Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Magic Break Can't Be Seen
Other than breaking up the group of twenty, Alexander did not need to do anything more for the rescued Muggle-born, not that there was much he could. The adults among them had already displayed the competence Alexander had come to only expect from himself, feeding themselves and the children from the supplies Alexander provided. From there, it was logistics.
Some of the Muggle-born would travel to France, via non-magical means, to escape the Ministry and the Dark Lord. Others first wanted to retrieve their families, wanting to get them to safety, which was something Alexander wholeheartedly endorsed. But it was the orphans that were a sticking point, with no home to return to.
Eventually, Alexander managed to arrange for a few older Muggle-borns to take them, ones with children of their own. It took some convincing, but it was necessary, Britain was no longer safe for their kind, no place to raise a child.
Yet a handful of witches and wizards stayed behind. Twelve witches and wizards, many of them many years Alexander's senior, looking at him semi-respectfully. It would seem rescuing them and murdering Death Eaters was good for something.
"So you're taking off?" Alexander asked. Dean Thomas nervously shuffled in front of him.
"I need to find me ma. Ted offered to help," Dean said, jerking his thumb at another wizard. "Sorry, Dantes. You're really an alright bloke."
Alexander gave him a nod. "Thanks, Thomas. Keep your head down; I don't know if I'll be able to mount another rescue operation to save you." And didn't that twist something fierce, knowing that the Pure-bloods could and would learn? Private Citizens Containing Undesirables, as the Daily Prophet called it. Private torture, in Alexander's opinion.
"No need to worry about that lad, we've got a good head on our shoulders. I camped all the time as a kid," Ted Tonks boasted. Alexander nodded, and the two men apparated away.
Alexander turned and considered the remaining ten witches and wizards for a moment before speaking. "You're welcome to use this safe house for as long as you'd like. But this is the last chance to back out. Anyone who comes with me is coming to fight. That means killing."
He could see unease stir through them. "I don't want you going into this with false notions. We will be killing people. Death Eaters, Aurors, anyone who thinks the Muggle-born and non-magicals are unworthy of being alive. If you leave now, I won't take it personally, but if you leave later on, I will have to treat it as though you are betraying us."
"You'd hunt us down?" a woman asked, outraged. Alexander nodded.
"Without a shred of remorse. As far as I am aware, we are the only ones resisting. Which means we are the only hope for the Muggle-born of Britain and if the Dark Lord succeeds here the world. After that the non-magical humans will be attacked, and I know all of you are aware of how World War Two ended, I have no doubt it'd be the same here. Tyranny cannot prevail."
As some of the other Muggleborn nodded, the woman who protested stepped forward, anger and fear on her face. "You're insane! I will not become a murderer for you!"
"Obliviate."
The hysterical witch fell backward, landing with a soft thump on the floor of the warehouse. Alexander calmly lowered his new rebar wand, as the remaining Muggle-born looked between him and the fallen witch with surprise and unease. He stepped forward and dropped a string on her chest, and the Portkey activated, whisking her away quietly.
"I sent her to the last group of refugees in London. Does anyone else wish to join her? Again, there will be no hard feelings."
The nine Muggle-born shared glances, but Alexander only kept his eyes on one man, who was standing off to the side, away from the others. He met Alexander's gaze easily enough.
"And you, sir, what about you?" Alexander asked. "Are you willing to fight with me?"
Everyone's attention shifted, focusing on the man Alexander had singled out. Still, he nodded, stepping forward, closer to the group. "Aye. I'll fight with you."
Alexander grinned. "I'm happy to hear that, but that's a surprising answer coming from you. After all, aren't you a Death Eater?"
The man's left hand plunged into his robes, no doubt grabbing a wand concealed there. The Muggle-born were entirely defenseless, as Alexander had yet to hand out the wands he had collected from the Mudblood Relocation Camp, and took a panicked step away. The Death Eater's wand cleared his robes.
And Alexander's cutting curse removed the man's arm, causing a spray of blood to blossom. The man collapsed, howling in agony, and his features flickered as a glamour faded. On the ground, in a bloody puddle, lay his arm, a Dark Mark revealed in all its wretched glory.
Alexander idly cast a small burst of flame on the man's shoulder, cauterizing the cut and causing the Death Eater to scream out in pain.
"I thought that was Dave," one man muttered. Alexander frowned and stepped closer, kicking the Death Eater to get his attention.
