Aurors Assembled

[Deleted]

Things had gotten very complicated, very quickly.

Neville had no taste for or skill with politics. Honestly, he stayed about as far away from them as he could. Despite being the deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts, Reynolds did not rely on him the same way Dumbledore had relied on McGonagall. The things Neville worked on were generally tedious, student-level administration work, leaving him no real decision-making power. Given what he’d learned recently from Harry and other in the Ministry, Burt wanted to make sure Neville never had any reason to want the Headmaster position, and so stuck him with the mundane work and denied him the experience he’d need to succeed the old man. It was a waste of effort; Neville took the deputy position because he’d been asked, but he had no particular desire to sit on the throne for a long time yet. The Headmaster didn’t get to teach, at least not nearly as much as Neville did now, and so the job didn’t interest him. He’d always known Reynolds liked to have control, but it surprised him how far the old man went to ensure it, to secure his position against someone who didn’t even want it.

…well, maybe that wasn’t the whole truth. Neville didn’t want the job, there was no doubt about that, but if people needed him to take the job, he’d do it anyway. But he couldn’t see why that would bother Reynolds. The veteran Auror did his job and did it well, so there was frankly no reason to even consider the position himself. As far as Neville was concerned, there was no power struggle going on. Except there was, apparently. Harry and Reynolds were having one—kind of. They were united in their belief that the school and students must be protected, but they disagreed on how it should happen. So both parties seemed to be moving. Burt had many allies in the Ministry, and there were whispers that the surprise inspection by one Avynna Rose had been part of Reynolds’s movements. Harry, meanwhile, had very explicitly put Neville in charge of the Auror division that would be arriving in mere moments to begin their protection and investigation duties within Hogwarts. It made sense to Neville politically, he supposed. But he had a feeling that was only icing on the cake here. Harry had placed them under Neville’s command because they trusted each other, they were on the same wavelength, and most importantly, they would not compromise because of political pressure. Neville could also compete with Reynolds in terms of experience fighting the Dark Arts, despite the Headmaster’s senior age and the fact that he once led the Auror department.

So Neville was currently sitting in the staff room, drinking a glass of water while he waited for the Aurors to Floo in. He’d told Walton to be here for their arrival too, so he expected the DADA teacher to arrive any time now. Several parchment rolls on the table outlined patrol routes and the Hogsmeade schedule. In order to make the Aurors more difficult to avoid, Neville had deliberately avoided anything resembling a schedule in their patrols and routines. All that remained was to brief them on their duties within the school, on the chain of command, and on how much they were allowed to interact with the students. Neville had no intention of lying to anyone just because of their age, though there were some questions he did not want answered. He hoped that would be more acceptable than refusing to give any information.

He remembered how infuriating that particular method had been.

@waltongrey @crystal3 @xapo @cain @robhudson

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Walton was on top of the Astronomy tower looking over the grounds. Tonight they would be getting more aurors, and not jsut the two that Harry had told the old man about. There were two more coming in as well. All of these Aurors were young but talented and the IA even had their eye on two if not three of them already. Rob Hudson, John Cain, and Selliah Davenport. They had yet to start to evaluate Victorie Weasley but he had also been assigned that task along with watching the others as well.

He checked the time and noticed that he needed to be down in the staff room in a few minutes. For Neville had requested that he be there to brief the Aurors. So he quickly made his way down to the staff room. Upon entering he began to cast all sorts of protection and privacy charms, and detection spells, to make sure the room was clean and that there was no one hiding, under invisibility cloaks, disillusionment charms etc. And also so no one could enter the room that wasn't supposed to be at the meeting. He had done all of this wandlessly.  Walton noticed Neville sitting there drinking water from a glass. He quickly summoned his own glass and poured himself some pumpkin juice that he had also summoned. He sat down at the table quickly looking over everything that was there, "Well we are about to get several pranksters, I mean Aurors here, that are quite good at what they do." Walton paused and took a drink and then asked. "Are you ready to deal with your former students once more?" He knew that Neville was ready, he had never met a man who was more ready than Neville was. He didn't show it but Neville was and still is very good at what he does. Especially fighting the dark arts. Walton was ready and he sat there waiting and watching the fire place, to where only those Aurors would be able to enter, because of the protections that he had put up.

