Chapter 8 Reinforcements Arrive
An exhausted crew of seven American trained wizards and witches walk off the plane and into customs. Vince has his arm around Dawn's waist and she is leaning slightly into him. Talking quietly they proceed through customs and into a cab, destination the Leaky Cauldron. Once there Ethan and Varian procured rooms for everyone.
Ethan watched Vin walk Dawn to her room, and muttered to Varian "I thought you said she would put up a harder fight than she has."
Varian smirked "She hasn't even started. False hope you know, lure them in them and then smash all hopes. She's cruel." Watching as she pushed Vin back and closed the door in his face. "Told you so, Ethan." Then he walked down to his room whistling. Vin stood looking at the closed door with a perplexed look on his face, then he smiled and whispered "Goodnight, love" and went to his and Ethan's room to plan strategies. Ethan looked up as Vin walked in, and couldn't stop the smirk that went across his face. "What are smirking about? Get everyone in here we need to plan." Vin snapped out in a no nonsense voice.
"Yes Sir, asshole sir!" Ethan quipped in an amused voice then he touched the charmed pendent on his collar and in a sarcastic manner said "All hands on deck! Captain Asshole wants to start recon efforts now." Within seconds the last three members of the American Black Ops Aurors were assembled in the twin's room snickering over Ethan's Captain Asshole comment.
Vince looked at Ethan and said in a snarkish manner "I'm not the least bit amused Dickhead." Then he looked at the members of the elite team, who quickly schooled their faces hiding their amusement at the two. "What information have you got on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?"
Trace Kampher quickly spoke up. "It's an ancient castle magically reinforced with two foot thick stone walls, eight foot high windows (with unbreakable charms placed on them), stone floors also two foot thick. There are also dungeons, unplotable rooms, attics, secret passages and is over 600,000 square feet."
At this point Shaman Kampher (Trace's bond/soulmate) took over "This place is literally a magical fortress. There are nonapperating wards, nonglamour charms, and impenetrable charms to protect against blasting charms, curses and hexes. BUT there are no wards, other than confusing and ignorable charms, against muggles." Ethan and Vince looked at one another for a few minutes digesting what was said then each gave a slight nod of accordance.
"That's our way in then." Vin glanced at Ethan who took over.
"We'll need a lot of muggle equipment on this one. Blueprints of the castle, surveillance of said castle and grounds, and most important the number of professors, students, house elves, and in general how many people we will be dealing with."
"Once inside we'll use a combination of hand to hand combat and stunning hexes. No one is to be seriously hurt." Vin glared at Shaman saying that, "this is to be a coup, not a blood bath." The last member of the team took a pen and notebook out and started making a list of stuff they would need. Seeing this Vin nodded approvingly, they didn't call her Sharra the Scavenger for nothing. "Sharra, we'll need repelling gear, C-4 explosives, our new invisibility potion, the antidote, healing potions, and most importantly blueprints. We have until 7:00 p.m. September 1st to put this together."
Sharra looked at Vin and Ethan, "That's less than a week away and I think you two left out two problems." She smiled at their confused expressions, "5' 6", brunette, blue eyes, muscular build, 6'2" blond, hazel eyes… ring any bells?"
"Don't worry about them" Vin started to say but was interrupted by Ethan.
"Your right, do we let them know what we are planning or keep them out. I don't know about the rest of you, but I vote we keep them in the dark. After all we really don't know if we can trust them." Just then someone knocked at the door. Ethan cast a transparency charm to see who was knocking. "It's Varian. Let him in." Sharra, who was closest to the door, opened it and had to quickly catch the package that was tossed at her.
"Dawn thought you might find this stuff useful. Oh, you can forget about using C-4 explosives. Hogwarts is charmed against muggle explosives, you know in case some idiot decides to get rid of the castle ruins that they see. Goodnight." With that Varian left. A confused Sharra handed the package over to Ethan.
"What could she be giving us that we would need?" Sharra asked.
Ethan opened the package and gasped. "I don't believe it. How in the hell did she get this so fast? How did she know that we would need this, Vince?"
Vince started laughing, "I tried to tell you that we didn't need to worry about them. We are actually here to help them. Now I'm assuming that those are the blueprints to Hogwarts and employee and student lists?" Ethan nodded, "Good let's get to work. We'll also need background checks on EVERYONE." They then proceeded to divide assignments and worked late into the night.
………………………………………………………..
Dawn and Varian retired after delivering the package to the OP's team, deciding to get a fresh start in the morning.
The following days found them exchanging owls with Professor Dumbledore on exactly what subjects they would be teaching. When it was decided that they would teach not only hand to hand combat, and muggle survival training (for Dumbledore's selected few), they would also be doing Defense Against the Dark Arts (as he could not find a competent teacher) and Advanced Muggle Studies. Dumbledore had already selected the text books that they were to use and suggested they familiarize themselves with them. He also wanted to meet with them outside of Hogwarts and set up a meeting there at the Leaky Cauldron. Dawn had also been contacted by the World Wizengamot (wizards equivalent of the UN) to investigate some of the British Ministry actions, including the Veil, so she also had meetings scheduled with Minister Fudge.