"What happened to the Muggle-born whose face you stole?"
The man gasped in pain but began to chuckle darkly. "Dead. Just like the rest of you, if you don't let me go."
Alexander rolled his eyes. "Is that a fact?"
The Death Eater looked up with a dangerous gleam in his eye. "All I have to do is say Volde-" The man began to choke as his tongue twisted in his mouth. It was only a prelude to his screams of pain, as his tongue was magically pulled from his mouth with a bloody squelch. Alexander carelessly caught it and examined it briefly before tossing it to the side. He knelt and wiped his hand on the writhing man's back.
"I already knew about the Taboo, but thank you for confirming it. I can't wait to study it more in-depth. It's some sort of alert or Summoning Spell, I think," Alexander told the watching Muggleborn. He turned his focus back to the crying man at his feet. "Well, we found the last Death Eater from the Mudblood Relocation Camp, at least."
Alexander stood, stowing his wand, and clapping his hands before him. "Which one of you is going to kill him?"
The room grew deathly silent as everyone looked at him. Alexander smirked. "This is what we'll be doing—killing Death Eaters—stopping them before they can kill more. Think of it like pruning a garden of a few bad plants. You have to cut them out. But if you come with me, all of you need to be prepared to kill."
The only sound in the warehouse was of the crying Death Eater at Alexander's feet. The Muggle-born gave each other looks, wondering who would step forward to become a killer, or who would leave to be Obliviated. Alexander didn't bother looking at them; instead, he picked idly at his nails while blood soaked his boots. Finally, one woman stepped forward.
She was probably ten or so years older than Alexander. She moved to stand before him, glaring up defiantly into his eyes. Slowly she bent down, slender fingers grasping the Death Eater's fallen wand, and picking it up. She stood over the defeated man and raised the wand high.
A flash of crimson left it, punching through the Death Eater's chest. It caved in, puncturing the heart and killing the man instantly. It was an almost merciful death considering what Alexander had already done to him.
Slowly, Alexander approached the heavily breathing witch, careful not to startle her. He gently pushed her hand and wand down and looked her in the eye. "What is your name?" he asked.
"Cassandra Tate," she answered. Alexander nodded.
"Well met, Cassandra. Well done." Alexander gently tugged her, so she was no longer facing her kill and addressed the silently watching Muggle-born.
"Cassandra has done what you will all do in the coming weeks. You will prove your loyalty, ability, and willingness by killing a Death Eater. Our war will not be easy, our lives even worse, but we stand here today so that the future children of Great Britain do not have to grow up in the shadow of tyranny, that they may learn of and explore their magical gifts without any prejudice! Who stands with me?"
Every single witch and wizard before him raised their fists high and roared their agreement.
Magic Break Can't Be Seen
The following weeks were difficult. Only eight Muggle-born remained, nine if Alexander included himself, of varying ages and personalities. Getting them to work together, let alone obey Alexander's orders was difficult, made more so by the ones who resented his young age and obvious magical skill.
The first issue they had was Alexander's insistence on leaving the safe house he created. It was not a popular decision.
"But we're safe here!" Douglas Jacobs protested. He was the oldest man there, almost forty, and the Aurors had killed his wife and daughter on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. He was one of the most vocal against Alexander.
"We're safe and a sitting duck. The Ministry of Magic can track groups of wizards, and they'll send somebody out here to investigate eventually. We need to keep moving if we want to be truly safe," Alexander argued.
"He's right," Peggy Stevens said. She held the hand of Theodora Anders, who was silently glaring at Douglas.
"What would you know about that?" Douglas sneered.
Peggy glared right back. "I worked at the Ministry as a clerk! Everyone there knows about the Portkey Office. At best we'd have a month, at worst only a week. I'd prefer not to be recaptured again, thank you very much!"
The other Muggle-born muttered agreements, and Douglas growled angrily. Finally, the insufferable man put his hand on the Portkey Alexander held out before him.
It activated a second later, taking the group away from the safe house that Alexander had set up. While he knew they could have remained there for a few more days, Alexander didn't want to risk the Ministry of Magic being competent. Better safe than dead.
The Portkey took them to the coast of Scottland, far from any tourist spots or cities. It was a beautiful, desolate area, and the likelihood of someone physically stumbling upon them was low. However, they had no sooner made it when the next issue arose.