@superluigi64
@robhudson
@crystal3
@xapo
@cain

[Deleted]

Selliah was anxious for this meeting. She was always anxious when it came to auror related meetings. Cause generally that meant things were going on. Big things. And not necessarily good things either. Things were indeed going on--things she didn't quite understand and some things she did and that she just didn't like. There seemed to be a play for power. She wasn't sure of all the details (though she had a feeling that she would before the night was over) but it seemed as if the headmaster was a bit of a power hungry man...and his methods of doing things were a little skewed and that had put him at odds with several people. Selliah was already not a huge fan. If the things she had heard was true--then she wasn't sure if she and this headmaster were going to be buddies. In fact she was sure they wouldn't be.

But that was neither here nor there she supposed. And as she looked at her watch--it was about time for her to be heading out. The letter she had received via owl requesting her presence at the meeting in one hand and floo powder in the other--she wasn't necessarily keen on this method of transportation but it was the fastest way and the way she was told that she had to travel. Probably due to protection charms and charms placed on the room so that eavesdroppers couldn't eavesdrop in on the conversations.

Well...here went nothing. She threw the powder into the flames--the reddish orange colored fire turning green as a signal that the powder had done its job. With a deep breath --she stepped into the fireplace and before she knew it...she was at the staff room in Hogwarts.

She stepped out of the fireplace a little woozy admittedly -- hand reaching out to prop her body against the wall for a moment or two because no matter how many times she used floo powder...she always got a little disorientated and more then just a tad green around the gills. Though thankfully she hadn't gotten sick off of it for a long LONG time...it still took her a moment to gather her senses though. When she did however -- she stepped away from the fire before getting creamed by the next auror who was likely to be using to same means of transportation as she had. She summoned a glass and some pumpkin juice before pouring herself some and waiting for a moment while her stomach settled before taking a sip and speaking,

"Neville. Walton. Pleasure to see you two again." though didn't we wish it was under better circumstances but that went without saying....

Words: 452
ISO: @superluigi64 & @waltongrey & @cain & @robhudson & @xapo

[Deleted]

Rob was inside of his favorite place in Diagon Alley with his boss Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and George Weasley. The shop was closed and he had lost a bet to the three and this was their way of making him pay. "Stupid gits." He mumbled as he transformed into a Siberian Husky. They wanted him to go through the floo network in his animagus form, to get to the Auror meeting he had been asked to come to, by Neville Longbottom, his former head of house and teacher at Hogwarts. Rob looked up at the three who were grinning and laughing madly. He barked once to let them know that he was ready to go. Harry just laughed some more as he threw in the floo powder, making the flames turn green. He walked forward slowly so he would come flying out of the fire place at the other end. But that didn't quite work out as he was pushed rather forcefully into the fire by George. 'I will get you back for this!' he thought as he yelped. The travel wasn't painful it was what was coming at the end that he was thinking about. 

A whooshing noise sounded as he came into the fireplace of the staff room of Hogwarts. Rob was still a dog as he came flying out of the fireplace. He was able to get his footing as he came close to crashing into Selliah, who was already there with eyes wide. He jumped over her head and quickly transformed into himself as he landed. "I will get them back for this." He said to himself and then he realized that Walton and Neville were both there already. Straightening up he said "Sorry about that, I lost a bet to Harry, Ron, and George. You know how they are." He paused and then walked over to a chair and sat down before he asked. "How is it going Selliah?" 

Rob wasn't to fond the the current head master, from what he had heard, the man was quite touched in the head and power hungry and liked to play with dark magic. or that is what he had gathered from Harry when Rob and John both joined the order and accepted this assignment. He was ready to do his part and to also have some fun with Kovachev.

