The highlands of Scotland was a dangerous place to traverse during the winter, but the Aurors had no choice. They had received a tip that a few Death Eaters were hiding out there, even after the Battle of Hogwarts ended in their defeat.
Harry and Ron, both newly made Aurors, were a part of the group. With them was Proudfoot, Savage, and the head of the Aurors, Gawain Robards. The five were carefully walking on the many layers of compacted snow, looking out for anything suspicious.
Proudfoot came to a stop and squinted, causing the other members of the group to do the same. “Is that a cave over there?”
The group collectively looked over in the direction Proudfoot was now pointing at.
“Looks like it,” Savage said before grumbling, “It's about time we found something. I’m freezing my fucking balls off–”
“Savage,” Proudfoot hissed, “Watch your language.”
“I'm speaking in English,” Savage retorted with a shit-eating smirk.
Robards rolled his eyes before saying, “Let's just get moving, men.”
The group of five slowly approaches the cave, wands drawn and at the ready.
Snow fell from the cloudy sky in a leisurely manner.
The five decided to do the buttonhook entry into the cave and split into two groups. Ron, Savage, and Robards took one side while Harry and Proudfoot took the other. When the five quickly filed into the cave, they found that the entryway was empty.
“Lumos,” Harry said as he pointed his wand into the darkness that laid beyond the entryway.
The light exposed the end of the small cavern, where a dark figure was hunched over and covered in ice.
Proudfoot and Savage approached before the latter man gently prodded the figure.
They didn't move in the slightest.
“Frozen,” Savage said with a small frown. He knelt down and tried removing the silver mask from the figure’s face but failed. “Looks like they’ve been here for a while.”
“Probably got too cold or tired to continue on and was left behind to freeze to death,” Proudfoot speculated.
“I'll mark it down on the map,” Robards said as he pulled out a small map. He ticked their rough location with his wand before looking at the others. “Let's get going. There should still be two more.”
The five turned heel and walked out from the cavern. They got a good three yards away before there was a soft popping noise that filled the air.
Proudfoot released a strangled noise of pain as he collapsed to the ground.
Savage immediately rushed to his comrade’s side, and he cursed softly as he saw the white snow begin to turn red.
Harry was quick to begin to defend the two Aurors while Ron and Robards shot off spells toward their attackers, who seemed to have been waiting above the entrance to the cavern to attack the Aurors.
As the two remaining Death Eaters quickly began to get overwhelmed, one of them pointed their wand into the air.
“Bombarda!” The Death Eater cried out.
An explosion came from the end of their wand, and the ground began to rumble beneath them.
“Back to the cave!” Robards yelled urgently.
Savage quickly pulled Proudfoot to his feet. “Sorry, buddy,” he apologized as his fellow Auror whimpered loudly.
Robards quickly helped Savage with Proudfoot while Harry and Ron covered the two with protective charms. The five just barely made it into the cave before the intense rumbling reached a crescendo.
Snow covered the entrance of the small cavern right after, and silence filled the air.
“Why didn't we just Apparated away?” Ron asked in confusion.
“Proudfoot was in no state to Apparate at that moment,” Robards said as he shook his head, “Besides, if we hadn't Apparated at the same time, the snow would have given out from under whoever was left here.”
“How is Proudfoot?” Harry asked as he looked at the still-bleeding Auror.
“He'll live,” Savage said as he ripped off some extra fabric on his robes and held it over Proudfoot's left shoulder.
“Good,” Robards approved. “He hasn't fallen unconscious, right?”
“Wish I was,” Proudfoot grumbled, “It would save me the embarrassment.”
“Oh, I'm sure these two have been through worse on their adventures,” Robards waved off.
“We really have,” Harry confirmed, “One time, Ron fell face-first down a hill because he tripped over his own foot.”
“Harry,” Ron hissed as his face flushed red. “You know I was distracted trying to read that map–”
“Which is why we don't trust Ron with maps anymore,” Harry joked with a good-natured grin.
“Hah hah,” Ron said sarcastically, rolling his eyes as he did so. “At least I didn't get spooked by a unicorn in the middle of the night and run face-first into a tree.”
“My nose still hurts whenever I remember that,” Harry lamented with a heavy sigh.
“Aw, they're just like you, Proudfoot,” Savage said as he patted the man’s head mockingly. “I bet you're related.”
Proudfoot grunted before saying, “At least they don't curse in front of children like you do.”
“Ron's definitely cursed in front of children before,” Harry said as he looked at his best friend out of the corners of his eyes.
“Damn straight I have,” Ron confirmed with a nod.
“Oh, Merlin,” Proudfoot groaned as he buried his face into his right hand. “It's Savage all over again.”
The Auror in question snickered.
Robards smiled as he rolled his eyes. “I knew you'd kids would have a lot in common.”
“Kid? I'm thirty years old!” Savage cried out.
“And I'm fifty-one,” Robards said with a blanched expression. “I was out of Hogwarts by the time you were even conceived.”
“He's got you there,” Proudfoot commented.
“In any case,” Savage segued in a very obvious fashion, “What's our plan from here?”
“You and Proudfoot head to St. Mungo's, and take this guy with you,” Robards said as he motioned to the dead Death Eater. “We'll tunnel our way out and see if we can find those other two.”
“Copy that, boss,” Savage said as he gently urged Padfoot to a sitting position. He then reached a hand out and placed it on the frozen man before the three Disapparated with a crack.
“Those two Death Eaters should definitely be injured if they were caught in that avalanche,” Robards explained, “The force of the snowfall would likely have knocked them unconscious. If we can't find them right away, we'll just have to wait until spring to retrieve them.”
“Really?” Ron asked in surprise.
“I won't put my team in any more danger,” Robards said, “Secondary avalanches are always a possibility, especially with as much snow as we've gotten this year. Besides, they're likely going to be dead before we can reach them. The snow is heavy when it's piled on top of you, making it hard to even breathe. They'll suffocate before they can properly scream for help.”
Ron grimaced at the thought while Harry frowned deeply.
“We’ll try to find them, but don't be too discouraged if we don't,” Robards said as he pointed his wand at the entrance of the small cave. “Are you two ready?”
“We are,” Harry confirmed as he and Ron readied their own wands.
“Then let's get going,” Robards said before swishing and flicking his wand, causing the heavy snow to lift up and away from the entryway of the cavern.
Harry and Ron were quick to file out and look around for the Death Eaters who attacked them. They were shocked at just how much snow had fallen from the terrain above and how everything seemed to be devastated below.
“Avalanches are considered natural disasters for a reason,” Robards said as he followed them out and looked around casually. “Just keep the feeling of the rumbling ground in mind the next time you're up in this area during winter.”
As Harry and Ron gave each other a look, they cemented the thought into their minds, not wanting to deal with another avalanche again.