Chapter 11
Remus sat across from Sirius in the Defense Professor's quarters, staring dazedly into the fire.
"It's not real to me yet," Sirius muttered.
The werewolf looked to his friend, "Me neither."
"I mean, he is so different from anything I would have expected. When I think of it, he's got James' confidence and power, but to the next level."
"I could feel the energy radiating off of him Padfoot. We have to be careful. He's not our little Harry anymore, and he's a Dark Wizard and a killer," Remus was still trying to wrap his head around the latter two.
"We can give him a chance though, can't we Moony? I really want to know him. He's the only thing I have left of Lily and James. If I only had stayed instead of running off that night Dumbledore never would have…," Sirius' voice cracked as he thought of his godson with those awful muggles. The things the Order had found out when they went to get Harry and found him missing were hideous. "Merlin, no wonder he is the way he is, beaten then abandoned by his family; it's a miracle that he survived."
Remus looked down, ashamed for the negative thoughts he'd had about his best friend's son. The circumstances he had been forced into had made him the way he was, sharp and distrusting…just like Severus was.
Remus had never disliked Severus really and had tried to stop James and Sirius from playing the worst of their pranks. 'Maybe this is a chance to start over with Severus, he has done so much for me,' most of all, he had not only created Wolfsbane but brewed it every month for Remus. 'If I can only make Sirius and him stop fighting…I'm going to need Kai's help.'
"Do you think he'd like to go running with us in the forest Moony? He's an animagus after all?" Sirius' voice cut into Remus' thoughts.
"He does know about me…well, it won't hurt to ask, will it?"
"Great! Oh, I wonder if he likes pranks? He's not too old to learn. We'll make him into a Marauder yet!"
Remus thought that Sirius was dreaming if he thought that he was going to make his godson into a prankster, but he let the dog animagus ramble.
"I can't wait to see him again!"
Kai could see why many Hogwarts students were amazed by the Express when they stepped onto the platform for the first time. The bright red old fashioned train sparkled, thrumming with magic.
Sipping on his large coffee, he walked the perimeter of the empty platform, feeling out the existing wards before getting on and settling himself in the last compartment.
Albus had, ever-so-nicely, asked if he could review and strengthen the wards on the platform as well as lay and anchor wards around the moving train. The first was simple enough, but the second would take hours. That was what brought him to the train at 6:00 am, just him and some aurors. Setting up some basic alert wards around his cabin, he dropped into a trance, breathing deeply and looking every inch asleep, feet propped up on the opposite seat.
Focusing on the feel of the Dark Mark, he again weaved his anti-portkey and apparition wards and also a new proximity ward he'd designed. The ward would alert him should any Death Eaters cross through the barrier, take an image and send it to Kai's mind.
This was why Kai wore a headset, like a hands free phone, linked to the aurors' frequency. The assassin would receive the image, alert the aurors and the aurors would watch that individual.
Kai held back a chuckled at the irony of working with the aurors again. He might as well register as a Hitwizard and make himself legit.
"Mic on," he said aloud. "Boudreau here, perimeter wards set."
"Good, keep me informed," Shacklebolt's deep voice rumbled.
"Will do. Beginning second stage now. Mic off."
Taking a drink of his coffee, he looked at the time, 8:45. Rolling his shoulders, he slipped back into the trance. The hours slipped by as Kai weaved ward after ward around the train, anchoring them to the train and himself, only pausing to alert the aurors occasionally.
Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom walked the hallway of the train together. No one found this odd; the two were always together. The Loners of Gryffindor they were called, outcasts from the pack, Hermione for her brains and pushiness and Neville for his "Cowardly Lion" status. Since first year the pair were inseparable. Getting worried about not finding an empty compartment, they opened the door of the last compartment only to pause in surprise at seeing someone they had never seen before.
Hermione's first thought was "wow…"
Her eyes wandered the sharp lines of the face and body of the sleeping man. She couldn't pinpoint his age, sometimes looking 19, sometimes around 23. He had a strange headset on his right ear. Overall, she could only stare.
"Let's stay in here, there's nowhere else," Neville pushed.
"You think he'll mind?"
Neville shrugged. "I wonder who he is," the boy said as he sat on the seat near the door.
"I can't say. He's too old to be a student. Well, we know he's at least muggle-raised, because that's a cup of coffee."
"Coffee?"
"Muggle beverage like a pepperup potion. Awful stuff. And he's dressed like a muggle too; those are nice jeans actually. Could he be part of the auror squad?"
"Well, if he's an auror he's not doing a good job, sleeping like that."
A smooth voice startled them, "I assure you, I am neither an auror, nor sleeping."
They turned to look into a pair of amused green eyes.
"Mic on," he muttered. "Shacklebolt, final wardings are set. We're good to go."
They realized he was speaking into the headset.
"Yes…no, just a little tired…until then. Mic off," the stranger sighed, stretching his shoulders before looking at them again.
"And you are?"
"I'm sorry; I'm Hermione Granger and this is Neville Longbottom. We're 7th year Gryffindors."
He shook their hands, Neville looking intimidated.
