6. Special Forces

(November 15th, 1995)

Vega Apparated at the crowded yard of the Ministry of Magic. She looked around attentively and frowned. Dozens of witches and wizards were getting in and out the building, people were apparating without any limits. There were, however, no signs of any guards and all the active defensive spells could be easily neutralised by a commonly talented Hogwart student. If Voldemort decided to attack, he wouldn't meet any resistance.

Vega scowled and moved towards the high edifice of the Ministry. So Dumbledore really had good reasons to worry. Evidently Cornelius Fudge decided not to accept the fact that the Dark Lord had come back and he didn't undertake anything to protect the community against the possible attack.

'Against the inevitable attack.' thought Vega.

Like Dumbledore, she was sure that Voldemort would assail soon, more powerful than ever. And he would not rest until terror of his name doesn't spread over the whole world.

'We must be ready...' thought Vega with a grim twinkle.

She run up the marble stairs. Several people looked back at her, others stopped and watched her intently. Vega was one of the most famous Aurors, known for her severity and triumphs in fighting with the Death Eaters. Some years ago she had gone abroad and dedicated herself to the scientific work, but people still remembered her spectacular encounters with the Dark Lord servants. Therefore, no wonder that many people started to think whether her return had something to do with the rumours about Voldemort's rebirth.

Vega was walking through the long corridor of the ministry, impatiently returning greetings. Finally she turned left and entered a large, wainscoted room. There was a massive desk near the opposite wall. On its right-hand side an iron door led into to office of the minister A wizard, sitting at the desk, sprang to his feet.

'Vega !' he called beaming 'How nice to see you again!'

'Hi, Henry. May I talk to the boss?' asked the witch, smiling.

'Yes, he is waiting for you' the wizard looked at the door, making a wry face 'He's not in a good mood...'

'I'm afraid I'll make it even worse.' said Vega, putting her hand on a handle.

In the same moment the door opened and the Minister of Magic appeared. He smiled falsely, his eyes were full of a hardly masked antipathy.

'Welcome' he said, trying to sound courteously 'What bring you to the ministry, Ms Starlight?' Vega entered the office and cast a glance at the stylish furniture.

'You know it well, Minister.' she said coldly.

Fudge quickly closed the door. His lower lip started to tremble.

'If you want me to listen again those rubbish about the You-Know-Who return...'

'These are not rubbish.' Vega interrupted him sharply 'And you will see it soon. But today I didn't come here to repeat everything you had already heard from Dumbledore.' she approached the window and looked at the great, square yard, full of the colourful crowd 'You don't have to believe in Voldemort's return, Minister' she said calmly, turning to Fudge 'but you mustn't expose to danger all the community only because you are a fool.'

Fudge's face turned deep purple.

'If I were you I would mind my words' he hissed, shaking with rage 'I'm not going to listen it. Get out, Starlight ! And tell Dumbledore that if he doesn't stop those his shady practices, I will find somebody else to be Hogwart director.'

Fudge gasped with rage, his lower lips was trembling like a spring. Vega was looking at him with expressionless face and didn't move.

'Clear out, Starlight !' roared Fudge, completely loosing his nerves 'I can...'

'Calm down, Fudge.' snorted Vega.

She moved slowly across the office, her steel-grey eyes fixed on the minister face. Fudge swallowed nervously and took a step back. Vega smiled ironically.

'You will listen everything I want to tell you, Fudge.' she said in assertive tone 'Voldemort will attack soon. We must be prepared to face him. Dumbledore suggests reactivating the old Special Forces. Bringing back the Aurors who left the ministry. Starting schooling of the new ones.'

Fudge looked at her as if she had suddenly started to speak in a foreign language.

'You are mad !' he whispered 'He didn't come back and will never do... Special Forces ! I'll never agree to that !'

Vega'a eyes were full of a deep contempt.

'I always knew you were an idiot, Minister.' she said icily 'I have nothing more to tell you. Good day.'

And without another look at Fudge she left the office. Henry glanced at her inquiringly but noticing dangerous glints in her eyes, he didn't ask about anything. Vega nodded and went quickly towards the main hall.

'Vega !'

She switched round. A dark-haired wizard was running down the stairs, waving at her. Vega laughed.

'Rupert Rail ! You came as a blessing ! I've been just looking for you.'

They shook their hands. Rail was watching Vega with a melancholic smile.

'So many years have passed...' he said softly 'And it seems that only yesterday we hunted the Death Eaters from Blackburn. Do you know that I'm the only one from our squad who stayed in the ministry?'

Vega smiled grimly.

'I heard about that.' she snarled 'And about much more. Only a few Aurors still work. The ministry is not guarded. The Dementors are not controlled. This damned fool Fudge is completely unaware of the danger !'

A deep concern glinted in Rail's green eyes.

'Is that really so serious ?' he whispered 'Different rumours can be heard. Fudge denies everything, but they say that...You-Know-Who came back.'

Vega nodded gravely.

'He did.' she said dryly 'He is planning something. And the Minister of Magic is not doing anything to stop him !'

Rupert lent heavily on a stone pillar.

'I was afraid it was true.' he sighed 'Dumbledore couldn't be wrong. He was here latterly in August and he left very angry.'

'Fudge is deaf to our arguments.' spat Vega 'He will not help us. Just ten minutes ago he didn't agree to reactivate the Special Forces.'

Rail looked surprised but he didn't say a word. Vega cast him a searching glance.

'And that's why I've been looking for you.' she said 'We have to organise Aurors again. With or without Fudge's assent.'

Rupert nodded.

'O.K. You can count on me.'

'So, let's start !' said Vega enthusiastically, her eyes were flashing 'Get in touch with the Aurors from the squads "alpha" and "beta". I'll contact the others. We will meet in two weeks, in the old castle of Whitestone.'