@superluigi64
@waltongrey
@crystal3
@xapo
@cain

[Deleted]

John had been a little too excited to get out of his office. He had already taken up a room at The Three Broomsticks that he would be able to get some rest in while not on patrol around the village and the castle. The fact that the place was also one of the most well known pubs in Britain was just a plus.

The Innkeeper had given John permission to use the fireplace in the upstairs office to travel by Floo Powder. Of course John didn't say why, but he didn't need to. The woman knew he was an Auror, and that was all the reason she needed. The woman handed John a bucket full of powder as he nodded in thanks. She returned the nod and John flashed her a crooked smile as he then tossed the powder into the fire. The flames rose up around him and before he knew it he was standing in the fireplace in the Hogwarts staff room.

John had always been keen on the Floo Network. He preferred apparating but alas, it wasn't allowed within school grounds. The man stepped out of the fire with his hands in his pockets as he looked around the room. Of course his fellow Aurors and good friends, Selliah and Rob, were already there. He nodded at them, a smile playing at the corner of his lips. Then he looked at Neville Longbottom, whom he knew well enough. Then there was another professor who John was sure went by "Grey," but he had only met him but once in the past. Regardless, he greeted the two of them with a nod.

The former Gryffindor knew that he was there on important business. Someone had been killed. A student, in fact. There was no telling when the killer would strike again, or where. And if in the off chance it happened on school property again, they were to be there to stop it. On top of all of that, there was some suspicious activity going on with the headmaster and a new professor, according to Potter. John awaited patiently to be briefed on the status of the school by the two professors.

@robhudson
@crystal3
@superluigi64
@xapo
@waltongrey

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Neville felt Grey’s presence as he approached, wandlessly casting an array of defensive magics. Wandless magic was quite rare among wizards, so it did not surprise him that the International Aurors had gotten their hands on someone who could cast defensive ward arrays wandlessly. It was useful for letting him protect Muggles without revealing he was doing it by waving a wooden stick around. Neville was capable of wandless magic as well, thought he doubted he could ward that skillfully and rapidly without the use of his wand. His wandless magic mainly showed in the form of control over plant life, to a degree unheard of by most of the magical world—which, of course, was why he kept quiet about how much control he had over them. Better to not draw attention to himself…and also better to save a trump card as long as possible. Walton asked him if he was ready to handle his students again, now that they were adults, to which Neville chuckled. “The real question is, are they ready for me?” After all, Auror Longbottom was something entirely different from Professor Longbottom. Vaguely, he wondered how much of his fun Harry had spoiled in briefing the squad.

After a few moments, the fireplace blazed to life, emerald flames rising up to allow a young woman with dirty blonde hair to emerge into the staff room. She immediately stepped away from the fireplace, clearly waiting for her stomach to decide how little it liked the trip, before summoning herself a drink and greeting them. Neville nodded—he’d been Gryffindor Head of House throughout Selliah Davenport’s stay, and knew his former charge well. “Selliah.” Not two seconds later, the flames roared high again, and a large dog cam virtually flying out of the grate, jumping clear over Selliah before morphing to reveal the figure of Robert Hudson, muttering and apologizing about Harry, Ron, and George. Neville smirked. “The day you learn not to bet against George Weasley is the day you stop losing bets, Robert.” The fireplace flared once more, and John Cain stepped through, being unusually quiet. He had always been…reserved, but Hudson’s presence was usually enough to get him to speak. Regardless, Neville returned the nod.

The Herbology professor waited a couple more minutes, noting the time. Victoire was late. So be it, then. She’d have to glean her information secondhand. Neville dropped the empty glass onto the table, where it vanished to a counterpart in the kitchens below, and stood up, looking over the Auror unit assigned to Hogwarts. All former students, all from Gryffindor, all growing up with Neville as their Head of House and Herbology teacher. Part of him wanted to ask what they knew about him now that they had access to Auror personnel files. But it wasn’t important, not yet anyway. “Alright, let’s get started here. As you know, I’m Neville Longbottom, Deputy Headmaster, Herbology professor, and former Head of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts. I have also been returned to active duty as a Senior Auror, one of three Aurors who are answerable only to the Head Auror directly. To begin with, we will lay out a clear chain of command. First, you follow orders given to you by Harry directly. Otherwise, you listen to me, and when I’m not around you listen to Professor Grey. If we get into a combat situation, my orders supercede Harry’s unless he’s here in person. Professor Grey, if you would introduce yourself? After, if anyone has questions so far, ask them, and then we’ll move on to the briefing itself.”