"Kai Boudreau."
Hermione was absolutely fascinated by him; his looks, his voice, that air of mystery.
"Mr. Boudreau, may I ask…you said something about laying wards. How could you do that the way you were? Where's your wand?"
He raised an eyebrow, "Curious? That was a warder's trance, that's all I can say."
The Gryffindor's eyes went wide in excitement, "You're a Master Warder? You must be in charge of warding the train! How exciting! How long did it take? Are there many wards? What kinds? And wandless magic! Can all Master Warders do it or is it just you?"
Kai looked on apathetically as question after question came out without end in sight or the odd girl even taking a breath. He looked at her companion; the slightly chubby blonde just shrugged, a wry smile on his face.
Noticing their lack of attention, the girl pulled up short with a huff, "Fine, ignore me then."
"I don't know about you, but where I'm from if you ask a question you wait for a reply before asking another. Otherwise none will get answered," he chastised. "And for Athena's sake, call me Kai, Mr. Boudreau makes me feel old."
The muggleborn blushed, "Sorry…Kai."
She noted the odd use of the Greek Goddess. It tugged at her memory, someone else said things like that but who…?
"As for your questions; yes, I warded the train and platform. It took me around 4 hours. There, yes, are many wards. No, I cannot tell you what they are for security reasons."
The shy boy laughed, "I can't normally get past the second question."
The assassin found the pair to be amusing if not charming. They both appeared to be the loner types, preferring just the other.
Hermione, he judged to be the Teacher's Pet type, scorned by her classmates for her thirst for knowledge and their jealously at her accomplishment. Her knowledge of his clothing and coffee singled that she was at least normal-raised, probably striving to prove that she deserved to be here to the purebloods. The coffee really suggested that because wizards did not drink coffee. Not with the various awakeness and pepper-up potions that existed.
But man, almost nothing beat a good hot cup of coffee.
He had never liked teacher's pets, no one at Riker did. The instructors wanted to be questioned, challenged, demanding in depth discussion on inconclusive topics. He would always remember his first blood magic class...
Kai was not pleased.
Beginner blood magic? His pride was screaming at the indignity. He had learned this stuff when he was eight! The class taught the basic hows and whys of blood magic. Unfortunately, there was no initial testing for blood magic as almost no one was taught at home, unlike the normal charms, transfiguration and potions classes. When he saw it on his schedule he spoke to the headmistress who told him to speak to Instructor Con, the instructor who taught Intro Bloodmagic.
'That isn't unreasonable,' Kai soothed his pride as he stepped into the class early.
He was surprised to find the class already almost full. He walked to the front to the tall intimidating man who was muttering to himself in Italian.
"Instructor Con, can I speak with you for a moment?" Kai asked politely.
Icy blue eyes snapped onto his, "That's Master Con to you, boy," the older man barked.
Kai was startled at the hostility, "I apologize for my ignorance Master Con," he replied.
"Better, you just might have manners. Now, what do you want?" he stood, towering over the 11-year-old.
"Headmistress Rain said I should speak to you about testing out of this class."
The man struck his nose in the air, "Testing out of my class? There is no testing out of my class! You couldn't anyway. What are you, nine?"
Kai's temper flared as he heard the class behind him laugh. He reeled it in tightly.
"Eleven, sir. I humbly request the chance to prove my skills to you."
"Skills?" the man sneered, the expression looking so out of place in the strong features of his face. "Fine. Why do you need to inject a solution including phoenix ashes into your system before doing any ritual for Hephaestus?"
"Phoenix ashes, in the Nvich Solution, increases the body's ability to tolerate high temperatures. This is important as all Hephaestus rituals must be done in a ritual room at a consistent temperature of 65.1 degrees Celsius."
The man's eyes narrowed. "Some users, in the fourth level night vision set by Nyx exchange the important rune Mia for Nia. Where is that rune and why do they switch."
Kai took a deep breath, "The rune is placed exactly in the center of the inside of each eyelid. Mia is the rune for dark and Nia for near dark. Users that switch are normally vampires as Nia creates better vision at dawn and dusk a time for which vampires have their worst vision. I, being human, selected Mia at that level."
"Selected? You dare imply that you've done blood magic that powerful?" the man, dark hair shaking, leaned into Kai's face.
"Yes!" Ka hissed. "Sir, frankly, I have my jouneyman exams in less than eight months. I need to spend my time…"
"Lies! There has never been an apprentice level user as young as you!"
"Sir!" Kai bit, trying to remain the better person, but he was no Saint. "That is a serious allegation! Are you claiming that I am falsely presenting my status within the guild?!"
"Yes," the Italian spit. "What are the three power runes in Hades' 'River Styx' ritual?"
Kai nearly got sick. The rituals of Hades were grotesque and disturbing, nothing Kai would touch with a 10-foot-pole.
"What, boy, don't know?"
"No sir. Frankly, I would not touch the rituals of Hades if my life depended on it."
"Why is that? Too difficult for you Master Apprentice?"
"No sir. It is because every ritual requires the sacrifice of at least six children, age six or younger. Training as an assassin or not, I will not be responsible for the slaughter of any child," the young mage held his back straight, limbs trembling in anger.
