Chapter-2 I'll annihilate Nightmares
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. The rights belongs to J.K. Rowling and others.
5:23PM, 19th October 1994, Wednesday, Bagman's Residence
Ludo Bagman worked for the ministry of magic of Britain as the Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports as such was paid enough that if he put two months of his salary together then he would be capable of paying all his debts but yet he refused to pay. Many ask why?
Even though he did earn enough to get through he had lead a lavish life when his father was alive. But when he had started to work he just couldn't and didn't adjust to middle class items and had drowned in debts by loan sharks and gambling.
Ludo entered his home and was surprised to not finding his wife humming and the smell of food missing.
Ludo grabbed his wand as a precaution and then proceeded cautiously to the drawing room but when he entered the room he didn't realize what happened. One moment he was armed and the next he was disarmed and at the mercy of someone else.
Ludo looked up to see a boy! He scoffed when he realized who had held him captive but that quickly turned to utter horror and fear when he looked at the boy's hand.
It was covered in blood.
He wore a black suit and his black eyes were hollow and he moved behind him and Ludo let out a horrified gasp at what he saw.
The sofa was splashed with blood and had two bodies and which he recognized easily and exclaimed in a horrified voice," My family!"
Then he noticed his daughter's body moving ever so slightly and he looked up to the boy who had a knife to his throat and stuttered out," I-I'll do a-anything. Anything. J-just let m-me go. M-my d-d-daughter, she can still be saved. P-P-Please. I'll d-do anything."
Tears were leaking out of Ludo's eyes and the boy removed the knife and handed him a piece of parchment which had three tasks written on it.
Tri-Wizard Tournament Tasks
Access to DMLE files.
Take Oath on magic to not change the tasks or to report any of this.
The man nodded shakily with tears still in his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak but the boy made a motion of writing and handed him a quill and put the bottle of ink on the table. He wrote down the tasks on the back of the parchment and handed and took out a potion vial and bit his hand hard in an attempt to draw blood but was unable to. He looked up and said," The r-room is protected by blood of DMLE e-employees so-"
He didn't get to complete as the boy grabbed his hand and swiftly made a cut which made him shriek in pain. The blood dirtied the carpet but filled the vial nonetheless.
The boy held his daughter in one arm and held the knife to her throat and handed him his wand. Ludo thought it would be easy to stun the boy but he wouldn't risk it if his precious daughter's life was on the line.
Ludo shakily took his vow swearing on his magic. The boy smirked cruelly and the light flickered violently and the next thing Ludo knows that he was alone.
The sofa didn't have a drop of blood, the cut on his hand didn't exist nor did the carpet looked drenched in blood.
Ludo Bagman couldn't understand what had happened but whatever that boy was he hoped he wouldn't meet him again.
XX
5:40PM, 21st October 1994, Friday, DMLE, Ministry of Magic, Britain
Amelia Bones was frustrated more than ever. Two days ago, Bagman had claimed to see the dark mark in some small town Little Hangleton which turned out to be a false alarm but gave her a big set of problems. A simple investigation with her elite squad had turned to be a big mess.
As soon as she had appeared on the position three more groups appeared and there was no dark mark.
The first group was, the ICW, International Confederation of Wizards. They had dispatched a group of Hit Wizards because they had a report of an illegal magical artifact in the area which much to their surprise was true. The Hit Wizards didn't say what it was and she didn't care.
The second group was of two people she barely saw together. Arcturus Black and Dumbledore. It led to the rather shocking revelation of being in the birth place of Voldemort.
They were more interested in the illegal artifact the hit wizards had detected. When they returned they were grimmer than before.
The third group was the most shocking to Amelia, the Nightmares.
They wore a uniform which was completely black with a small circular emblem on their chest of a black horse on fire. Amelia didn't know much about the association.
Amelia was surprised by their efficiency but Dumbledore and Black were surprisingly hostile to the new group. No one knew why or had the guts to ask the two of them.
When this mess with over with she had returned to her office only to realize that there were 9 DMLE evidence files missing. She almost got fired and she had checked the wards to see most of the normal wards were missing. They had called a few warders with the minimum funds provided to her department.
Amelia had to talk to the minister to give her extra fund hadn't it been for an anonymous donation of 14,000 galleons. It had a single note which said nothing about the Aurors needing funds or anything but a rather something else.
I am sorry.
All she had known was that the handwriting familiar and comforting. Something within her had stirred awake at reading the note, her magic felt freer. Amelia desperately wanted answers but she didn't have time to dig out any with all the pressure of the last week.
She needed a drink.
XX
6:45PM, 21st October 1994, Friday, Durmstrang, Germany
Igor Karkaroff was a death eater, a mindless follower of Voldemort, a murderer, a rapist was something many people believed in most of Europe who have heard of him but the people of Germany had a different view. They saw Igor as a strict but passionate teacher and refused to believe he was a death eater.