All of this was spoken in a no-nonsense tone that was very different from the patient, kind professor that the former students knew. This was a different Neville Longbottom entirely, one that clearly would not have the same level of tolerance he had for children.

@waltongrey @crystal3 @robhudson @cain @xapo

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Walton couldn’t help but smirk at Neville’s question that was an answer to the question that he had asked him. “You do have a good point there. If I know Potter, he probably didn’t tell them what you are like as an auror. He probably just mentioned to them that you were in charge.” He said while thinking about what Harry could have possibly said to them. The fire flared to life as it turned green expelling Selliah, one of the aurors that he was supposed to watch to see if she was good enough to become a member of the IA. “Selliah, good to see you again as well.” He replied to her greeting. It had been only a short while ago that they had run into each other. Next out was a flying Siberian Husky, which he knew was Rob before it even turned into him. He chuckled a bit as Rob murmured about losing a bet to the famous George Weasley, Harry Potter, and Ron Weasley. “Was it a good trip Rob?” He asked in a rather sarcastic tone. And then the next one to arrive was John who was unusually quite, but that would probably change here soon enough since Rob was also here.

Walton listened to the Neville speak about the chain of command. He didn’t really care for that part since he acted on his own, and plus if they needed extra help all he had to do was send a quick message to Sam, a fellow IA member and a friend, who works down at the Hog’s Head. And she would be there in a flash. “Sure thing Neville.” He said as he finished off his drink. “As Neville has said I am Walton Grey, I am the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, and the new Head of Gryffindor. However that is not all that I am. It is also a good thing that you all are proficient in Occlumency. For what I am about to tell you must not get around, because all anyone knows is that I am just a simple professor.” Walton pause and quickly made eye contact with all those in the room except for Neville, to test their barriers against legilimency. He wasn’t gentle like he normally was when testing barriers, he attacked for a second at most but it was sharp, quick and possibly painful. Or just enough to make sure he got the point across. He could have easily broken through their barriers if he wanted to, but there was no need for only very skilled legilimens could do so against their barriers. Which were quite strong and would serve them well if they all agreed to become members of the IA. “You should be proud of your occlumency barriers, they are quite strong. Now I can tell you what I really do and you cannot talk to anyone about this. I am not really a professor, it is just a cover. I am a member of the International Aurors.”

Everything he said to them was in a very serious tone. He had to make a point and that is why he had attacked their barriers as hard as he did. They had to be strong and they could not speak about anything that was said here in this room to anyone. Except for the simple stuff that they would have to tell the old man, such as patrol schedules and stuff like that. Walton couldn’t wait to see what they thought of Neville, for he wasn’t like his usuall self. Even though Walton was part of the IA he knew not to ever get in a fight with Neville. That man was an excellent fighter, and this was going to be fun, to say the least.

@crystal3
@robhudson
@cain
@xapo
@superluigi64

[Deleted]

It took several moments for her stomach to completely settle down and that oh so slightly green hue to her cheeks to fade away. Ugh she hated floo traveling--did we mention that already? But she was here and hopefully they would be able to walk out of the room cause she had to feeling that they would be getting to travel these hallways a lot here soon enough. But that was neither here nor there. She wasn't here to wonder--she was here to listen, here to act -- here to help stop whatever darkness was going on. They were the light--the team of light and they were all going to crush whoever or whatever was responsible for these dark times. Some might call it arrogance--she called it confidence. It wasn't just confidence in herself and her own abilities but also confidence in the others around her. They weren't stupid. They knew what they knew and they knew it well...otherwise they wouldn't be in the positions that they were in. They would win. The darkness lost before and it would lose again. Of that she was SURE.