"Then you are weak."
"If that is weakness, then call me weak," Kai would never back down on this. Hades was the black side of Blood magic, what Kai considered to be the festering wound on an otherwise healthy limb.
The man's eyes bore into Kai's, getting right in his face, "All of my mastery students must complete the rituals of Hades to graduate. If you can't handle that then you don't belong at Riker."
The youth let his anger show for the first time, lips curling in a snarl, free magic sparking up and down his arms. "I came to Riker, worked my ass off to get into here, because of what I heard about the excellence of the program here and the integrity and skill of its instructors. Obviously what I heard was untrue. If that is how things are run around here then I will be informing the Headmistress of my immediate withdrawal from this program."
The students watched in shock as Kai bowed his head slightly in a mocking show of respect then turned on his heel and strode quickly towards the door.
A slow, steady clapping stopped him. He turned, eyes dark, to see Instructor Con with a huge grin on his face.
"Bravo, Mr. Boudreau, bravo. The headmistress convinced me you were worth my time, but her words did you no justice," he walked up to the suspicious and still angry mage.
"She wanted me to take you on as a personal apprentice, to work one-on-one with you. Of course, I had to see if you were worthy of such a thing," he said quietly, sitting back on his haunches so they would be more eye-to-eye.
"No matter what you say, I will not…"
"Nor shall you ever touch the Hades rituals so long as I live. I only take students that will not abuse that power. You were willing to drop out of the most prestigious school in the world to stick to your morals. I like that a lot."
As those words struck him Kai struggled to stay standing as the emotion drained out of him, taking his energy with it.
'Now, I don't believe we've been truly introduced, I'm Musha Gio Anaconda, but most just call me Con."
The other boy, Longbottom, he must be the Longbottom heir, son of those aurors. He seemed a bit twitchy, withdrawn, opposite in many ways to his companion. Kai was thankful he studied the records of the students in the school, trying to find out the most important ones. He finished off the rest of his now-cold coffee with a grimace as the train pulled away from the station.
"Boudreau," a voice buzzed in his ear.
Muttering in annoyance, he replied, "Boudreau here."
"Platform is clear. Feel free to release the platform wards. Shacklebolt and his team are on the train. Don't get in our way."
"Wouldn't dream of it, Moody," the warder drawled.
"Boudreau," Shacklebolt's voice cut in, "get some rest. It's a long train ride and we don't want the wards to fall if you're strained."
Kai grimaced, trlling himself to play nice. "I'm in the last cabin if you need me; otherwise, I'll see you at Hogsmeade."
He leaned his head back against the seat, rubbing his eyes.
"I have to release some wards, so I recommend not speaking to me for at least 15 minutes," he said to the students before dropping into a light trance, allowing him to be still aware of those around him.
He came out of it 20 minutes later to silence. The girl was watching his every move while the boy was entrenched in what appeared to be a herbology magazine.
"Is it hard to go into the trance like that?" she asked.
'Great, interrogation, round II.'
"Not now, but it took years to learn it."
"Do you always work with the aurors?"
"No," the short answer reined in her questioning. Kai decided it was time to get some info on the school from a different perspective.
"I'm going to be around the school a lot this year, what's Hogwarts like? I've never really been?" he looked casual, but interested, trademark charming smile on.
"You didn't go to Hogwarts?"
"No. I assure you, the age difference between us isn't so great that you'd have easily missed me as one of your school-mates."
"No," she giggled, "you would not be easily missed."
He just raised an eyebrow cheekily at her words. She blushed brightly.
"So, where'd you go?"
"A small school in North America," he answered vaguely. "So, my fair interrogator, what sayest thou of Hogwarts?"
She blushed again, unconsciously straightening her long curly hair.
"Well, Hogwarts was built in..."
"Oh no, no, no, I wasn't asking for a vocal presentation of Hogwarts, a History! I mean, tell me of the people, the students, the staff. I hear that are four houses, how do they interact? Are there clubs, sports? The stuff you don't find in a book."
She pondered the request for a minute, "Well, most of the professors are nice, and brilliant, like Professor McGonagall and Flitwick. Professor Snape is an absolute genius, but he's bitter and caustic and favors the house he is head of. Most students don't like him," she talked for quite a while about all the different teachers, their pros and cons to him as if he was an incoming student.
"With the four houses," she paused, "do you know what they are represented by?"
"Bravery; knowledge; loyalty and hard work; cunning and ambition."
"Right, well, currently there are two major factions inside the school plus the neutrals. They are very similar in my mind. On one hand you have the so called 'Dark Wizards', lead by Draco Malfoy. They're the prejudiced pigs for You-Know-Who, wanting to destroy anything muggle. This is mostly made up of the pureblood Slytherins and some Ravenclaws. Since war broke out they've been emboldened, causing more trouble. At the other end of the spectrum are the so-called 'Light Wizards' lead by a real arse called Ronald Weasley. That lot are viciously prejudiced against anything remotely dark, be it magic, creatures or even attitudes. Anyone even suggesting that dark magic has its purpose, which it does, is shunned from the 'popular' crowd, This group is made up of mostly Gryffindors, but most of Hufflepuff supports them because they're supposed to be 'good' and 'right'."
