Little did Imani know how quickly the situation could change in Beacon Hills.
The perk of having been at the ministry was gaining contacts. Both muggle and magical. Imani had looked at the various contacts she was able to access. Imani soon came across one that sounded useful. Their name was Braeden and they were a mercenary. Having been a former U.S. Marshal. Although some of their past jobs were questionable she was resourceful and it meant that Imani could keep an eye on her and maybe keep her away from the darker side of the magical world. Imani had written a letter to Braeden asking Gaz to give it to her without revealing it'd been given by owl post. There were instructions for leaving a letter in a specific location for Gaz to pick up the reply. Braeden had been in contact with Imani the last couple of days and she was waiting on an update. Imani had noticed how little she'd heard or seen of Derek and Peter in the aftermath of the Darach and Alpha Pack debacle. The last letter Braeden had sent said that she was following some leads on the whereabouts of both men. Suspecting they'd been kidnapped by a werewolf hunting family. Imani knew she might need to help Braeden in getting the men free once found. Which also meant her stay at Ilvermorny might be cut short.
The next day at breakfast Imani knew she had to speak to the headmaster about the situation at Beacon Hills.
"Headmaster today while doing classes, is it alright to leave a window open for an owl to come in? I'm waiting on some information about a case. It's rather delicate, and I might have to react at a moments notice." Imani explained.
"Of course. Will this case cut short your stay do you think?" He asked.
"Possibly. It depends on the response." Imani admitted. She felt bad but each of her classes were not linked for that reason. The students liked it. It wasn't predictable and she'd heard some of them place bets on what the next class topic would be.
Later that day she indeed received a letter. Her faithful owl being the one to fly threw the window and land on a perch beside her desk at the front of the room.
"Defence Against the Dark Arts. Most people think of defensive spells yes?" Imani said leaning against her desk. This was an important class to her as she knew she might be leaving soon. This was also the first full theory class she'd given. Imani was a big believer in practical lessons in proportion to theory. The students nodded in agreement to her question.
"What if I told you that it wasn't just spells? Both offensive and defensive." Imani asked. A student put their hand up. They reminded Imani of a male Hermione. She nodded to the student.
"Mr McGarret." She said answering the gesture.
"It would also be about understanding what you're up against." The student said. Imani nodded.
"Yes correct. 5 points to Horned Serpent. However what if there was another side to it?" Imani rewarded. The students looked confused. "Answer me this what do you need to consider when facing an undesirable situation?" She asked getting the students to think rather than her just providing the answers. A few hands went up.
"Yes." Imani nodded motioning to the first hand in the air.
"Whether you are able to beat the thing you're facing." They answered. Imani wasn't to sure about the answer.
"Mmm yes and no. Facing the dark arts you don't necessarily need to win. You need to survive. Stop thinking in terms of duels, start thinking in real life scenarios. The dark arts aren't going to be fair and ask whether you are hurt if you're hit by a powerful spell. They're not going to wait for your turn. Further more there would be no referee." Imani said bluntly in order to shake the students out of their current way of thinking. She wasn't trying to scare them but trying to get them to see the dark arts in a more realistic way. Some students got a look of realisation, a few chuckled at her joke about the official. She nodded to another hand in the air.
"You need to consider the environment." They said.
"Please elaborate Ms Brackenreid." Imani said.
"Well you need to be aware of your surroundings. Like objects to hide behind. Or use to your advantage." She continued.
"Indeed. 5 points to Thunderbird." Imani smile glad to give her 'house' some points. She felt giddy every time she did.
"Now tell me what would be your best friend when facing the dark arts? What would you rely on most?" Imani changed the question. There was a pause before multiple hands went up.
"Yes Ms Hamilton."
"Your wand." She said smiling.
"Your wand is important yes. But not quite the answer I was looking for. What have I been trying to get you to do every lesson?" She asked the students.
"To think outside the box." They all responded. She nodded smiling.
"How many of you think your wand is your best friend?" Imani asked half the classes hands went up.
"Those with your hands not raised please stand up. The rest of you may lower your hands." Imani gestured.
"How many of you think that a good spell is the answer? If so please sit down." She asked. A number of students sat. Four remained.
"Please one at a time tell me your answers." Imani smiled.
"Your eyes."
"Your mind."
"Your instincts."
"Your strength." Their answered impressed Imani. It showed they'd been listening.
"Very good. All those answers make sense and are not wrong. 5 points each to your houses. My personal answer is your reflexes." Imani praised. "You may sit down."
It was then her faithful owl flew through the window and landed on the perch next to Imani's desk. Imani's attention immediately shifted to the letter Gaz held. She reached out and took the letter.
"Please discuss why my answer and why the four answers your class mates gave are important." Imani said and moved to her chair before opening the letter. The room filled with the murmurs of conversation. She open the letter swiftly.
