Operation Thunderbird (Scarlett, Hathor & Jake)

With the disappearance of both children and adults alike, the Ministry had been a very busy place. Increased hours were brought on to all staff, and Jake was not an exception. Crawling in to bed in the small hours of the morning beside his wife, only to be up at the crack of dawn was having its affects on both Jake and his home life. He hated the long hours, leaving Veronika with the two children, but in the small amount of time off he could gain, he made it up to all three of them.

Today, however, was not a day of fun, children's laughter or Veronika's smile. It was mission time. A lead had sprung up on the location of one of the houses likely to contain those who had been abducted from the school. A whole force of Aurors were going to be coming down on the position to get them all out alive.

At the moment, Jake was pulling on his Ministry supplied boots, making sure to tie them carefully as the rest of the Auror division changed from the floaty robes they usually wore, to the kit for specialised missions. Easier to move in, etc.

"How're you feeling?" Jake asked the witch beside him, his best friend and colleague, Scarlett. There was no denying that Jake still got nervous before these bigger missions. Especially now that the lives he was about to save were those of students he knew from Hogwarts. One wrong move and it could mean the demise of any one of them. And that was a lot of pressure, for anyone, let alone a Professor.

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~ Auror ~ Profile ~ DADA Professor ~
~ In a Relationship ~ 36 ~ Father ~ 6' ~ American Accent ~

Guest

Times had been quiet, until recently. Serious security issues in Hogwarts had been highlighted with the recent break in. Hearing about it had really shook Scar- she'd always remembered it as such a safe place. And ever since, she'd been worried for her sister's safety. And afterwards, work had been frantic. Briefs, meetings discussing the threat from the limited information that they had managed to gather.

But she needed to put that aside for today- clear her mind. It was an extremely high risk mission and it needed her utmost concentration. If there was any sort of slip up, it could very much result in death- hers, Jake's, the hostages…

Still, trying not to worry because of all those factors seemed to make her even more anxious.

"How're you feeling?"

The words jolted her out of her thoughts.

"Worried, I guess," she replied, finishing tying her own boots "You?" she asked.

The admission that Scarlett was worried about the situation was something of a relief to him. Yes, he was an Auror, and he'd done things like this a number of times. But Jake was still human, and he was worried about the outcome of today.

"Much the same, to be honest." Jake replied to the question. "But, I know I've got a good team around me." He added, because everyone needed positive thinking at this time. "I think I just... need to separate the jobs, today." Jake added, because he'd taught the students. Everyone knew that. And he'd insisted on being here now.

In that moment, their senior officer entered the room, ready in his own gear, chest puffed, and looking determined. "Morning everyone." Head Auror Henderson greeted, making his way to the tactical board. "I trust there are no problems I should be aware of?" He added, scanning the room which came back with a silent agreement to the question. "Good. As you all know we have had a lead, which is the basis of today's mission.

"We have a house to infiltrate - anything further than the layout of the house is unknown. There could be booby traps, dark magic, and many other things in which we all have to contend. We're lucky that the house is surrounded by forest, so we should be able to infiltrate under the cover of darkness that is now forming. We will split up in to teams of two - usual partnerships. Newbury, Waters, you will take the side entrance that comes in from the west."

"Sir," Jake replied, acknowledging the orders and allowing the rest of the teams orders to wash over him for a moment.

"Now, the main aim is to save the children, and adults taken hostage. Where possible, stun, do not kill on sight. We can bring the culprits in for questioning. Lethal force is only used if absolutely necessary." The Head Auror finished, distributing a layout of the house to each team.

"You have ten minutes, then each of you has a portkey to catch. Dismissed."

Jake took a moment to take in the map they'd been given with the layout. It wasn't a big house, but he could see they would be quite open once they moved towards the stairs. "Well, lets hope it's as easy as they make it sound!" Jake half-joked to Scarlett, holding the map out towards her for inspection.

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~ Auror ~ Profile ~ DADA Professor ~
~ In a Relationship ~ 36 ~ Father ~ 6' ~ American Accent ~

Guest

She wasn't surprised to hear that Jake was worried too. With such a high-stake mission, it'd be weird if he weren't. "A very good team…" she agreed "We should be alright with it," she added.

She turned her attention to the senior officer as he entered to give his brief. It was a pretty standard rescue mission- try to catch and question the culprits and get as many victims that they could out alive. She took her copy of the layout of the house and glanced over it.

"Well, lets hope it's as easy as they make it sound!"