"The conflict between the two must have escalated seriously since the war broke out." She nodded. "So, most of the friendships are inner-house then?"
"Yes. I have some ideas to try and help this year, I'm Head Girl you see, but it's like fighting a useless battle," she pointed to the shining gold badge on her left shoulder.
'That's even better if I get an in with the Head Girl,' Kai thought.
"Who's your male counterpart?"
She scoffed, "Draco Malfoy himself."
Kai barked a laugh, "That would cause some problems. You are normal-born are you not? That wouldn't preclude a good working relationship. He's not the friendliest fellow."
"You've met?"
The compartment door slamming open cut off any reply.
'Speak of the devil and he will appear,' Kai thought, smirking.
Draco Malfoy stood there, sneering at the students in all his platinum glory. Kai smothered a flame of rage at how much the boy looked like his father.
"My, my, isn't it the mud blood and the squib. Hiding from the rest of the Gryffindorks again? Ahh, looks like the little teachers' pet kissed enough ass to get her badge," he leaned his tall thin form against the doorframe.
"You know Hermione, nonmagical psychologists say that people bully and put down others to try and lift their own pathetic self esteem," Kai drawled slowly.
Hermione smothered a laugh.
"Muggles know n-" Draco froze when his eyes landed on Kai. His mouth opened and closed; his face a look of abject horror as recognition flashed on his face.
"Shadow," he whispered. "What-what?! You can't be here!"
"Why ever not, Mr. Malfoy, I am a professional warder after all. In fact, I'm linked with the auror team guarding the train. So, boy, I suggest you leave my cabin mates alone," Kai sneered back, eyes cold.
The young heir's nostrils flared, his mind battling anger at the indignity and fear of the powerful assassin who had suffered greatly at the hands of his father.
"Y-you just wait, when my father hears about this-"
"Oh please, mention this to Lucius," Kai barked a laugh, looking positively smug. "Tell your Daddy that I'm perfectly willing to finish that job, you know the one," Draco's breathing stopped again: the assassination. "At my leisure of course," Kai smirked. "I hear the Manor's wards are just a mess."
Draco took a step back. He knew it was the assassin's fault their manor's wards had fallen and the Order seized their home. His father was now a wanted man, most of their family's prestige lost.
"Oh and Draco dearest, be careful what you say," Kai tapped the headset, "Wouldn't want the aurors to think that you have a way to contact your father and haven't informed the proper authorities."
The remaining blood drained from the already pale blonde's face.
"Now get out," a flick of his hand and the blonde and his goons vanished.
"What happened? How did you do that?" Hermione demanded.
"You didn't think I wouldn't ward my own cabin, did you? Ah, our smarmy Mr. Malfoy will find himself and his thugs in a bit of a tight spot."
"Where?" Neville asked softly, eyes wide with awe at their cabin mate.
"One of the stalls in the girls' bathroom. I do hope it was empty," the poorly done innocent look Kai was sporting told just how little he hoped that. "For shame on him. What an awful place for the Head Boy to be found, spying on the girls' bathroom like that…"
The cabin was filled with howls of laughter.
"That was the best thing I've seen since the Weasley twins left. I've never seen the ferret look so put in his place!" Neville laughed, coming out of his shell a bit.
"Ferret? Oh, now you must tell me that story," the assassin turned professor cackled.
The trio spent the next hour or so laughing and discussing things of little importance.
'I wonder how they'll react when they realize they've been hanging out with a prof?'
Kai looked up when the cabin door slid open again. A tall, dark stocky youth with warm blue eyes and dark brown hair smirked in at him.
"Look what the cat dragged in."
Kai was on his feet in a second.
"Blaise!"
The pair met halfway in a strong manly hug.
"That bastard, a surprise my ass!" Kai laughed, clapping his 'brother' on the back. "I forgot you went to Hogwarts!"
"Father knew you did. We thought we'd surprise you."
Blaise Zabini was Anaconda's oldest son, just weeks younger than Kai. The pair had spent almost every Christmas together after Anaconda took him as an apprentice. He hadn't seen his almost-brother since Christmas.
"Sit down, sit down," he motioned to the seat opposite his. "I assume you know Hermione and Neville."
Blaise nodded to the pair who was watching the interaction with interest, "Granger, Longbottom."
"Zabini," the two intoned before going back to their reading.
"I can't believe you're going to be here the whole year," Blaise shook his head. "This is going to be amazing. The havoc we will wreak."
Kai smiled innocently, a look very out of place on his face, "Now Blaise, you know I have to stay out of it."
"Huh, really now? So that's why I heard girls screaming because Malfoy and his cronies suddenly appeared in the girls' loo…?"
Hermione giggled.
"I had nothing to do with it I tell you…back me up here Hermione!"
"Sorry Kai, I try to be an honest individual; I'm Head Girl after all."
Kai smirked, "Sarcasm does not suit you."