.
'Anonymous,
I have locate the two werewolves. Help extracting is needed. Tomorrow.
Braeden.'
The address of where to be was on the back of the letter. Imani nodded.
.
She looked over the students and let them discuss for a few more minutes.
"Thank you students." She called getting them to be quiet. "I would like a length of parchment on the various topics I've put forward to you. You may pick what you talk about and what topics you include or exclude and your thoughts. You may also use a second parchment if you like. However you must convince me you are competent when facing the dark arts should you ever come face to face with them. It's important for people like me and your professors to know what we teach is effective. Feel free to use scenarios, what your dark arts professor has taught you. Use whatever information you wish. But you must be convincing. No thinking in terms of duels. You have one week. Class dismissed." She called when the chatter started to die down. Once the class was gone she made her way to the head masters office.
"Come in." Their voice was heard after knocking. Imani entered.
"Headmaster. I'm afraid I have to cut my visit short. I'd be more than happy to come back once my work allows me to do so." Imani stated walking forwards towards his desk.
"I see. When will you need to leave?" He asked.
"Tonight or tomorrow morning." Imani said.
"My that is soon." He smiled. He respected her career and whole heartedly understood that she was not a member of staff but a visiter.
"Have you any class notes you'd like to pass on to the professor to finish what you've started?" He asked.
"I've already passed them along. If it's not to much trouble I'd like the duelling club to continue. It's good practise for the students. And lets them burn some energy." Imani said.
"I agree." He chuckled. "Some of the professors have even noted an improvement in most of them. They seem more eager than before. Thank you."
"You're welcome. I would like to change the club times though. Maybe once a week on the weekends?" She requested.
"Indeed. Thank you again Ms Stilinski-Potter." He said.
"And if it's not to much trouble could you send my owl back to me in a days time?" Imani asked. He nodded and dismissed her. With that Imani made her way to her rooms to pack what little she had in order to go back to Beacon Hills.
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The next day she followed directions to the address she'd been given. She'd tried her pendant and while it got her close the pendant worked better with images of people or places than words of an address. She'd dressed in dark clothes and comfortable sturdy combat boots. She put up the hood of her jacket and changed her eyes when she saw Braeden ahead of her.
"So you found them?" She asked.
"Yeah they're just down the block, in the basement. Could get a little hairy these guys mean business. I'm estimating gunfire." Braeden reported and gave Imani a folder on who was in the house. Imani nodded. Protego should do the trick. She read the file not impressed by the human hunter's inhumane treatment of magical beings and creatures.
"Alright I'll provide support and watch your back. I wired your payment this morning with extra." Imani said. Braeden nodded.
"Why extra?" Braeden asked.
"To make sure I remain anonymous." Imani looked at her daring her to say otherwise.
"Mouth shut got it." Braeden nodded. Braeden didn't mind, it was more money. Imani put the folder inside her jacket.
"Let's go." Imani said and the two women walked towards the house.
They snuck around and Imani knocked unconscious the look out that was outside, as Braeden entered the home. Imani didn't like the killing of people but in self defence she allowed it. Imani entered through a window breaking it with magic providing a distraction for Braeden and stupefying two muggles. One muggle got behind Imani and tackled her.
Falling Imani nodded to Braeden to continue down stairs.
Throwing her head back it connected to their nose, she heard a satisfying crack. They yelled in pain and their hold loosened allowing Imani to break free and get to her feet. Her attacker followed suit. They were a well built tall man but the blood pouring from his now broken nose distracted him.
He stepped forwards to punch her which she ducked and dodged rolling forwards and shot her hand out with her wand having been hidden up her sleeve and fired a stupefy.
She didn't enter the basement but heard what was being said.
"Someone hired you to get us out of here?" She heard Peter asked.
"Someone hired me to get Derek out of here. You. I'm totally fine leaving for dead." Braeden said.
"When did I get this reputation?" Peter muttered. Imani frowned disapproving of leaving Peter behind but it was also news to Imani that another person had hired Braeden to get Derek.
"Who hired you?" Derek asked as Braeden unshackled him. Imani hoped Braeden would answer.
"Deucalion." Braeden said.
"Deucalion? The guy who did that to you?" Peter asked. Braeden moved to Peter's shackles.
"A girl's gotta eat." Braeden didn't sound impressed.
"Alright let's get the hell outta here." Braeden said walking to the door.
"We're not leaving without it." Derek said. Imani's ear perked. Leaving without what?
"Without what?" Braeden asked Imani's internal question. The two men were not very forth coming.
Imani felt her phone vibrate and got it out quietly seeing it was a text from Stiles. Imani knew that the people downstairs would be safe so sent Braeden a text saying she'd be see her later. Then Imani apparated to her car that was still at the town near Illvermorny.