Dawn looked at Varian over the stack of parchments she was looking through. "There is no way the two of us are going to be able to do all of this. This calls for plan B." She said with a grin at the thought of five war trained Aurors teaching.
Varian took in her grin, "You are evil. So when are you going to break the news to THEM?"
"I need to clear it with Dumbledore first, I also want to talk to him about combining most of this curriculum into one course and just call it Defense Class. Then I will break the news to our new 'friends' during the welcoming feast." She said laughing "I can just imagine the looks on their faces."
"All you want is a reason to work closely with your 'lover boy' Vince." Varian said slyly.
"Sod off Yakass! You know there is nothing going on there."
"Not because of lack of trying on Vince's part, you just keep shooting him down."
"That is rather fun!" she smirked, "The look on his face every time I shut him down. Although I must admit it is getting harder to resist him."
"I always thought that soulmates couldn't resist the pull that is between them. But then again, you are so stubborn that even if it was killing you, you wouldn't admit it." Varian said thoughtfully.
"What is it with all of you? Everyone keeps saying that we are soulmates, I'm not sure of that myself. Yes I feel a pull towards him, but I'm feeling something else too." Dawn looked over at the clock which said almost late for appointment. "Oh shit! I'm going to be late for my appointment with the Minister of Magic. See you later." With that she grabbed a briefcase and ran out the door just as she was. She rushed downstairs and flooed to the Ministry, as she walked to the wand registry desk she noticed all the strange looks she was getting. After getting a receipt for her wand she looked at the bored guard and asked "Could you inform Minister Fudge that Dawn Draeheart is here to see him? Oh yeah, I'll need my wand to conclude my business here, so could I have it back please." She lightly commanded with a hard smile on her face.
The guard looked at her with disdain, "Do you have an appointment? He is a very busy man and doesn't have time for drop-ins."
"I suggest you look or call or whatever it is you do to verify appointments and I suggest you do it now as you are making me late." Dawn snapped her patience at an end. At that moment Percy Weasley showed up asking if a Dawn Draeheart had shown up yet. Dawn turned around and looked at Percy and replied "That would be me."
Percy's mouth dropped as he took in the young woman's appearance. She was wearing blue jeans, a T-shirt, trainers and had her hair pulled up in a pony tail and through the back of a Red Sox ball cap. He looked down his nose at her "You're Dawn Draeheart?"
Dawn looked down and realized what she was wearing and mentally shrugged. "Yes as I answered you the first time I am Dawn Draeheart. You know, the American representative that was requested to report here and check on some things for the World Wizengamot," in her not taking any crap from anyone voice.
Percy involuntarily took a step back at the tone. "Well then," clearing his throat, "if you would follow me."
Dawn turned back to the guard with her hand held out "Wand please." Taking her wand she follows Percy to Minister Fudge's office.
"Welcome to England. I know things are different in America, but do you always dress like that for important meetings?" Minister Fudge asked in an offended voice.
"Minister Fudge I was sent here to work and this is what I wear when working. I apologize if my 'attire' offends you, but I could really care less. Now if you would be so kind as to escort me to the veil so I can check the wards and make updates." Fudge sputtered as Dawn walked towards the door not waiting on him. Fudge rushed after her and got ahead of her to give the impression of still being in charge. Dawn was having a hard time holding back her smirk as she watched the pompous ass that was the Minister of Magic in England. She then watched as Fudge talked with the Head of the Department of Mysteries, who in turn made sure everyone vacated the department. As the Department Head started to leave Dawn stopped her by asking her "Would you please stay, I may have some questions for you and need to show you some things." Then she looked at Fudge and spoke again "YOU can leave, the WW will give you the details that you'll need." She turned her back on him and walked towards the Veil "Accio table" was the only sound heard for a moment, and then there was the sound of stomping feet and a slamming of the door. At that point Dawn finally released the laughter that she had been holding in, she set her briefcase down on the table and looked at the woman who was to assist her and asked, "Is he always such a pompous, chauvinist asshole?" "Yes." Was the answer she heard before the other woman's laughter joined in. Dawn opened her briefcase and pulled out a vial of potion and a piece of parchment paper. She then asked Lyvette (the Head of Department of Mysteries) to cast an update spell on the parchment while she contacted the Guardian of the Veil.
"What do you mean Guardian of the Veil? I, everyone, thought that this was a portal to the dead!" Asked a very confused Lyvette.
"You mean to tell me that you are over this department and you don't know what exactly you are dealing with?" said a disbelieving Dawn, "Whoa, and I thought that I was kept out of the loop. Would you like me to explain what the Veil is?" At Lyvette's nod Dawn started explaining and proceeded to start opening the Veil by pricking every finger and the thumb of her right hand which she then placed in the indentions on the right side of the archway and said "Porticuss Entress". They both stood back and watched the center of the Veil swirl and slowly pull back to the sides of the archway and then a man appeared in the middle. "Joey!" exclaimed Dawn as she threw her arms around the man and gave him a hug and a kiss. "It has been too long. Lyvette, I would like you to meet Joseph Tannahill, Guardian of the Veil, Joey meet Lyvette the Head of the Department of Mysteries in Britain." Joseph and Lyvette nodded to each other.