"What are you going to do, stick out your tongue at me?" the bookworm had really loosened up around Kai since the start of the train ride.
"I'm considering it."
"So," Blaise cut in, "you guys sign up for the new practical defense class?"
Kai gave the Italian a barely concealed look of distaste.
"Absolutely, it sounds fascinating!" Hermione chirped. "The school has needed a class like this, especially with the war. I hope the professor is competent."
Blaise smirked, "I have my doubts, but we'll see."
Hermione was surprised by how friendly and nice the dark Slytherin seemed to be. Most Slytherins were closed off and hostile to members of other houses. Maybe it was the Kai-factor.
The four talked for a while before suddenly Kai jerked and fell into the trance. He flicked down the mic with unseeing eyes.
"Alert! Fifty bogies incoming south, south-west, triangular attack pattern. I repeat, fifty Death Eaters approaching by broom from the south, south-west. ETA four minutes 33 seconds. Awaiting recommendation for ward activation."
Kai's eyes snapped open, calm as anything. A holographic image of the train appeared in front of Kai, glowing red lights in a triangle approaching from behind.p
"Be advised, auror team assembling near rear. When attackers are within 50 meters activate defensive measures. Attempt to snap some of them out of the air."
"Copy that. I'll keep you updated. Out."
"Out."
Kai took a deep breath; this was not at all unexpected.
"Kai, are we being attacked?" Hermione squeaked.
"Yes, now shush and let me do my job."
"Incoming at 250 meters," he spoke, readying himself for the large power drain activating the defensive measures would cause.
"We have a visual," an auror replied.
"Visual on the left side as well."
"Warning!" Kai called as the diagram changed. "The triangle has split! They appear to be circling wide. I believe they are heading for the middle of the train."
"Copy that. Will reposition."
"150m…100m…75m…be prepared for counter measures!"
Kai, face serious, held his hands, palms facing each other, inches apart. Magic sparked between his hands, forming a ball of power. As he pulled his hands further apart, the ball grew and grew. The air around him crackled with energy.
"50m, activating countermeasures.'
He slammed his palms together, the jet of power shooting straight up through the roof and into the dome of the wards. Trusting Blaise to protect him if needed, he let himself fall into full trance to project himself out to the wards to finely manipulate the defensive procedures.
The long dome around the train pulsed as the power hit it, becoming a visible silvery blue. The flyers didn't pull up in time and slammed hard into the barrier at full speed. Most managed to stay on their brooms but four spun out of control and slammed into the ground. Kai reached out with the wards as he had with Malfoy and transported them to a locked area he had set up in the baggage compartment. Feeling the drain on his power, he released the physical shield and lifted the magical shield, changing the color to an almost completely transparent teal. He had explained the colors earlier to Shacklebolt so his team would know how to react.
And react they did. The elite auror team attacked hard, incarceration and stunning spells passing out of his shields and strategically corralling the black robed Death Eaters into one area. Kai flinched as enemy fire slammed into the shields; he could feel his corporeal body smack back against the seat. It was a side effect of linking himself so thoroughly to the wards. Holding on, he kept pulling the downed Death Eaters into the sealed area.
He gasped and bit his tongue as six killing curses hit the wards simultaneously. He sucked as much energy out of them as he could so that they wouldn't kill. He didn't want admit it, but he was concerned that Tonks was down there.
He sighed wearily as he pulled the last four Death Eaters through the wards. He prepared to release the defensive wards and nearly screamed in frustration when his alerts went off again. What he saw made him rip himself out of the trance.
His corporeal body felt like shit. He could hear his heavy breathing and taste blood in his mouth. Gods, he was tired.
"Dementors!" he croaked into the mic. "Full battalion approaching from above!"
He stumbled to his feet, "Gather any students that can cast a patronus, this is going to be a nightmare."
"Copy that! Can the wards help?"
"Nothing can ward against dementors. I could try and hold them with the physical ward but that would likely kill me," Kai was at the door when he felt a shoulder come under his arm, supporting his weight.
"I can cast a patronus," it was Blaise, "and Ares knows I'm not going to let you get yourself killed so that you don't have to spend time with me."
"I can cast one too," Hermione gave him a shaky smile.
"Good," he said, trying to regain his strong image and succeeding somewhat. "Hermione please find students that can help and then calm the other students. They should feel the chill soon."
She nodded and started moving up the hallways. Helped by Blaise, the pair moved toward the middle of the train and Shacklebolt.
"I'm on the way," he spoke into the headset. "I've got the Head Girl collecting help starting at the back."
"Good. Tonks is starting at the front. The prefects are spreading out trying to maintain calm. How much time do we have?"
Kai stopped for a moment, eyes glazed over.
"Roughly one minute 30."
The pair reached Kingsley's location quickly; the tall black man was in between cars, watching the approaching figures.
"You look like shit," was the first thing the auror said.
"You don't look much better," Kai replied, shivering slightly. He had a lot of bad memories and hated dementors passionately. He felt a hand touch his back and was startled to see Tonks there. He forced down a smile, he wouldn't admit it but her presence pushed some of the darkness away.