"I will not sleep on the bloody ground like some animal!" Douglas Jacobs shouted when Alexander told them to start making their own shelters.
Alexander's temper finally snapped. "Are you a wizard, or a fool? Transfigure a bed!" The nerve of some people, Alexander thought.
A voice awkwardly cleared behind him. Turning, Alexander found Theodora standing before him. "Yes, Theodora?" he asked with a long-suffering sigh.
"Peggy and I were hoping for a spot of privacy," she admitted with a small blush. Peggy was beyond her shoulder, helping Cassandra transfigure a boulder into an acceptable lean-to.
Alexander nearly rolled his eyes. "I'll be putting wards over the area from that boulder," he pointed, "to that one. Please just soundproof your shelter."
"Thank you," Theodora said, scurrying over to Peggy. More footsteps approached Alexander from the side, causing him to turn once more. Leo Howards stood there apologetically, with his son Oscar beside him.
"Easy lad, we don't need anything. I was just going to tell you we're going to start a cooking fire. I think a warm meal will help everyone relax," Leo said. Alexander nodded tiredly.
"Thank you, that'd be appreciated," Alexander said. Oscar's blatant staring at Cassandra's bent over body caught his eye. "Whatever it is you're thinking, don't. Your horniness is not important to our survival here."
Oscar gave him a dirty look. "It's important to my survival," he muttered. Leo dragged his son away.
Alexander finally managed to begin casting the wards, electing for simple enchantments over inscribed runes. They'd be weaker and not nearly as durable, but they were all he had the energy for at the moment. He finished them up by adding a non-magical repelling ward and collapsed at a stone table that James Williams had transfigured.
"When are we going after the Death Eaters?" James asked, darkness in his eyes.
"When I know where everyone is in terms of magical ability. I didn't save you so I could throw you to your deaths," Alexander said, a headache growing. He never knew how tiring dealing with people was until now.
"I'll prove it now!" James said, beginning to rise. A female hand forced him down.
Mina Finkton, the last member of their group, joined them. "Down boy. I think a day of rest is what we need right now," she said. She turned toward Alexander. "I built an extra shelter over there for you. Figured you'd be too busy with the wards."
Alexander nodded gratefully but eyed the fuming James. "Thank you. I'll be teaching you all over the next few days how to cast the wards and enchantments I used, as well as how to rip them down. It'll help us in the long run."
Slowly the others joined them, summoning logs and rocks to make chairs for themselves. Alexander belatedly realized that James must have made two chairs, and decided to hold off on judging him too harshly. Douglas was last, glaring at everyone and especially Alexander, but he tried not to let it get to him.
"I know it's been a rough few days for us all," Alexander began. He deliberately ignored Douglas' scoff. "But we need to work together. We all have our reasons for being here, some personal and some not. I will share with you my own."
Glad that he had everyone's attention, Alexander continued. "A little over two years ago, the Dark Lord returned. Potter told Dumbledore, who told us, but no one believed them. Who would? The world has been at peace for years; no one wanted to believe it was over. But a few weeks after term ended, my family was paid a visit by the Death Eaters.
"They had gotten their hands on my little brother's Hogwarts letter. He had just turned eleven, and they made sure to bring it to my family personally," Alexander growled. Even years later, the memories still hurt as the images of his dead family flashed before his eyes.
"They tortured my family and me, torturing them so badly they died from their wounds. But I managed to kill them. I killed them, and I don't regret it one bit," Alexander said, finally looking up at the other Muggle-born. Even Douglas was listening, pain, and loss in his eyes.
"I hate bullies. Always have. The Death Eaters are the worst kind of human imaginable, more beast than man. I have no problem ending these monsters because I know exactly what they'll do if they're allowed to spread. And I refuse to let that happen."
Alexander stood up. "That's why I fight. See you all in the morning."
And with that, Alexander went to bed.
Magic Break Can't Be Seen
AN: Sex magic will not be in this story.
If you were curious how Alexander saw through the disguise of the Death Eater, it's a use of Occlumency. It shields the mind from magical effects, and in this story a glamour doesn't change anything physical, it's basically an illusion. This does raise the question of invisibility/Dislusionment but I'm leaning more toward those both being physical effects.
Everyone's interactions at camp: Tried to make them feel organic, show each person's state of mind. Including Alexander there are five men and four women. Their backstories/reasons for being arrested will be revealed over time.
I hope you're all enjoying the story!