The Werewolf Capture Unit
The Werewolf Capture Unit
We met Uncle Cecil back at the Ministry of Magic very early the next morning. This time we were on the fourth floor, in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, in the Beast Division.
The first thing I noticed was how disorganised the department was, and outdated. There were 'educational' posters up on the walls that had been printed prior to the year I was born. I sighed, this was going to be so much work. As a brand new trainee I wasn't comfortable yet expressing my concerns or sharing my ideas but I was determined to do what I could.
Barnaby and I received our uniforms first. The same ludicrously purple tailcoat and bowler hat Uncle Cecil had given to me back at Hogwarts when I'd helped him out with some Werewolf trouble back in our third year. Only these ones were official with the Department's paw print logo on the sleeve.
The colour actually suited Barnaby incredibly well and I admired his handsome and very grown up looking figure. He seemed to think it suited as me as well because he smiled brightly at me and adjusted my hat back on my head, stopping it from falling forwards over my eyes.
After we were properly outfitted we were each given a single laminated sheet to review.
SIGNS OF WEREWOLF ACTIVITY:
•Sight: Paw prints, claw marks, fur, saliva
•Smell: Doggish, but more foul
•Sound: Howling, growling, scratching, screams of their terrified victims
•Other: Testimony of witches and wizards
CAPTURE RULES:
•Always track in pairs, never go off alone
•Have your wand at the ready
•Be prepared to stun, freeze, bind or immobilize the beast in any other ways necessary
•Expect the unexpected
•Call for backup as needed
CONTAINMENT AFTER CAPTURE:
•Conjure ropes (Incarcerous)
•Conjure cage (Laqueum)
•Unbreakable charm (Indissolubilis)
EXCEPTION:
•If the Werewolf is found in his/her human form you may skip some of/all of the aforementioned Capture rules and Containment protocols. Some individuals may simply come quietly, and it never hurts to try this approach when applicable.
I turned the sheet over expecting there to be more instructions on the back but it was blank. I was torn between giggling and dismay, surely this was not the only preparation they'd give us before sending us out into the field? I remembered back to studying Werewolves in Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons at Hogwarts, how there had been a entire chapter on their characteristics alone. I exchanged a dubious glance with Barnaby.
"Right then!" Uncle Cecil said, clapping his hands together. "We are currently on the tail, er, on the trail, well whichever, of a rather elusive beast. I shall have the both of you join me for some on the job training."
I looked at Barnaby again with an eyebrow raised. After years of astronomy classes the moon cycle was permanently ingrained in me. I'd already calculated that there wouldn't be another full moon until near to the end of the month. So what exactly were we supposed to be tracking?
I held my questions for the time being and Barnaby and I followed Uncle Cecil back to the departure fireplaces in the Atrium where he led the way to our destination by shouting "The Hogs Head" into the flames and disappearing.
I stepped out of the fireplace as soon as I arrived so that Barnaby wouldn't collide with me, but I felt like I'd just been punched in the stomach, and it had nothing at all to do with revolving at top speeds along the floo network.
I was upset that Uncle Cecil hadn't told us we'd be tracking in Hogsmeade Village. Being brought back there so suddenly and without warning made me very emotional. Not just because of the proximity to the castle and the place where Rowan had died, but because of the exact place we'd arrived into as well. The Circle of Khanna had been founded in that very pub.
Barnaby appeared in the fireplace right after I'd stepped out. He immediately reached out a hand to me, a look of concern on his handsome face. I let him hold my hand and comfort me, not caring if we looked professional or not.
Feeling the warm, familiar pressure of Barnaby's strong fingers clasped protectively around mine gave me the strength I needed. I did my best to squash down my anxiety and obediently followed Barnaby and his uncle to the counter to speak with the old barman.
As it turned out, tracking Werewolves this way was not very difficult, or exciting. We spent hours going door to door in the village interviewing and taking notes on anyone who was willing to talk. I had a unique advantage for this type of work. I saved us having to listen to fictitious blathering on two occasions, simply by dropping my wards momentarily to get the feel of the persons thoughts, I was able to weed out the liars and nutjobs from the rest. I admitted my Legilimency to Uncle Cecil after I'd caught the first one and he excitedly came up with a signal. If I was sure someone we were talking to was a dead end I'd scratch my nose so the others would be aware and we could make our excuses to them without wasting too much time.
We finished up at the last house as the afternoon turned to evening, and Uncle Cecil suggested we visit the Three Broomsticks for a refreshment. I was hesitant, there were a lot of memories I'd be confronted with in the pub, but ultimately agreed when I remembered Dumbledore's letter to me.
After we said hello to Madam Rosmerta we took our drinks to a table and I brought up to the Lee men that I wanted to visit with the Headmaster if possible, before we called it a day. Barnaby said he'd had the exact same thought but wasn't sure how to go about it.
We thought it would be likely we'd get stopped at the front gates by Mr Filch because we hadn't scheduled an appointment to see the Headmaster. We thought we might be granted entry, however if we let Dumbledore know we were there, if he wasn't too busy. And if the ring didn't set off the enchantments that blocked dark items from being brought inside the school grounds.
As we left the Three Broomsticks and said goodbye to Uncle Cecil, I decided I'd throw out a Patronus messenger and see if it worked. I focused on the very happy memory of Barnaby asking me to marry him, flicked my wand and said "Expectro Patronum!" An enormous silver leopard sprang out from the tip of my wand, circled around us and accepted the message I gave it before darting off towards the castle.
"Blimey, how do you manage it every time?" Barnaby asked me, in a slightly awed voice.
"What, a Patronus? I've always been able to do it." I told him matter of factly. Then I noticed his expression and if I'd been able to kick myself I would have.
Of course Barnaby had always struggled to produce a corporeal Patronus, he'd had such a traumatic childhood there were precious few happy memories to choose from. I had hoped being with me would have given him some, as I had so many happy memories with him. But it was understable that it might still be a challenge for him to go to his 'happy place' as they called it, and stay there focussed long enough to work the extremely advanced charm. To my knowledge he'd had success with it only once, during his Defense Against the Dark Arts N.E.W.T examination, after we'd stayed up nearly the whole night practicing.
I quickly stepped into his arms and hugged him as hard as I could. "It doesn't matter. But if you ever want to work on it together, I can think of a few ways to put you in the right mood" I told him, standing up on my tiptoes to give him a sultry, lingering kiss. He kissed me back enthusiastically until we were interrupted by a silver Phoenix inviting us to come up to the castle. "And I most recently have been enjoying sugar quills" was it's final word.
We hastened up the familiar path leading to the castle gates and were met there by none other than the cantankerous caretaker Argus Filch, holding a lantern up against the fading daylight.
"Hmpft you two again is it. The Headmaster asked me to fetch his guests.. if I'd have known it was you I'd have stayed in me office" was his greeting to us. Charming as ever.
I was tempted to apologise for keeping him from his dinner date with Mrs Norris, but I managed to restrain my sarcastic side. There was no need to start a dust up with Filch when we had other, much more important matters to attend to. I suppressed my grin and we followed him up to the great front doors.