Unfortunately, the chill ripped at his core again quickly as the wraiths descended near the train. He could hear the screams of the children as they saw them out the windows, voices full of terror. He pulled up his occulmency shields, trying to force the rising memories to the back of his mind.
"I'm going to drop the rest of the wards so I can cast as well."
Shacklebolt nodded.
He dropped the extensive wards, feeling an enormous weight lift from his shoulders.
"Let's do this," he said, voice hard.
He twisted so he was leaning out into the wind, one hand gripping a handhold, the other thrust out.
"Expecto Patronum!" a huge silver thestral launched itself at the dementors, attacking viciously. And so, the battle began. Thirty patroni launched into the air, corralling the 100 or so dementors, fighting hard, struggling, and losing.
"The patroni aren't strong enough," the dark auror shouted over the din, launching another silver tiger into the fray.
"Yes, they will be," Kai ground out. "Cast again, overwhelm them! If we're not an easy meal they will flee!"
Kai headed a third lobby of silvery creatures, though his hopes dropped as most fizzled to only mist.
The dementors were upon the train, ghosting along the sides, trying to get in. Kai could here the young children screaming, terrified. What they were doing wasn't enough, the dementor numbers seemed to be growing! The incessant chill had worked its way to his very center. Weariness pulled at him hard but the children's terrified screams kept him fighting as well as the constant presence of Cami at his side.
A piercing scream echoed through the train. Kai looked up the length of the train to see dementors swarming at one entrance two cars down.
"Damn! Tonks, with me!" he took off into the car, Tonks at his heels. Students were in the hallway, most visibly distressed, the younger ones crying loudly.
"Get back in your compartments, lock your doors!" he yelled as he ran down the hallway, students jumping out of his way.
The pair burst into the opening between the cars patroni already casting in front of it. The dementors screeched, jumping back from the opening and away from the team that had been brought to its knees. There were probably 20 dementors from the battalion still remaining and they were all swarming on this one spot now. The students helping the aurors were already down, unconscious on the metal floor. The other aurors were fading fast, most leaning against a wall for support. It was just him and Tonks left.
Knowing he could probably regret it later, he drew his power dagger and cut a series of runes into his right palm. He pulled a large portion of his remaining magic together and called on a his bloodmagic.
"Apollo, the darkness closes in, help me fight back the night," a pure stream of light exploded out from his palm, so bright that all conscious persons had to look away.
The dementors let out an unearthly shriek, fleeing as fast as they could from the beacon of light. Slowly, the chill cleared. Kai pulled back the magic and promptly collapsed.
"Kai!" Tonks called as Blaise and Kingsley appeared and caught the falling assassin.
"Boudreau, are you alright?" Kingsley helped him to his feet. Kai almost groaned in protest.
"I'm fine. Just did a little too much is all," he winced pushing himself out of the arms of the two males and leaning against the wall. "Take care of the others."
Taking a deep breath, he continued, "The Death Eaters are in the sealed area in the baggage car. I, frankly, am going back to my cabin and sleeping the rest of the way to Hogwarts."
He took two steps before stumbling. A surprisingly strong arm caught him, helping him balance. When he saw it was Tonks he tried to pull away, "Let me help you, please Kai."
Too tired to protest he let her guide him back to the car, Blaise leading the way.
Once away from the aurors Blaise turned back to him "Bloodmagic, Kai? Here! Are you crazed? The aurors!" Blaise hissed, standing half a head above him.
The assassin's eyes flashed, "Con's son or not, Blaise, you will not speak to me like that, understood?"
The Italian stiffened, "I apologize, Master Kai," his eyes were hard at the correction.
Kai rubbed his eyes with his left hand. As an apprentice blood magician, Blaise was technically supposed to be deferential to Kai as Kai was a Master Blood mage but Kai had never pulled rank on him before.
"I'm sorry, B, I'm exhausted. We'll discuss the happenings when it's safe to do so. I'm afraid though, that you just exposed yourself as an associate of mine," Kai said quietly as Tonks helped him down the hallway, pausing every now and again to answer student's questions. All the kids recognized Tonks.
Finally Kai settled in the cabin with Blaise, Tonks talking to a few students outside the door.
"Well, can you at least tell me about how you came to have everyone's favorite auror on your arm?"
Kai frowned tiredly, sleep pulling at him, "It's not like that Blaise, Chami was a lie…" his voice trailed off as he passed out.
Tonks stepped into the cabin, stopping for a second to take in the sleeping man. She had only ever seen him look so innocent once, "Poor son of a bitch. He's not yet recovered from his time in captivity."
Blaise tilted his head, looking at her closely, "So you're Chami? Huh. I would never have guessed. Chami, the Chameleon, how clever. When I think about it, actually, it does not surprise me at all."
Tonks' eyes were sad, "So you knew Kai before today?"
"Since we were kids, really," Blaise laughed, "Haven't seen him in a while though, so it'll be really nice to have him around again."
"So he... talked about me?" The auror smiled tentatively.
"Did he ever! Near drove me nuts. You've got guts though, waltzing around Shadowed Soul when you're not a Riker, could have got yourself killed. What's going on with you two anyway?"
