For every door that closes a new one opens, though at times its good to re-open doors long closed in hopes of finding yet another new door to step through...-FatticusXL
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At number 12 Grimmauld place, there was chaos. When arriving in Diagon Alley in response to a Death Eater attack, all that the Order of the Phoenix fond were twenty-nine dead raiders. Every single one of the black-robed bodies had single holes in vital areas. All the reports from witnesses pointed a blue-coated warrior who used muggle weaponry. Around the house's kitchen, twelve people were arguing about what should be done. Views varied from nothing to arresting the mystery man. Albus Dumbledore sat at the head of the long table, idly stroking his silvery right hand. After a curse, placed on Marvollo Gaunt's ring, had killed his hand, the only way to prevent it from spreading was to amputate. In its pace, a magical prosthetic was conjured. He, while happy that there were no civilian casualties, was upset about the needless theft of lives that could have been redeemed.
"We need to find whoever did this and bring him in!" declared Hestia Jones.
"Whoever it is, they eliminated twenty-nine of the dark lord's followers." rebutted Amos Diggory. "I say we leave them be and let them continue."
Before anyone could answer, a distinctly reptilian screech and the sounds of and Mrs. Black's usual speel filled the house. After about thirty seconds, her speech degraded into an earsplitting wail accompanied by the smell of burning paint. Every member of the old house rushed to the entryway, only to see a scorch mark on the wall where the irritating piece of 'art' had hung. Turning away from the wall, the crowd took in the sight of Moody standing smugly by a young man in a deep blue duster.
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"You sure I can get in contact with Potter here, sir?" asked Jaxom as the dingy visage of number twelve sprung into view.
"Yeah. Potter's here for the remainder of the summer until school starts." came the gruff reply as the old auror limped up to the door.
Sharing a look with Renth, who was sitting on his shoulder, Jaxom followed. Entering behind his mentor, Jax took in the dark hallway and disturbing adornments. The house elf heads stared blankly back at him as he passed, distracting him long enough to brush against a nearby curtain. The drapes sprung open, dragging a surprised screech from the little fire lizard and revealing a haggard old woman who promptly began to scream.
"FILTH! DIRT! Garbage defiling the house of my fathers!" the insults and outrage continued to fly out of the old bitch's mouth.
"She important?" Jaxom yelled into Moody's ear. Receiving a negative, the young man stepped forward, rummaging in one of the rings attached to his gloves. As he reached the portrait, he pulled out a can of lighter fluid with he proceeded to douse the painting in the flammable substance. Stepping back, he nodded to the creature on his shoulder. Taking his cue, Renth inhaled deeply and spewed blue flames onto the soaked portrait. As the flame made contact with the canvas, the ranting degraded into a harsh scream. Jaxom and Moody watched stoically as the small inferno devoured the canvas and frame.
After another twenty seconds, Jaxom doused the flames as a horde of people stormed into the entry way. Leading the group from a side door was a tall man with a flowing white beard. Jaxom could feel the power surging from the wizened old man as he looked to the forefront of the younger group that had come from the upper floors of the house. Covered black eyes contacted with startling green and Trantic knew that he had found his target.
"And who is your friend, Alastor?" asked the old man, ignoring the scorched wall for now.
"Potential member." was all Moody would say as he pushed past the crowd and through the side door. The rest of the adults followed a portly, red-headed woman shooed the younger people away. Meeting that same pair of vibrant green eyes once more, Jaxom shrugged and followed the others out of the hall.
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Back upstairs, the golden trio and Ginny were arranged in the boys' rooms.
"Who do you think that was?" asked Ginny, eyes shining.
"Don't know, but he was a weird looking bloke." replied Ron as his eyes narrowed suspiciously at his sister's look.
"Yes..." stated Hermione, "he was dressed rather strangely, even for a muggle. And did you see that creature on his shoulder? I think it was a fire lizard! They are supposed to be extinct!"
Harry stared out of the window next to his bed, completely ignoring his friend's lectures and conjectures. When he'd stared into the reflective blue lenses of the stranger's shades, he'd felt some kind of connection. It was like the two were destined to meet for something important. Harry didn't know why, but he had to talk to the weird man.
"Harry?" Hermione's questioning tone of voice brought his eyes to hers. As their gazes locked, he once again felt the fluttering in his stomach that always accompanied a glance in her direction. He knew that he was crazy about the bushy-haired brunette, but his damn nobility prevented him from telling her. He'd seen the way Ron, his best mate, constantly looked at the bookworm-turned-bombshell and resigned himself to the loss of his dream girl.
"Yeah, Hermione?" Before she could answer, the bedroom door opened and Remus Lupin stuck his head in.