"I assume there is a reason you summoned me dear cuz. Or did you just miss me so much that you pulled me out of my daily duties?"
"Joey you always did think too much of yourself. Of course I had a reason to summon you, as usual the World Wizengamot sent me. They need a list of everyone who has come through this portal in the last 15 years, and all paperwork that was sent with them. They also need the usual paperwork of deaths, causes of death, births, marriages, etc., etc. I need your help to strengthen these wards and place the accidental repelling charm on this entrance. For some reason this hasn't been done here. Oh yeah, there's a new magically update parchment to replace the ones that you're giving me, and your vial of magic enhancement potion."
"Let me go get those papers for you, and then we'll work on the wards. Give me 10 minutes." With that Joseph picked up the new parchment and vial and walked back through the portal. Twenty minutes later Joseph came back through the archway with several scrolls shrunken to fit into Dawn's briefcase. "That should be everything that they requested, if it's not," he paused with a grin, "you know where to find me. Now which ward do you want to work on first?" For the next two hours Dawn, Joseph and occasionally Lyvette worked on replacing and updating all of the wards guarding the Veil. They had just finished the last one, which was the accidental repelling charm when they felt the ministry building start shaking. Looking through the archway they could see the buildings shaking there too.
"Joseph, you had better get back there to make sure all of the portal wards held. If you need any help you know what to do." Just then a second quake hit, this time much stronger than the last, Joseph looked at Dawn who started gasping in pain as she clutched her forearm. As he looked at her, the aura around her started glowing in iridescent colors, and when a third quake struck Dawn collapsed onto the floor unconscious.
Lyvette looked at her two companions and told Joseph, "Go on, do what she told you, I'll take care of her. How do I close the archway?"
"I'll take care of that, but all you have to do is prick each finger and your thumb of your left hand, press them in the indentions on the left side of the archway and say Porticuss Seallus." Joseph did as he was instructing and as he stepped back through the portal he said to Lyvette "Tell Dawn that I love her and to take care of herself." With that he disappeared and the archway was sealed again. Lyvette looked at Dawn, sighed and levitated her to a transfigured couch and tried to wake her. She was just about to give up when three very pissed off good looking men came bursting through the doors.
"What the hell did you do to her?" yelled Vince at the startled young woman.
"N-N-Nothing," Lyvette stammered out, "She collapsed clutching her arm just before the third quake hit. I've been trying to revive her ever since, but whatever happened she has magic rolling off of her in waves and is resisting any envinerating charms." Lyvette heard Minister Fudge in the hallway, she quickly went over to the table shoved everything in Dawn's briefcase and sealed it. She had just handed it to Varian when Fudge walked in "Don't let go of that and don't give it to anyone but Dawn," She whispered, "Dawn doesn't like Fudge and doesn't trust him and that stuff is to important to fall into his hands." Varian gave Lyvette an odd look, but nodded his head in agreement. Vince picked up Dawn looked at Ethan and Varian, turned and walked past Fudge without a word, Ethan and Varian were right on his heels.
Fudge looked at Lyvette with narrowed eyes "I suggest you explain to me what happened here." He hissed at her angrily.
………………………………………………………..
Back at the Leaky Cauldron Vin and Varian were making Dawn comfortable on her bed when Vin noticed a tattoo on her right forearm. It was the form of a phoenix with a lighting bolt clutched in its claws and a dragon on either side of its wings. He ran his finger over it and felt the magic pulsing from it. "When did Dawn get a tattoo?" he asked Varian.
Varian gave Vin a confused look, "She doesn't have a tattoo. She said they were tacky looking when a person got old and wrinkly, not that they aren't cool when your young, but they don't age well."
Vin looked at Varian with a worried expression, "Well she has one now, look," and pointed at her arm.
Varian's face paled when he saw it, he looked up at Vin and said in a shaky voice, "I've got to get her to Hogwarts now. Don't worry about any of the defensive charms and wards at the school; we'll take care of any you can't get past. Help me get our stuff packed and I'll floo with her and let you know how she is doing." The room was then a flurry of activity as they started shrinking and accioing Dawn's stuff into her trunk. When Varian and Dawn's stuff was all packed and shrunken to fit into his pocket he through some floo powder in the fireplace and said "Dumbledore's office," while he waited he shifted Dawn over his shoulder in a fireman's carry, then a head appeared in the fire "Professor, we have a slight emergency here I need to bring Dawn there as quickly as possible. Will you open the floo wards for us?"
"Of course my boy, come on through," was the quite reply.
Varian looked at the special OP's team "You know where we're at if you need anything, see you on the first." With that he stepped into the floo with Dawn and disappeared.
Ethan looked at Vin who was visibly upset, "Well, that was weird."
Vin snorted "You don't know the half of it. What are we all standing around for we still have a job to do." He spun on his heel and headed out the door to run errands for the mission.