Blaise shut up quickly when the door slid open to reveal a returning Hermione and Neville. Neville looked tired and Hermione looked like she could scream.
"Hi Auror Tonks!" Hermione perked up a bit when she saw her favorite auror. "Zabini. Kai. Oh Merlin, is he alright?! I saw the wards, they were amazing! What was that thing at the end? It looked like advanced magic. I can't believe it drove all the dementors away!"
"Granger, you're rambling," Blaise drawled.
Her jaw snapped shut, "Oh. Sorry."
"Yes, Kai is fine, just very very tired. He'll be OK by the time we get to Hogsmeade."
She smiled, blushing slightly and nodded.
"What was that bloodmagic that Kai did at the end? I've never seen something so effective against dementors," Tonks asked curiously.
Blaise cursed the auror silently for her momentary lack of discretion.
"Bloodmagic?" the head girl breathed reverently. "But that's one of the Black Arts! He's a dark wizard?"
"Yes, and so am I," Blaise growled, annoyed. "Bloodmagic isn't light magic by a long shot, but it's not exactly evil," he scoffed, "how naïve."
"Bloodmagic is illegal, isn't it Tonks?"
"In the UK, yes, but not in many other countries, including where Kai was schooled," Tonks answered candidly. She gently picked up Kai's right hand, "The runes are still bleeding."
Hermione leaned over, fascinated despite her doubts, "I don't recognize those ruins."
"You wouldn't, these are Asiatic runes, Hogwarts only teaches European based runes. See how the lines are thicker in the south and west positions, that is a sign of their Asian basis," Blaise lectured while he conjured bandages and carefully wrapped his friend's hand.
"Why not heal them?" Tonks asked.
"Only the caster can heal cuts made during the bloodmagic ritual," Hermione chipped in.
"My, my, Granger, been raiding the Restricted Section again, have we?" Blaise smirked, blue eyes alight with humor. He was a bit impressed.
"But why can't you…"
"Please, if you have questions about the magic he used, please reserve them for Kai. If he wants to disclose it to you, he will."
Hermione leaned back, staring at the handsome Italian. He had intrigued her. He knew something she didn't and she would find out all she could about it.
What she didn't know was that Blaise was Slytherin's resident genius and would have been Head Boy if not for Draco's father. She would not easily get information out of the equally stubborn Slytherin.
The rest of the trip was made mostly in silence. After Tonks locked the door they all, bar Blaise, fell asleep, exhaustion from earlier settling in, Tonks accidentally drifting off on Kai's shoulder.
Kai came awake fast when the train began to slow. He startled slightly as seeing the auror asleep on his shoulder, things and failing at shutting down his emotions for her. He shifted Tonks off of him before waking her. He then took his headset and exited the cabin, nodding to Blaise. Outside, he straightened his hair and clothes and willed the tiredness away.
"Shacklebolt, I'm transporting Tonks and myself to the platform to reinforce security. See you in 10," he said into his recovered headset.
"Copy that."
Kai apparated both of them onto the platform at Hogsmeade. The assassin was happy he placed wards at the station before apparating out that morning. The layering was strong and sure and glowed with harmony in Kai's aura sight.
The Riker's eyes lingered on the young auror's form as she spoke with the platform aurors. Everything felt so comfortable with her. He tried to fight it but he was failing. Maybe with some distance he'd come to his senses.
Messages were being sent up to the castle to have chocolate waiting for when the kids reached the hall. The students had been terrified during the attack. Thankfully, the rebuff had gone almost as planned and the train and the students were unharmed.
"That went about as well as could be expected," Kai sighed, running a hand through his bangs as he leaned on a wall of the station.
"The kids know that you did Bloodmagic," she chuckled, her hair becoming very short and brown like Blaise's. "Mr. Zabini wasn't pleased when I brought it up."
Stop being so wonderful! His mind fought him. He almost groaned. How did I end up with her as my partner today?
"He's being cautious. It's a good trait of his," he looked at the diminishing crowds. "We should move up to the castle."
They jumped into an empty carriage, "What did you do to piss Moody off? He's even grouchier than usual today."
Kai barked a laugh, "He's mad because I modified my glamour charms so he couldn't see through them anymore. Now he can't pick me out of a crowd if I'm not in this form." Good thing too or his career as Nicholas Gryffindor would be short lived.
"Ahaha! I can see why that would bother him." She looked down at her jeans and rocker t-shirt and at Kai's jeans and blue striped button down and shook her head. "We'll be the only ones at the Head Table without robes."
"I hate robes. I only wear them when I need to blend in. Otherwise they're bulky and awkward. Severus knows how to work them though."
"He was like that when I was in school. We Ravenclaws thought he must be a bat animagus."
They passed students as they entered the Great Hall, their Muggle style clothing identifying them as being with the elite auror squad as all the elite aurors wore muggle clothing. Kai nodded to Remus and patted Sirius on the head as he and Tonks took their places next to Severus.
Hermione shocked herself when she waved goodbye to Blaise as they entered the Great Hall, genuinely wishing he was a Gryffindor so he could sit with them.
