Chris Carter and 1013 Productions own the X-Files. JK Rowling, Warner Brothers and Scholastic own Harry Potter. All I own is this story line, every Harry Potter DVD and a complete collection of X-Files DVD's. I wish I owned Fox Mulder.
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A/N This story is set anytime during Sorcerers Stone through Prisoner of Azkaban of HP (although it contains information in all the books) and after X-Files episode "Emily", but before "Requiem".
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JUST OUTSIDE THE HOGWARTS GROUNDS
1:30 AM GREENWICH MEAN TIME
When they arrived at Hogwarts, Scully was shocked to find quite a little crowd waiting for them. It seemed that the entire staff of the school turned out to see them arrive back safely.
Mulder got to her first, and he looked visibly relieved. He pulled her a few paces away from the others and looked worried as he chafed her upper arms.
"What happened, Scully? We heard there was trouble."
"There was. A little. We were intercepted. But nobody got hurt and I'm fine, Mulder," she replied, stepping back from him.
He crossed his arms and leaned in to her. "You shouldn't have gone, Scully. It was too dangerous."
"No, you're wrong. I found the data. And Skinner gave me the original photo."
"Skinner...? How did he...?"
"Apparently Assistant Director Skinner is better connected than we ever realized."
Before Mulder could answer, there was a loud ahem! and Dumbledore's voice carried over everybody's. "As excited as we all are that Agent Scully and Professor Snape have returned to us, we really ought to have our conference in the castle where it's cozy and warm."
It really was cold, Scully realized as she pulled her jacket around herself. She regretted not wearing long pants as they made their way up the windy hill. She and Mulder walked together a little apart from the others, whispering together.
Dumbledore had a few low-voiced questions for Snape, and he answered them dutifully, but his eyes drifted occasionally to Scully as she conferred with her partner.
The headmaster saw Snape looking at Scully. "I need to talk to Agent Scully, but you can have her back when I'm done."
"Whatever you say," Snape replied.
When they arrived at the castle, Dumbledore dispersed the crowd, declaring that this was a private meeting. He only needed the two FBI agents, and professors McGonagall and Snape.
After the extraneous faculty had dispersed (many of them grumbling about being left out of the conference), and they were comfortably ensconced in Dumbledore's office, the headmaster asked Scully, "Did you find the data you were looking for?"
"I did." She handed the interoffice envelope to him. He smiled a bit at this muggle artifact, with its column of names written on and crossed out as the envelope was passed from user to user. Those muggles really could be quite innovative! He unwound the red string, took out the photo, and stared at it. Then he took out the other papers and spread them out on his desk. He skimmed them, nodding from time to time, before he looked at her.
"Excellent work, Agent Scully, how fortunate you remembered this piece of evidence."
"Thank you sir," she mumbled as she stared at her hands.
"What is it, Agent Scully?" he asked gently.
She picked at her cuticle. She was almost afraid to ask the next question, afraid of the implications of the answer she already knew in her heart. "Is it certain that man--Scott Ostelhoff--was a dark wizard?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, I'm afraid so. We lost track of several of them after Voldemort's disappearance. Most were rounded up and either sent to Azkaban or acquitted on the plea of Imperious Curse. But a few escaped altogether and he was one of them. Did you know him personally?"
She shook her head. "I never spoke to him in life. I only saw him post mortem. And apart from his DOD photo, I never even saw his face. He was shot, you know, in the head--it's right in that report."
Dumbledore shrugged. "Wizards are vulnerable to guns, also."
"But what I don't understand is--why did he escape to the US?" Mulder asked. "I must state it's very disturbing that he was a DOD employee. He was in a position of authority over the very people he hated."
"That's right," Dumbledore replied. "But don't you see? It was the perfect disguise! Who would look for a muggle-hater in a muggle government organization?"
"Then surely you can understand my concerns about somebody like that in a position of power..." Mulder added.
Dumbledore shook his head. "I do understand. But although he was a dangerous man, he wasn't dangerous in the way you're thinking. He wouldn't have wanted to rise to power in any muggle government. Death Eaters don't look at the world the way you do. What muggles see as power would have been beneath him--and to dominate muggles by muggle means would have only proved he was a weak wizard. Any muggle deaths he might have done to further Voldemort's cause of wizard supremacy would have had to be by wizard means--to prove his ascendancy over his victims."
Scully raised an eyebrow at him. This sounded like something Mulder would say--in fact, he and Mulder were nodding knowingly to each other. Dumbledore sounded like a profiler. Of course, she'd also seen him act as a diplomat and an administrator. Not to mention she read his history and knew all about his achievements. And despite her private reservations about Dumbledore's schemes and motivations, she had to admit he was knowledgeable in a wide range of subjects.
Dumbledore continued. "He only used muggles as a way to hide. And because of where he decided to hide, he seems to have cultivated some influential muggle associates. I strongly suspect that his associates were kingmakers, if you will--the type of men who tend to lurk behind the scenes and in the shadows, but be pulling the strings just the same--the type of men who would go so far as to not be known by their real names. There were quite a few Dark wizards like that, so he'd have been well acquainted with that type. But just the same, although he associated with men like that, he would never have wanted power in the conventional muggle sense. Besides, he may have also been held back by fear of Voldemort."
"Wouldn't You Know Who approve of his anti-muggle activities?"
