Discovery
Working for the Ministry as a special unit was... Grueling, dangerous and foolish. You didnť want to get this promotion. In fact, you were happy with your work as an Auror.
While studying in Hogwarts, you especially tried to get the best grades in order to get the job you so desperately wanted. And you did. Yes, Aurors workday was dangerous, but at the same time exciting. You knew that every capture of a criminal meant another innocent life saved. Every injury and absence of private life was worth it.
But this? This was ridiculous. As a Special Auror Unit (abbreviated SAU) you were tasked with the worst of the wizarding hell and turd. Every second you survived was a pleasure that became a rarity. Team work? Does not exist. Backup? You can only dream about it. Day off? You so desperately wish.
In the dark, dirty street of Diagon alley resonated a loud whack! If a Muggle had a chance to ever get to Diagon alley, he would think that a bunch of teenagers were throwing firecrackers under their feet. However, it was clear to every wizard that someone had just appareted.
The dirty street was dimly lit by a few flashing lamps, casting long shadows of buildings on the stony path. The lights in the houses around you were long off, thus no one unwanted could see the man who appeared in the shadow of one of the lamps shortly after.
He was tall and stout, dressed in a dark robe, his face hidden under a deep hood. He calmly strode toward you. With each step, he radiated a dark and gloomy aura - a clear sign of escape for anyone who was unlucky to face him. Not that he'd let anyone run away.
“You have a new task.“ He said simply and handed you a brown envelope full of informations about your next “task”. On simpler missions, the envelope contained several papers - clear evidence that we had enough information to make it not a deadly mission. But this one contained a single piece of paper. Which means one thing: we know nothing, making it a high possibility of not surviving for the agent.
Target: an animagus hybrid
- half human, half eagle
- level of danger: XXXXX
Classification: a gigantic humanoid creature capable of human speech, who can kill people in seconds
Goal: kill
“Incendio.” You whisper and watch the paper in your hand turn to dust. Never, under any circumstances, could you leave anything to incriminate you from accepting any mission. There wasn't even a record of you being a member of the SAU. After all, SAU is just a legend.
“Daily reports.” Man's hoarse voice ordered you. You could feel a stream of icy sweat running down your back. They only require daily reports in cases where they expect the authorized agent to die at any time. If the report doesn't get through they knows they can send another one to finish the job.
“How much time do I have?“ You ask and tuck your wand back into your robe. “As much as you need.“ The answer is austere, but sufficient. You nod your head in understanding and in the next second you watch the man disappear again.
Your conversations with him were never long. He always gave you information about your next mission, and when he was done, he disappeared. You knew he worked in your field much longer than you, but you didn't know anything more. In fact, for your own safety, you didn't want to know anything more.
You sighed heavily and went to the inn where you were staying temporarily. You have decided to sleep for a few more hours before setting out on a hunt for a creature identified as the most dangerous one. Five Xs means "Known wizard killer/impossible to domesticate".
You never had the honor of meeting the Five Xs, and you hoped you wouldn't have to in your lifetime. Everything is all the first time and you've been pretty lucky so far. You just hoped your luck wouldn't leave you.
*Time skip*
You got up early in the morning accompanied by birdsong. You grabbed your bag, which was magnified several times with extension charm, and you set out to meet the cold wind on the way leading to your former school.
It's been three months of constantly searching for any clue that would get you a little closer to your target. Only a week ago you got the information that gossips about a man who resembles a bird are circulating in Hogsmeade, so you decided to go investigate. Chances were small, but it was the first clue you've come across all this time.
Eventually, in a inn, you learned from a drunken man that the alleged man lived in the Forbidden forest. It cost you "only" 50 galleons. You've already asked the Headmaster Dumbledore for permission to access school grounds, receiving a positive answer to your request. When you reached the border of the protective barrier half an hour later, a powerful magician was already waiting for your arrival.
“Headmaster Dumbledore.” You greeted him. “Thank you for allowing me to search the grounds of your school.” You saw the barrier in front of your figure part, allowing you to step into the Hogwarts grounds.
“It is a pleasure to see my former students successful. Nice to see you, miss Y/L/N.” He offered you a hand and you shook it gratefully. “If you need help with anything, do not hesitate to contact any of the professors. You are also welcome to join us for our meals in the Great Hall.” He encourages you to continue walking with his hand. You thank him for his offer, even though you will most likely not use it, and you start walking by his side.
“May I ask what is your job?“ He asks.
“I'm sorry but that is a confidential information which I'm not allowed to share.“ You'll recite a learned phrase. It didn't seem to derail the professor. He always gave you the impression he knew much more than he lets know. His next sentence will confirm you in your assumtion.
“Not everything is as it seems at first glance. I hope you recall my words at the time when you’ll have to make decision.“
*Time skip*
When you entered the Forbidden Forest, all the sun's rays were lost, even though it was only early noon. You weren't afraid of the dark nooks and crannies or the screems that the locals made. During your studies at Hogwarts you helped Hagrid with taking care of the creatures living in the forest befriending few of them in the process. After graduation, you became Magizoologist together with Barnaby and Liz. In your work as an Auror, your experience with how to handle different creatures has come in handy several times - you were sure they would come in handy even now.
You knew it would take you several weeks to search the entire forest. Not to mention that you will not be able to explore some parts of the forest, for example centaur territory. Even after two weeks spent in the terrifying embrace of the forest, you didn’t give up hope. In fact, every day without progress meant another day of survival.
Everything changed on the seventeenth night. You finally found a clue: imprint in mud that looked like an eagle's claw. However, it was three times the size of a bird’s leg. The next day, you found another clue not far from the site of the first find. It was a long, brown feather that probably measured half a meter. You were getting closer - you knew there was no hypogriff in the woods. Before you went to the forest for the first survey, you asked Hagrid what animals currently lived in the forest, and no hypogriff was on the list. Only the hypogriff can have such a long feather, or the hybrid you are looking for.
For the next few days, you stayed around the perimetr of where you found your first tracks. You hoped you could see the hybrid itself. Unfortunately, you came across another creature, a creature that decided you'll become his next snack. Its face seemed like an ugly man's expression, the sharp fangs gleamed as he opened his massive mouth. The animal's dark mane rippled as he shook his head in a deafening roar. You reached for your wand with a shaking hand, but as you tried to pull it out quickly, it got stuck at the tip of your robe. You cringed in horror when you saw the beast approaching you in long leaps, thinking, "This is my end."
You thought the hungry manticore'll rip you alive when you suddenly saw the man-eating monster from a bird's eye view. Muscular arms hugged you in a bridal style, massive wings carried you higher and higher up in the sky in a regular rhythm.
He lay you carefully on the ground after he had reached the safety of the vast crown where his humble abode was. Your eyes widened in horror when they saw the creature that had just saved your life.
The man's naked, swarthy chest glistened in the soft glow of the moon's rays. You couldn't resist and hungrily devoured his well developed biceps and abs. His lower body was shrouded in gray sweatpants, revealing only a pair of yellow bird claws instead of human feets. You noticed that his fingernails were pointed and elongated like animal claws. His sleek brown hair swayed gently around his face in the night breeze. But what fascinated you most was his huge, massive wings, which grew straight from his back. You watched them neatly fold.
“Who are you and what are you doing here?” The man asked you in a deep resonating voice. You felt your body respond to his voice immediately, until the feeling he evoked in you settled in your lower abdomen. You could feel your legs shaking under his piercing red gaze. Your mouth went dry as you tried to swallow an imaginary dumpling in your throat that kept you from making any sound.
You swallowed hard when you made the first syllable: “I...”
To be continued