She heard a distinctly dog like yelp and her ears pricked. She watched with a what the hell? kind of look as Rob came flying out from the fireplace and jumped clean over her head. He was obviously in his husky animal form and -- huh? What in the heck was going on here?! He soon changed back to his human form and after muttering an apology-- he had explained what had happened and she had to shake her head slightly and laugh lightly at her dear friend. He should have known better than to bet against any of the Weasleys to start with and especially George. He was famous for being a prankster -- and of course he did own the joke shop they liked the frequent. So betting against him never ended well (...she wouldn't know of course...) Ahh silly Rob. Silly, silly Rob indeed. She would have to ask about that trip later on. But later--when things weren't so serious. Now was not the time for such things. "I'm all right." was the simple answer with which she gave Rob as he asked her if she was okay. She would have been much more verbose had the situation been better but it wasn't -- and so she was not...

She took a good hearty drink of her pumpkin juice before setting the cup down and looking up from it as Neville spoke (and at the same time noted that John was here--abnormally quiet but here). It was hard not to think of him as head of house...that man had been head of Gryffindor for her entire time at Hogwarts. And he was hard not to look at him as such. But she knew better than that. He wasn't head of house now--he was the deputy headmaster. And apparently an auror too—huh funny how she never knew that. She could have easily looked probably but she wasn’t one to go looking through files and folders unless she had to or they were needed and that was probably why she didn’t know. Eh but that was neither here nor there. He quickly and sharply laid down their chain of command, which was pretty darn simple if you asked her. Listen to Harry first, then him and then Professor Grey. If they were in a fight listen to him unless Harry was here. Nothing to ask questions about there.

Then Professor Grey spoke –and it wasn’t long afterward that she felt a sharp poking sensation in her head. It was painful and she snorted softly as she shook her head. Okay –ow—what was THAT for?! She didn’t ask only because she was sure the other had a point to this. And she knew he wasn’t out to do something stupid. He soon explained himself though as it seemed he was a legilimens and was testing their occulumens barriers. He was also an international auror and she knew that was supposed to stay hush-hush and he didn’t have to worry about her saying anything. She may have been hot headed and brash but she was no secret spiller.

Questions? Was there any questions? Yes—yes there was. She had two to be precise, ”So what’s our part? What do we do?” she asked—fingers tapping against her leg in an anxious sort of manner. She was never going to be known as the uneager worker of the bunch. She always had been eager in whatever she did – for the most part. And she was eager—eager to get her job and do it. No one was going to get by them. The five of them could do anything.

Words: 802
ISO: @superluigi64 ; @waltongrey ; @cain ; @robhudson ; @xapo

[Deleted]

Rob listened, and focused his attention on the two men before him. He had never seen Neville like this but the more he thought about it the more sense it made. And then Walton spoke but as this happened he felt a sharp stabbing probe hit his defenses. ‘What the hell was that for!’ He thought but didn’t say it out loud as he was given an answer quite soon. He could easily tell that they meant business. Rob already knew that and they would be on a tight rope of sorts so they would have to be careful if they were to play any pranks on their favorite Slytherins.

There were questions that he wanted to ask but he had a hunch that they would be answered soon enough without him having to ask them. And plus the two major questions that he had at the time being had already ”So what’s our part? What do we do?” been asked by Selliah. He was excited and noticed that his friends were too, since it had been a long time since they had been able to do anything out in the field. Hogwarts to him was a perfect place to be assigned to, especially since he knew the place quite well. Even all of the secret passageways and what not. They had been picked by Harry for this specific assignment since according to him the were and are the best aurors that were in the department.

Not that he didn’t mind being in the staff room or in a meeting of such importance but Rob just wanted to get out there and do his job. Which suggests that his patience is a little thin due to how stressed out he has been lately. But no things were looking up for once in the past few months for him getting out of that damn office and then he had also run into Constance the other day and just like that after talking for quite some time they were together once more. But right now he needed to focus on the here and now the instruction part of the job.

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