Rossi's POV

Location: BAU, Quantico Virginia

I felt the strong pressure of magic from the group of strangers ascending the stairs behind Strauss. Right away I knew these strangers were wizards, real wizards. I was surprised that I hadn't picked up on their magical auras immediately when they walked through the door. They must be Aurors….. but what were Auror's doing here? Was there something magical arising in America?

The last man ascending the stairs stopped when he reached the top step. He turned around and stared- straight at me. A familiar smirk slowly formed across his young face. That triggered something; memories that I had thought were buried in the clouds of forgetfulness. I'm not sure why that smirk brought up this particular memory, but for some odd reason, it did.

*. . . . FlashBack . . . . *

James came through the Floo in excitement. He was talking a million miles a second, and Sirius and I struggled to keep up.

"Woah, slow down there Potter," Sirius said, stepping forward and gripping both of our frantic friend's shoulders. "What about Dumbledore?" James turned towards me. His eyes were bright as if he discovered something rare.

"Oh Padfoot, Wings!" He yelled, reaching for me. "I got him! I've finally got him! Dumbledore, he's not the person everyone thinks he is! And I have proof!"

"What? How?" Sirius asked, gripping James harder, trying to keep him focused on the subject at hand. I stepped closer and grabbed Sirius's shoulder, a sign to loosen his grip on the poor fella.

"I caught him using the Imperious curse on Wormtail!" It was almost as if he had lost his mind. He couldn't contain himself much longer.

"And you're happy about that?" Sirius asked. "Shouldn't we go help him?" He moved past James; heading towards the fireplace when James grabbed his arm, pulling him back.

"We have to go tell Scales. He'll want to help us bust the bloody bastard" I didn't know if I should feel scared at my friend's new attitude. He was becoming reckless, too reckless; and he was dragging Sirius down with him.

"Okay" I said. "We'll tell Sev, but no fighting. We are no match for Dumbledore as we are."

"That's why we need him, to even our odds" James bounded towards the fireplace in long strides. He then stopped, waiting for us to join him. "Well, gentlemen? Are you going to let this splendid opportunity slip by us? This is what we've been waiting for!" Sirius stepped into the fireplace beside James, and both pairs of eyes stared at me hopefully. I had a bad feeling about this whole thing, but I knew I couldn't talk them out of it. All I could do is go with them and try to keep them from getting killed.

"To Snape's office," James looked at both of us, waiting for a nod before he threw down the handful of powder.

Floo travel always made me sick. It was a weird feeling and my body had never grown used to it.

"Scales!" James yelled as he and Sirius rushed towards him. I could see the look of surprise and confusion on Sev's face as he tore his eyes away from the potions book he was reading.

I was a few steps behind them, waiting for my stomach to either reject the grilled cheese I had not too long ago or to settle itself to a quiet gurgle. I was glad that it finally decided on the latter because I didn't think Sev would appreciate grilled cheese all over his office floor.

"What are you talking about Potter?" Severus glowered. "Can you slow down?" James being himself kept on rambling ignoring the look of growing irritation on the Potions Master's face.

"God, do you ever shut up?" Severus said annoyed, as he placed the book he was reading down on the desk. "Now, you have three minutes to explain what you're yelling about before I have to add the next ingredient to my potion."

"Only three minutes?" James asked

"Yes. That is if you don't want to blow up half the school." Severus replied.

The look on James' face was hilarious as he answered back with an " OK, three minutes."

"You're three minutes are ticking Potter" Severus sneered. I turned my head to hide my smile at Sev's words. I looked back just as a look of panic spread across James face and had to turn away again to this time hide the snicker I was about to let loose.

"You won't believe what I just saw. I came to Hogwarts to speak to you about something related to the case we're working, but I saw something else than what I came here for. Dumbledore was casting the Imperious curse on Peter." James said in what seemed like one breath. We all looked at him in shock. Never believing that he could talk so much without taking a breath. Not that we understood what the hell he had said in the first place.