.
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Imani got out her phone again and rang Stiles. He picked up after a couple of rings.
"Imani?" He asked sounding panicked.
"Stiles I got a text you alright?" Imani asked.
"Uh not really the best time." Stiles said.
"Stiles. Tell me what's going on." Imani said calmly.
"Me and Lydia were walking in the woods and some psycho put bear traps all over the place. Lydia stepped on one but it's not triggered yet." Stiles quickly summed up. Imani blinked not expecting that.
"Is there-"
"There are instructions. But uh…" Stiles interrupted.
"But you need to read…" Imani finished. "Right."
"You don't need instructions. When have you ever used instructions? Am I right?" Imani heard Lydia say. Imani smiled.
"That's right Stiles! You don't need them because you're too smart to waste your time with them, ok? You can figure it out. Stiles you're the one who always figures it out. So you can do it. Figure it out." Lydia continued in a frightened voice.
"She's right Stiles. You can do this. We are who we are today because we're able to make tools and problem solve. Stiles you're the best problem solver I've ever met. Study the trap, follow the springs." Imani said getting Stiles to focus his mind on the trap and how it works. It was silent as Stiles studied the trap.
"Ok here we go. Ready?" Stiles eventually asked. All Imani heard was their ragged breathing.
"Ok here we go?" Stiles said trepidation filled his voice. There was a grinding sound and then rustling with Lydia's gasp. Then their breathing slowed and Imani took an absence of Lydia or Stiles screaming as a good sign.
"Stiles?" She asked. Clearly Stiles had dropped his phone on the ground. She hung up as she heard Scott's howl. Imani smiled.
.
With that Imani turned on her car and started her drive back to Beacon Hills. It seemed that things had momentarily calmed down and she could arrived back as a muggle would. Early evening she arrived home to see Stiles's jeep in the driveway but not her fathers cruiser. He must've been at the station.
She got out the car and collected her bags before heading to the door opening it.
"Brother I'm home!" She sung out in a remix of the classic 'honey I'm home'.
"Imani?" Stiles voice travelled down the stairs and his body soon followed. She smiled he seemed relaxed. He ran down the stairs so fast Imani was afraid he'd trip and fly into her. She had just enough time to drop her bags before his body collided with hers in a hug.
"Good to see you to Stiles." Imani chuckled. They broke the hug.
"How was the trip?" He asked.
"It was good. I had a lot of fun." Imani smiled.
"Listen when you called today…" He trailed off. Wondering if she'd heard Scott's howl.
"Don't worry about it. I figured you'd dropped your phone. When I didn't hear screaming in agony I hung up." Imani said telling the truth. Stiles nodded and tension left his shoulders.
Their father arrived not to long after she did. She was unpacking her clothes when she heard her fathers voice call her name. He'd seen her car in the driveway.
"Hi dad!" She called out her room and heard his footsteps come to her door which was open. She turned smiling and hugged him.
"How was the trip?" He asked. She stepped back.
"It was great." She smiled.
"See much?" He asked.
"I saw lots of mountains and meadows. It wasn't really touristy trip. I mostly just drove around the country areas nearby." Imani said.
"Great well I'll leave you to your unpacking." He said and stepped back. He seemed more confident in himself.
"Did something happen while I was away?" She asked. He stiffened.
"What?" He asked.
"You seem more confident, sure of yourself." She continued.
"Ah well I was being investigated by the FBI. Seeing if I was competent enough to be the sheriff." He admitted. She raised her eyebrows.
"Dad…" She started her tone soft.
"Don't worry they've backed off." he said with a smile. "Closed a cold case and sent them running." He finished.
"Way to go dad!" She smiled and hugged him again. With that her dad left and Imani turned back to bags.
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Later that evening when Imani was about to go to bed when she got a strange feeling. Magic was being used. It was intense and unknown to her. Imani's head swivelled to her window. Going over she opened it, leaning out to get a sense of where the magic was coming from. Her brow turned into a frown. Her head turned to the direction of the woods. She felt her eyes flash purple for a moment.
"The nemeton…" Imani whispered. Afraid something was happening there Imani rushed to her side table and grabbed her wand from the draw. She pulled on her black hoodie making sure her hood hid her face. Quickly arranging her pillows to look like she was sleeping and apparated to the nemeton.
She looked around wildly her eyes purple. She was between two trees nearby to the stump, she was hidden in shadows. All around her were fireflies. Imani's confusion and suspicion deepened. They were coming from the nemeton. Getting out her phone she took a photo and held out her wand to get a sense of what kind of magic was being used.
It was ancient and not from England or America that much Imani was able to determine. Frowning at the feeling coming from the stump Imani backed away and apparated home.