Rupert smiled broadly.

'It seems that the old times came back. If not the situation, I would say I'm glad. See you soon !'

They shook their hands and went away into different directions.

* * *
(November 29th, 1995)


A street, one of the many similar streets of the London suburb, was empty and quiet. Vega crossed a yellowed, weed-grown lawn and stopped in front of the door of a ruinous house. She was just about to knock, but at the last moment she restrained herself. She reached for a stone lying on the ground and cast it in the door. A dazzling light flared up and a stone, blackened with smoke, rolled up to the witch's feet.

Vega sighed and went back on the lawn.

'Alastor, that's me, Vega Starlight !' she called, casting a sweeping glance at the front of the house.

Something moved in the window at the first floor and a granite mascaron, attached to the door, roared in a hoarse voice:

'Damn! Vega?! Is that really you?!'

'And did you expect somebody else today ?' asked the Auror impatiently 'Let me in, Alastor !'

A heavy tramp could be heard inside the house and suddenly the door opened with a crash. An old, tall man stood at the doorstep. His face was cut with the numerous scars and surrounded by a bushy mane of grey hair. One hand he lent on a stick, while the other, armed with a wand, pointed at Vega. His artificial, light-blue eye rolled madly by the whole orbit and stopped, fixed at the witch. For a while Moody was eyeing her up and down and suddenly he burst out laughing.

'Vega Starlight herself !' he exclaimed 'Come in, come in.'

Vega approached him.

'What have you done with those door ?!' she asked reproachfully 'If I had knocked I would lost my second palm.'

Moody smiled grimly.

'Not only the palm, but all the hand' he said with satisfaction 'Such a little surprise for the unwelcome guests. You must be careful at every step !'

'I know, constant vigilance...' muttered Vega, looking about the hall 'It has changed a bit here. What is that ?'

She approached the small table. A small, richly incrusted box of red wood stood there. It was made by one piece and has neither lock nor padlock. Vega examined it with interest. 'Interesting....' she lifted the box carefully and moved it closer to the light 'Looks like Greek work. Let me guess: Pandora's Box?'

Moody nodded.

'A unique model' he said proudly 'Very powerful one. I found it by accident, quite funny story...' he waved his hand impatiently 'But you didn't come here to listen to the old tales. You have more important problems. What about the assembly at Whitestone?'

Vega settled herself comfortably in an armchair near the fireplace.

'Full success !' her eyes flashed triumphantly 'Everybody came, except you and...Frank Longbottom.'

Moody sighed heavily.

'Poor Frank... His son is at Hogwart now?'

'Yes' nodded Vega 'He's not a top student, but he's a good boy. When I look at him I see Frank...' she sighed 'Well, we can't help him anymore. But we can prevent something like that happen again. Alastor,' she said emphatically 'Special Forces have been reactivated. From the four former squads we form by now the three new ones. Well, years have passed, not all the Aurors are still operational. These ones will go in for the adepts training. Alastor,' she looked piercingly at Moody 'May I count on you?'

Mad-eye was sitting motionless, with an expression of a gloomy reverie on his face. Vega was silent, too. Finally the old wizard moved and stretched his wooden leg.

'O.K.' he said, looking at Vega's eyes 'But only because you asked me about that. Long before now I decided to retire...I would not be too useful in my condition.' he significantly tapped the floor with the wooden leg.

'Don't be ridiculous !' snorted Vega 'You are in perfect form.'

Moody laughed gloomily.

'Leave aside these compliments, my dear. I told you I agreed. But you forgot to tell me who would command the Special Forces.'

'Each squad has its own captain.' said Vega 'In "gamma" Rupert Rail, in "beta" Edgar Higgs and in "alpha" me.'

Moody shook his head thoughtfully. Vega controlled the watch.

'I have to go' she said, standing up 'I would stay longer but I still have to check the control tests of the seven-years. I didn't expect that teacher could have so much work.'

Alastor smiled.

'So now you understand why I wanted to avoid the adepts training. But if we are talking about the Hogwart...how is Snape ?'

A deep antipathy expressed on Vega's face. She cast Moody a dark look and shrugged her shoulders.

'To be honest I don't care about that' she said coldly 'if it doesn't concern Hogwart security.'

'Dumbledore says Snape is his spy...' Alastor was talking now in a very low voice.

Vega looked at him suspiciously.

'That's true' she nodded 'That was Snape who told us that Voldemort was planning to attack Hogwart.'

'He's taking a great risks' said Moody 'Do you thing he says the true?' his eyes were piercing at Vega.

The witch clenched her teeth.

'Dumbledore trusts him.' she said dryly.

Moody sneered.

'That's not an argument, my dear. He would give a second chance to everyone, even to Voldemort. I want to know,' he said emphatically 'whether YOU trusts him.'

Vega looked at him coldly.

'Damn ! What is that all?!' she snarled angrily 'Snape claims he is on our side. Dumbledore trusts him. Why do you ask me these all questions?!'

Moody got up and approached Vega.

'You know my opinion about Snape.' he said calmly 'Who once was a Death Eather, would stay him forever. You cannot betray the Dark Lord... and survive' he fixed his eyes in the witch 'But maybe this one time I'm wrong... You know him much better...'

Vega laughed nastily.

'Nobody knows him truly.' she hissed venomously.

'I believe it' sighed Moody 'It's not possible to know completely the other man. But you know Snape better then whoever else. At Hogwart you were studying the Dark Arts together. You were friends...'

Vega stood silent, staring gloomily at the dark window. Moody put hand on her arm.

'There is something more that Albus told me' he said softly 'Seventeen years ago Severus Snape saved your life...'