"Harry. Hermione. You're both needed in the kitchen ." Looking to each other, they rose and, ignoring the weak protests of the agitated red-heads, left the room.
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As soon as the group was seated around the kitchen table, Albus turned to his old friend.
"Would you care to explain your companion, Alastor?"
"Alright, this is..." he was interrupted by Severus Snape before he could continue.
"Is that an actual fire lizard on your shoulder?" he demanded, pointing to Jaxom. "I thought that they were extinct."
"Obviously not." deadpanned the young man.
"A cornucopia of rare ingredients..." muttered the potion master, staring at the small creature hungrily. His gaze immediately shifted to the dark blade whose point was resting against his throat. Looking up the blade, engraved with what looked like the pattern of swirling energy, Snape saw what looked like a dragon's claw separating the blade from the hilt. At the end of the handle, which appeared to be covered in dragon skin, a metal rendition of the fire lizard's head was frozen in mid roar.
"You ever look at Renth like that again, and I'll gut you like a fuckin' fish."
Immediately, nine wands were leveled at Jaxom's face. Moody shot up, placing himself between his fellow order members and his protege. Thirteen looks of complete shock focused on the auror.
"Stow the wands! Snape was out of line eying Renth like that." Every wand was lowered, but none were put away. "Good enough. Jaxom...you've made your point."
Rolling his eyes at the pun, Jaxom lowered his sword from the grease ball's throat. Twirling the blade and placing the tip on the steel ring of his left glove, he pushed the sword into the space. To every one's, bar Moody's, shock the entire sword disappeared onto the ring.
"Now, this is Jaxom Trantic. He's an old friend of mine."
"Hey! Who you calling old, mad-beard?" There was a mass intake of breath as shields were discretely thrown up. Moody stared hard at his 'friend' before he actually smiled.
"Bite me, Jax. This is the man who drove off the Death Eaters in Diagon Alley this morning."
"That's one way to say it." scoffed Jaxom. The shocked looks immediately shifted to ones of outrage and gratitude. Several of those present leveled their wands again as shouts rose. Jaxom bemusedly listened listened as he was simultaneously berated and thanked for killing the Death Eaters. After a few minutes, Dumbledore finally cleared his throat and all noises ceased. Standing, Albus met Trantic's eyes.
"While I am grateful that no innocents were killed, I must say that I'm disappointed that you killed those people."
"And why is that?"
"You viciously negated any chance for them to reform. To take their lives, you must drop their level."
"Which is why Riddle is kicking your asses." replied Jaxom, smirking at the old man's shocked look. Suddenly, a last of music filled the room. Jaxom rooted through his coat pockets until he pulled out a muggle cell phone. Disregarding the impromptu audience, he flipped open the phone and placed it to his ear.
"Yeah? Oh, really... And the stone was still in it? Good. Yeah, just put it in my vault and I'll grab it when I bring in the payment for my latest job...Yeah, I'll swing by in the next few hours and take you out for some ice cream...Don't bullshit me. You love it and you know it. Oh! I've found the last one...Yep, so if I bring him in with me can you remove it without killing him? Great, great. Alright...later." Closing and stowing the phone, Jaxom noticed the incredulous looks the others were throwing him.
"What?" "What was that?" asked a red-headed man, intrigued.
"Cell-phone? Seriously, you people really need to get with the times. Muggle technology is ripe for the picking and you just ignore it."
"Muggle technology doesn't work around magic." spat Snape.
"Usually not, but my tech runs off my magic. And before anyone tries to arrest me, it is not charmed."
"Then how does it work?" asked the same red-head.
"That is a question for another time. Who was it you were talking to, Mr. Trantic?"
"Ragnok. We got a deal going and he was informing me of the latest...acquisition."
"So, you offered to take the head of the goblin nation out for ice cream?!" some one asked.
"Yeah. He tries to act like he hates it, but the little fucker just can't get enough banana splits."
"And this deal?" asked Amos Diggory.
"Ah...that is something that I will not discuss without Harry Potter and Hermione Granger in the room." As expected, shouts of rejection flared up following that statement. Jax leaned against the wall as order was restored and Dumbledore turned to him.
"Why do you require the presence of Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger?"
"Because they are directly linked to this deal. Actually...that ain't completely true. Harry is directly linked. Hermione is linked through her love for him and his love for her."
"If that is the case, then surely Mr. Weasley is also needed." stated Dumbledore.
"Not that kind of love. Now, if someone could go get 'em." With a nod of acceptance, Remus Lupin rose and left the room. Then, remembering something, Jax turned to back to the old headmaster.
"Oh...and professor...I'm gonna need your wand."