"What?" Sirius, Sev and I asked in unison.

"Three minutes guys. You are wasting my three minutes," he said in a rush.

"Oh for the love of all that is holy Potter, pull yourself together and speak like a normal human being."

"Not that he is one." Sirius butted in sarcastically. Sev just glared at him for this side comment but continued anyway.

"Just slow down Potter."

"HE is still here, and doesn't appreciate being talked about as if he wasn't"

"So what's your point?" Sirius asked with a smirk.

"My point is… Padfoot is that I think I would be capable enough to know if I was normal or not." James pointed at himself, his eyes locking with Sirius'.

"Well, excuse me Prongs. I just thought as the current president, I think I would know you better than yourself."

"Wait, why does the mutt believe he is president?"

"What do you guys mean "president'? I didn't even know I elected one"

"You didn't," Sirius said with a self-satisfied smirk. "I appointed myself"

James was quick to summon his wand from his arm holster, he whipped it towards Sirius in a joking matter. "Who gave you the authority?" He snipped.

"Well…" Sirius drawled, slowly drawing his wand for dramatic effect. "I am president after all" Sev and I made eye contact and practically dove for his desk for the protection it held. It wasn't a moment too soon, for hexes started to fly all around us, creating chaos and havoc around the usually quiet office.

"My office" Severus moaned following the many missed spells to the numerous shelves around the room. "Those two idiots are going to destroy everything in here! If they don't stop soon, I'm not going to have any ingredients left." The spells seemed to fly back and forth for what seemed like forever but was in reality only a few minutes. Next to me, I saw Sev stiffen out of the corner of my eye.

"What's wrong Sev?" I asked. It seemed that the two arguing morons heard this and stopped flinging spells back and forth. Both looked in our direction, concerned.

"Dumbledore's coming. He just passed the wards I set at the entrance to the dungeons." James, Sirius and I froze. This was not good.

We all made eye contact and a single thought went through all our minds 'This will not end well.'

* . . . . End Flashback . . . . *

. . . ossi. Rossi can you hear me. Are you alright? I snapped out of my memories at the sound of Morgan's voice. The magical strangers were gone.

"Yeah. I'm fine" I said, shaking off the memory that had taken a hold of my mind. Now, I remember why. James had that same smirk on his face when he came to Sirius and me bearing the news of what that MOB Dumbledore had done.

"Well… Okay." Derek said hesitantly, knitting his brows together. "Now come on, Strauss wants us in the briefing room.

Harry's POV

Briefing Room, BAU

As we walked into the room I could still feel the burning stare on the back of my head. It was slightly unnerving. I was pulled out of my thoughts by a rough tug on my jacket.

I looked over at Draco who asked in a whisper, "Was that him?" I nodded watching the team step into the room.

Strauss's POV

Briefing Room, BAU

Both teams stood before me, staring at each other. The silence brought tension that somehow felt unnerving; sort of like a Mexican standoff. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity Auror Potter walked up to Agent Hotchner and offered his hand.

"Special Agent Hayden Potter."

Hotchner took the offered hand. "Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner."

As the two team leaders shook hands the tension around the room dispersed quickly. It seems that with the leaders in peace everyone else followed. Wierd.

Harry's POV

Briefing Room, BAU

After the tension between myself and Agent Hotchner dispersed everyone else relaxed immediately. With a quiet sigh of relief, I turned to Blaise and asked, "Blaise can you put everything up on screen?" He looked at me and nodded. I looked over at Strauss "Are they aware of Operation Houdini?"

She shook her head and replied "No. A far as I know only Agent Jareau is aware as far as I know." I nodded in response to her answer. I glanced around at the other agents in the room and my sharp gaze noticed an older looking gentleman shifting slightly in the back of the room. He looked familiar as if he was the older version of a photograph I once saw.

I looked back to the others and Hermione nodded. "I'll get Kingsley on the line."

"Thank you, Hermione."