The Slytherin laughed internally at the Gryffindors as he made his way to the middle of the Slytherin table, where the Slytherin upper crust sat.
"Hey Zabini!" Draco sneered. "Getting so desperate for friends that you're playing with the Gryffindorks?"
Blaise grinned viciously, sliding into the seat next to the Slytherin Prince. "You know what, Malfoy, I'm going to enjoy watching Shadow put you in your place this year. It's been a long time coming," he whispered in the thin blonde's ear.
"How?! How do you know that?!" the blonde hissed, eyes narrowed. People around them subtly leaned in, trying to catch their words.
"Do you remember those times you came to visit at Christmas when we were young?"
"Yes," eyes narrowed further.
"Remember my good friend Kai, the one who was my father's apprentice?" It was well-known in the dark circles that the Zabinis were a powerful blood magic family.
"Yes."
Zabini nodded his head towards the professors' table and the object of Malfoy's nervousness, "Kai Boudreau."
Malfoy sat back hard, moving slightly away from the Zabini heir.
'Shadow has an ally in Slytherin, a powerful one. And look at him; he's got Severus as well. I need to speak to my godfather about this betrayal.'
"No one will be putting me anywhere, Zabini. Boudreau has learned the consequences of messing with the Malfoy family."
Blaise laughed, a sound so uncommon it drew all eyes at the table, "We shall see, Malfoy; we shall see."
The arrogance at the Gryffindor table wasn't any lesser.
Ron Weasley, tall and gangly like any Weasley, puffed his chest out at the attention he received as unofficial Prince of Gryffindor and Captain of the Quidditch team.
"Oh, I have an in with the new practical defense teacher. He took his mastery tests with my brother and they're great friends."
"That is awesome, mate!" Dean Thomas cheered. "This class is going to be wicked! I wonder if we're going to learn to fight."
"Mastery tests? Is he a cursebreaker?" Hermione cut in.
Ron glared at her, "Since when are you allowed to speak to me, Granger?" While Ron thought that Granger had indeed grown very pretty over the years he couldn't stand how she easily beat him in all their classes.
"Oh, get over yourself Ronald and just answer the question," when talking to Kai, she realized just how foolish the dictatorship Ronald held over the Gryffindors was. What right did he have to tell her to do anything?
The other Gryffindors stared at her as if she had grown horns. Ron was baffled, his face turning as red as his hair.
"For your information, he's a warder, they tested together, one against the other. The testers said it was the best warder vs. ward-breaker pairing they'd ever seen," he beamed with familial pride. "They've worked together in Egypt and Africa."
'Warder?' Hermione thought. 'It couldn't be, could it? Kai?' She then remembered how quiet Kai had been during their conversation about the class and the look he had sent Blaise when Blaise made the remark about competence.
'It is Kai!' she thought, 'and Blaise knew! That-that-grrrrrr!'
She put her thoughts away as the sorting began. It went quick, as did the meal with Hermione ignoring everyone around her and soon Dumbledore stood for the announcements.
"Thank you everyone. I'd like to remind everyone that magic in the hallways is not allowed. Entering the Forbidden forest without the supervision of a professor is of course, forbidden. I know we're all forgetful sometimes but I think it can be easily remembered by simply thinking of the name. Mr. Filch has asked me to tell you that all of Mr. Weasleys' products are banned, even those delightful candies," Dumbledore said, the twinkle in his eyes matching the silver twinkling stars on his purple robes.
"Now, we have a few additions to our staff this year. First is the instructor of the anticipated Practical Defense class. Some of you may have met him as the Warder of the Hogwarts Express, Professor Kai Boudreau."
Kai was surprised at the loud cheers he received when he stood, 'Anticipated indeed.' He was aware of the glare he was getting from one end of the Gryffindor table. 'Ah, didn't like that she didn't know something.' Even the Slytherins were cheering, the Death Eater children included, barring those of the Inner Circle who doubtless knew who he was. He wondered if Goyle's son knew Kai was responsible for his father's death. That could be messy.
"And we also have an auror unit which is staying with us to provide security and quick aid for both us and Hogsmeade village. The unit will be led by First Class Auror, Tonks."
Kai managed to not look completely startled by that announcement. Damnit. He couldn't escape her.
"Ooooh, he's so hot!" Parvati cooed at the Gryffindor Table. "He's not that much older than us, surely!"
"He's dreamy!"
"Those eyes…"
"He must be so smart!"
"Sorry girls," Hermione smirked in satisfaction, "he's taken."
"By who?"
"How do you know?"
The girls cried at the injustice of it all.
"I sat with him on the train. I'm pretty sure he's with Auror Tonks."
"What?!" shrieked Parvati, drawing the eyes of the table. "I can't compete with that! She's a metamorphmagus!"
The guys chuckled, sending each other knowing looks.
"No Parvati, no you can't. And not for the reasons you think. "
'Look at that guy up there, thinking he's a bloody king,' thought Ron, 'Thinks he can take the girls' attention off me, does he? Well, I'll show him. Ron Weasley loses to no man.'