In different ways both were right and wrong. He had worked for Voldemort, yes but had never pledged alliance to him something that had angered the dark lord. While he had killed people he had never ever in his life raped someone or even thought about it in his life. The Germans, view of him as a strict and passionate teacher was correct but only towards two subjects: Dark Arts and Potions.
While magic was divided into different sections like light, grey and dark, Igor believed that it wasn't the magic that mattered but rather the intent of use behind the spells. The dark arts were more along the lines of offensive spells and nothing else.
He gave importance to potions because it was his favorite subject and that multiple spell effects can be used in potions and as such had procured the best potions master he could.
Now, Igor leaned back in his chair as he stretched and yawned. The monthly meeting of the discussion of students was over. It was decided that only 15 students would go.
While they had capable students, Igor didn't really want them to go to Hogwarts mainly because of the lack of offensive spells still taught there. Of the fifteen only two spots were still empty.
Most of the teacher were telling him to put Paul Schmidt and Sofia Kaiser.
He himself would agree that Paul was a good choice as far the school's reputation was concerned. The boy was good in transfiguration, dark arts and charms. The boy was in but as far as he was concerned Viktor Krum was going to be selected as the school's champion.
Sofia Kaiser, he flinched here. The girl was… an improviser he guessed. If it was up to him, that girl would be the school's champion if it weren't for her late father, the Infamous.
The man was known for being the best treasure hunter and killer in the world and the new mercenary Ghost came rather close. Igor remember the few times he had seen her in class while supervising. She preferred not to use a wand but rather go wandless. She used her wand when she learned new spells but otherwise she didn't and she was definitely her father's daughter. She could fight well in hand-to-hand combat and had enough knowledge of the mundane world unlike many purebloods of Europe. When she used magic in duels or when she was attacked as rare as those were, she had ruthlessly crippled them all.
Before his thoughts could progress ahead, the lights in his room flickered. He picked up his wand but the light didn't stop flickering. He made out someone sitting in front of him as the light slowly stopped flickering. A boy sat in front of him with his legs on his table with a smirk on his face.
The audacity!
Igor began speaking," I don't know who you are but if you don't get out in 10 seconds then-"
"Bloodhound."
Igor froze as soon as he heard him say that name. It had been years since he had heard that name. It was somewhere in 1979 when he had last heard that name when he had walked away from Britain.
He sat down and took a deep breath," Ghost, I presume?"
The boy smirked as he leaned back in his chair as Igor gripped his wand waiting for a moment to pounce on him as he asked," What do you need?"
The boy simply threw a rolled up poster towards him as he grabbed it with his left hand as he saw the picture of the tri-wizard tournament. Igor looked at him unimpressed as he asked," You want to participate?"
The boy arched an eyebrow unimpressed. The boy didn't speak but looked at him with eyes that suggested that he was lacking brain cells and if he was being honest that was a dumb answer. He guessed again," You want to go to Hogwarts?"
The boy nodded this time warily and Igor said," I don't thin-"
He paused as he thought about it. If he did let the kid go with him then not only would he have a mercenary in the group but it would allow protection to one specific person in the group who would come if he decided to have the boy in the group.
Igor nodded slowly and stood up the boy didn't move which offended him. He was Bloodhound one of the most ferocious mercenary in the world! It was downright insulting that the boy didn't consider him a threat. Igor went to the side where there was a locker and he opened it and took out the school uniform and gave it to him and said," You'll get sorted tomorrow if my talk with a certain someone goes alright. Meet me at 5:40AM tomorrow in front of the Grand Hall."
The boy nodded and the lights flickered again as the boy disappeared.
Igor stood up and made his way towards his cabinet, he had research to do.
XX
8:50PM, 21st October 1994, Friday, Kaiser Residence, Spain
Anna Kaiser was a beautiful woman who had just entered her forties. Many wouldn't believe that she had a daughter. She worked at a bakery in the day and a night job at a restaurant as a chef and it paid enough to get her and her daughter through the year. As much as she hated it she had to go to dip into Sofia's father's fund to pay for Sofia's classes.
Sofia's father hadn't had the courage to face the responsibility of being a father and had ran away. Then he had died a few months after Sofia was born bequeathing all his wealth to Anna. While it was tough being a single mother she wouldn't have it any other way.
She didn't have many wizarding or mundane friends. So, she was surprised to see a floo call. But nonetheless she went towards the fireplace and was worried when she saw Karkaroff's face. Before she could speak he said," Your daughter is fine, Ms. Kaiser nor is she in any trouble. I wish to talk to you about something else."
Anna nodded slowly and said," Alright Headmaster Karkaroff. What is it?"
Karkaroff asked," As you know the tri-wizard tournament is coming up and all the parents of the selected students are informed but your daughter is a special case."