"He would, just as long as Ostelhoff didn't give the appearance of wanting to rival his own influence. Remember, Voldemort wants to conquer muggles and put them under subjugation to wizards, and he wants to conquer the wizarding world itself--the Tom Riddle I know has no wish to share his power with any serious rival."
Scully and Mulder looked at each other.
"You make You Know Who's intentions towards muggles sound like enslavement," Scully said.
"He was never entirely clear what he meant by subjugation," the Headmaster replied, "But that's a reasonable guess."
"Enslavement again," muttered Mulder. "Why does every other race we meet want to enslave us? I mean, we're not perfect, but this is ridiculous."
"But back to the issue at hand," Scully continued, "Ostelhoff seemed to have a personal vendetta against Agent Mulder."
"Isn't the reason obvious?" He turned to Mulder. "Your steadfast belief in what you muggles call the paranormal would have naturally attracted his attention. Especially because you were gathering evidence to support your claims and getting closer to finding our world--even though you didn't realize it. Ostelhoff rejected our values, but it was the only world he ever really felt comfortable in. He was afraid of being found out and exposing our world."
"He was spying on me," Mulder replied. "For two years."
"I don't doubt it," replied Dumbledore. "His muggles bosses thought he was working for them, but in fact, they were giving him the perfect opportunity to hide and to follow an agenda all his own--or Voldemort's agenda, if you will."
Scully shook her head. "Look. I realize people aren't always what they seem to be." Then she laughed harshly and put her head in her hand. "I've even seen people who can change their outward appearance at will." With her eyes lowered, she didn't see Dumbledore start. "But I always thought I knew what the sides were, who our opponents are. I didn't even know about your people before a few weeks ago, but until now I never dreamed..."
"That there is a very real threat from some quarter you never heard of," Dumbledore supplied.
"Yes." She started to say something else, then hesitated.
"What is it, Agent Scully?" The Headmaster prompted.
"Who can I trust anymore? Now that I know about you people--and now after everything I've seen tonight--I'm going to suspect everybody I don't know of being...I don't even know what I'll suspect, but..."
"That sounds a little paranoid, doesn't it Doctor Scully?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at her. "I suggest you go on doing what you've been doing."
"Which is what?"
"Trust no one."
Scully and Mulder looked at each other, shocked.
Dumbledore stood up. "I think we've all been up late enough. I think we'll all do better for a good night's sleep."
Scully rose to her feet, but made no move to leave. Instead, she leaned across the desk and asked softly, "Sir, I need to talk to you for a moment. Privately."
He sighed, knowing what was coming next. "Very well."
Mulder came up next to her--he hadn't heard what she said to Dumbledore. "You ready to go back Scully?"
"Just one moment," she replied.
Dumbledore elaborated. "She asked to speak to me in private. You may wait in the hall."
"You don't need to wait. I'll bring her back," spoke another voice. Mulder turned around to see Snape. He hadn't heard him approach the desk.
Mulder bristled slightly at what he perceived as a high-handed claim on Scully's time, but before he could answer, he noticed Dumbledore studying both himself and Snape closely over his glasses. He remembered that he was the guest here, and instead, he lifted his hands slightly. "Fine. I'll go back myself." With that he turned to leave, McGonagall following just after him.
"And Severus," Dumbledore continued, "I've arranged to have your classes covered. By myself, in fact. You don't have to report to Potions tomorrow. I'm sure the time differences--what the muggles call jet lag--will have taken their toll. You're dismissed." And with that Snape strode out to the corridor, closing the door behind him.
When she heard the door click shut, Scully wasted no time in confronting Dumbledore. "Why is my mother under wizarding surveillance? What do you know that you're not telling me?"
The older man looked at her compassionately and sighed. "I know there are wizards and muggles involved. I also know they started watching her around the time you went into Hogsmeade."
Scully figured it out in her head. That was right, according to Maggie's reckoning, but until this moment she hadn't seen the connection. "But why? I didn't break any wizarding laws when I went there--you gave me your own permission--it was work related."
"...Which would carry weight with most wizards most of the time, but it only goes to prove my theory that Voldemort is rallying his followers again."
Scully exhaled sharply and angrily. "What your people do is your own business--none of mine. But I don't want my mother caught in the crossfire of some Wizarding civil war."
Dumbledore held up a placating hand. "Not to worry. I have my own people watching her. She's been placed under protective enchantments."
"By you? Did you personally perform the enchantments?"
He smiled slightly at the faith in him her tone implied. "No. By an associate of mine."
"But I know you, and you're supposed to be so powerful. Why couldn't you do it yourself?"
"I am powerful, Agent Scully," he replied and his eyes twinkled. Then he sighed again and his face became serious. "But I felt, and I think you would agree with this, that there was the need for the utmost discretion. Let me put this in terms you would be likely to understand. It's a poor analogy, but it's the best I can come up with at the moment--the amount of magic--the energy requirements, if you will--necessary to give your mother the level of protection she needed, would have been instantly recognizable to other wizards, both inside and outside the Ministry, if I had tried to perform the enchantments from Hogwarts. Time and space matter in magic, Agent Scully. My witch colleague--who lives in the same town as your mother--can give her a stronger protective spell without drawing attention to herself."
She nodded. "I've heard that before--about the effects of time and space on magic."
He came around the desk and put a hand on her shoulder. "On behalf of the wizarding world I apologize for the harassment of your mother. Maybe now that you've been back home the surveillance will stop--but I'll keep her under protection just the same."