry. At forty-five minutes, just when they were about to start demolishing furniture in frustration there was a 'something' and Chris was back, along with two strange looking men in, of all things, black floor length cloaks. Each carried several odd items.
"Boys, this is Professors Remus Lupin and Severus Snape," He indicated each in turn. Before anyone could ask questions Remus spoke up in his gentle, slightly raspy British accent, a sort of English Vin.
"We must hurry. The poor child has battled very hard but I fear he is losing the fight now." As they unhesitatingly followed the wizard's lead and headed towards the Ram and Buck's truck Nathan commented in a scathing tone
"He's twenty seven, hardly a child."
Remus frowned and both Chris and Snape glared. As the vehicles, one driven by Josiah, the other by Chris were speeding toward their target, a small black thundercloud in an otherwise clear blue sky, Remus explained his comment.
"In the magical world most witches and wizards begin to 'leak' magic as children; I would have thought you would be aware of this phenomenon Mr Jackson, being a Squib." Chris interrupted before Nathan could reply.
"Nathan's mother kept his knowledge of his heritage and the magical world to a minimum for reasons known only to herself."
'I know alright' fumed Jackson silently, 'but I ain't telling my family's dirty secrets to no-one' Buck cast their healer a curious look, his empathy picking up some confusing and very negative emotions. Jackson noticed the scrutiny and brought his wayward feelings back under control. The negative signals vanishing as quickly as they had come had Buck dismissing them quickly from his mind, heck they were all under a lot of pressure. Meanwhile Remus had picked up his tale again.
"I see. Well it's one of the first lessons we learn, how to control our magic. Ezra has never had that advantage; he is the magical equivalent of a three or four year old, but his power is that of a fully grown adult. Not knowing how to channel the power is quite literally killing him."
M*7
No-one was supposed to find him. Didn't they understand the danger? Did they want to make his last memory one of guilt at hurting the people he had come so very quickly to care about, and in one case to l…love? Dammit! He didn't want to go on like this, he only wanted an end to the pain, but they were too close; he didn't know how he knew this, he just did and that scared him just as much as the other strange happenings.
Ezra looked up and saw a vehicle in the distance. 'Vin! Oh, please no; he mustn't see me like this. .' And then the pain returned tenfold and he couldn't even think any more. Colours had faded to shades of grey and sound became the hiss of white noise. Only Vin retained his colour and clarity and only the sweet Texas drawl made any sense. It was as though his senses had latched onto the only thing that didn't bring with it pain and fear.
"Hey Ez" The sharpshooter squatted down in front of Ezra who was slumped under a lightning struck tree. He wanted to cry as he watched Ezra try desperately to pull himself together.
"V…Vinnn. P…please…make it stop. God make it stop."
"Chris is on his way Ez; he's found someone to help you, but you've got to hang on."
"C…can't Vin. Hurts s…so much. Don't understand what's happening to me." Before Vin could reply Ezra was hit with a spike of intense pain and the top of the tree he was resting against exploded, showering them with ashes. He screamed; a sound of pure animalistic agony tearing from his throat. Vin, ignoring Ezra's weak gesture encouraging him to move to safety moved in behind him and gathered the slightly smaller man into his arms, adding his power to counterbalance Ezra's in a last ditch effort to diffuse the forces which were nearing meltdown.
TBC
A/N Hope you enjoyed that but don't expect an update every day - you know what I'm like LOL