Anna sighed," Headmaster I've told you that Sofia wouldn't take part in the tournament unless-"
"Unless I guarantee her safety."
Karkaroff had completed the sentence for her and she knew he had found a way and was about to inform her. She nodded her head but she noticed Igor looked nervous and hesitant which made her narrow her eyes and he said," Well he's a mer-"
Anna didn't let him complete as she exploded," A mercenary?!"
Karkaroff flinched at her voice but Anna didn't give him a moment to speak," You think I'll allow my daughter anywhere near them? Sofia won't be going unless you find another way."
Karkaroff didn't say anything for a while as Anna glared at him. The man sighed as he said," The mercenary, I've not hired him yet but perhaps before you give any objections I should tell you he is different from the usual mercenaries."
Anna looked warily at him and sighed perhaps he could be different as the Headmaster said. She nodded as Igor said," He is different in multiple ways. He has a policy of never killing children or woman and he only kills people who have a criminal record. He isn't involved in the more questionable things that people like him are hired to do."
Anna knew what things the headmaster spoke off as she was still confused if or not to let her daughter go. Karkaroff continued," And besides if we let this happen we both get something we want."
Anna arched an eyebrow in question as Karkaroff continued," I get a competent champion who actually have a high chance of winning and you get a chance to see how well your daughter has progressed while Ms. Kaiser gets to prove she isn't going to walk the same path as her father."
Anna sighed as she thought about it. She knew Sofia would love the chance of being part of tournament and Anna would hate herself if she took the chance away from her daughter. She nodded slowly and said," Alright I agree."
Karkaroff nodded relieved and glad but Anna wasn't finished," But I have a few conditions."
XX
5:59AM, 22nd October 1994, Durmstrang
Igor walked in the garden with the mysterious boy walking alongside him. The boy had dressed in the school uniform and had the house color of Atticus which was black. If he hadn't done the research then he would have said that the only reason he was in the house was because of the color. But it worked in his favor. If the boy was in any other house then the students would have to wear the classic standard uniform but with the boy being in Atticus it had made a majority of students going to Hogwarts of the house and hence making everyone wear the Atticus house color which made better impression than the standard one.
Igor then said," We will leave in an hour and I hope you'll behave."
The boy nodded almost absently and Igor said," While I have no problem with whatever job you have, I have another job for you."
The boy's posture straightened up as Igor continued," There is a student I want you to protect."
Igor didn't stop but said," The problem is that her mother doesn't want her to be exposed to bloodshed and hence I want it taken care of discreetly. Sofia would know but the problem lies in the fact how stealthy you can be."
The boy looked highly offended but didn't say anything. Igor however wasn't finished," There are three conditions though."
The boy nodded and shoved his hands down his pocket as Igor stated," First, You'll be limited to spells acceptable in the school Hogwarts."
The boy looked horrified perhaps because he knew the standard there but Igor continued," Second, I want you to keep her away from Viktor Krum. He is a good student but he is unable to keep his hands from wandering."
The boy nodded with a slight smirk and Igor stated the last condition," Third you won't be entering your name in the goblet of fire."
The boy arched an eyebrow unimpressed and Igor said," I know you wouldn't but I had to make sure. I need a name to call you, I can't just call you boy."
The boy nodded lazily and handed him a card.
Chase Hunt
Igor simply nodded," Lastly the price of the job is 1,000,000 galleons.
Chase nodded slowly and Igor was sure that he was shocked by the price and said," While protecting the girl would be easy against the normal people or mercenaries, it is the people of a certain organization who want to know how she does magic without wand."
As much as he hated it, he couldn't find a single information about this organization which irritated him to no end.
Chase tilted his head and his eyes looked hollow which he noticed for the first time and Igor said," The organization from which she needs protection from call themselves Nightmares."
Igor believed that to be the wrong thing to say as he saw the dark clouds covering the sun above thundering with all their glory and he felt strong tremors below him.
Chase stood there with no reaction on his face or body language but the magical aura coming from him left no doubt as to who was influencing these events.
Igor was shocked. There was no wizard in existence or history who had ever influenced nature! The very source many believed magic originated from. There were almost little evidence that Merlin could do that and the few that did said that it left him feeling weak for months. But here a mere boy could do the same.
Igor gulped slightly. Nightmares wasn't an organization anyone had any information on him.
The boy took a deep breath as the weather cleared and the tremors disappeared. The boy held up two fingers conveying he had two conditions. Igor nodded slowly as the boy conjured a parchment, from his hand, with his first condition.
The money is to be given to me in cash.
Igor nodded quickly as he waited for another parchment but when it didn't he asked," The second condition?"
The boy looked at him with unrestrained hatred and perhaps a mere glimpse of what the boy truly was. Chase had a maniacal grin on his face.
"I'll annihilate Nightmares."
XX
Author's Note:
Read and Review.
The scene with Ludo Bagman is an illusion.