She cracked a smile "Should be a piece of cake," she replied "As long as we avoid all the dark magic and death traps," she joked back. "We should watch the stairs though," she said "Probably one of the most likely places for traps," she said. There were limited places to run and they could easily be ambushed, either by people or traps. But as long as they stayed alert, they should be alright, hopefully.

Jake nodded to Scarlett at the idea of being okay with this mission. It wasn't anything they hadn't done before, so he didn't doubt her words. They would get this done, just like any other mission they'd done before.

As the instructions were completed, Scarlett's jokes in response to his musings were a welcome break from the seriousness. "Good idea!" Jake replied to her more serious notes on the stairs. "I'll scope in front, you cover our backs, then we shouldn't miss anything." Jake prompted, as the more senior partner, he would take the front, taking whatever came his way. Not because Scarlett wasn't capable, she was, but because he wanted to.

"Come on." Jake added, getting up and drawing his wand from his robes. "We've got a portkey to catch." He explained, heading for the door of the briefing room and along to the transportation room. Portkeys weren't Jake's favourite means of travel, but he understood the logic for using them today. As they arrived at the room, Jake signed off their portkey - an old newspaper from weeks ago, and moved to the middle of the room. Holding it out to Scarlett so they both could hold it, Jake gave her a small smile. "We've got this." He said, reassuring himself as much as reassuring Scarlett.

The minutes were counted down by the clerk who'd given out the portkey, and as the ten second call began, Jake focused in on the mission. On keeping not only himself, but Scarlett safe from harm. As Jake heard 'one' he could feel the pull from his naval, and only a few moments later, his feet had found the forest floor. Allowing a few moments for his eyes to adjust to the growing darkness, Jake turned to Scarlett. "Ready?" He whispered, moving along to the nearest tree to take in the house. No one seemed to be about, so he motioned for Scarlett to follow his lead.

Moving as silently as possible from tree to tree, Jake was soon pressed against the cold stone wall of the house. Stealing his hearing for any clues, Jake found the space almost empty of noise. "Alohomora." He whispered, tapping the lock and waiting for the click. Once it sounded, Jake pressed the door open, checking corners for signs of life, but coming up short. Motioning for Scarlett to follow, Jake began to creep along the hallway, alert. Ready.

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~ Auror ~ Profile ~ DADA Professor ~
~ In a Relationship ~ 36 ~ Father ~ 6' ~ American Accent ~

Guest

The time eventually came for them to take the port key and commence the mission. She had expected Jake to offer to lead- it was just the sort of thing he did. She followed Jake into the room and took hold of the other side of the old newspaper.

"We've got this."

She nodded "Easy peasy," she smiled back. As the minutes were counted down, she found herself feeling oddly calm about their mission. Finally, the port key activated, and she found herself in the forest. She moved swiftly behind a tree to her left, quickly scoping out the area before moving with Jake towards the house. Jake promptly opened the door, after listening out. She followed him inside, keeping a careful eye on what was behind her.

The hallway was dark- and silent save for her and Jake's quiet footsteps. Scar did think of illuminating her wand, but quickly decided against it. It would draw far too much attention. No, the best way would be to listen for sounds. They walked slowly, Scar glancing around every few moments behind them so nothing could sneak up on them.

Slowly, quietly… Listening for anything unusual. That was when looking back, she saw a faint light had come on up the hall. Without saying a word, she placed a hand on Jake's arm to alert him quietly, and held her wand in front of her, at the ready if needed.

Creeping along was slow, of course, you couldn't afford to put one step wrong. If you did, well, it could be quite disastrous. The progress was coming along, though, and with each step that they took, Jake's eyes adjusted to the darkness. Able to make out shapes allowed him to move slightly quicker. Slightly.

They were coming towards the end of the hall - where it went either right or left, when Scarlett's hand reached out to touch his arm. Jake froze in place for a moment, wondering whether it was that Scarlett had spotted someone.

But as Jake followed her eyes, he noted the light, and gave his partner a nod to show he'd understood. Moving across the hall, Jake readied himself, heart thumping, but outwardly calm. Shifting to the other side of the door. He motioned to Scarlett that they would press in on the count of three. Jake would go for the door, Scarlett would get the first shot in at their enemies.

Likely a fire fight would ensue, but Jake knew that they had this.

Stealing one more moment, Jake held up his hand, just visible enough in that moment, and counted to three. On the third finger, Jake blasted the door open, sending it crashing against the inside of the room. Jake spotted a person not looking detained, and sent a Stunning Spell their way without question. Stunning Spells wouldn't hurt if they hit the wrong person. That person hit the floor, stiff.

Before a jet of green came hurtling through the door, avoiding Jake by millimetres as he recoiled back. At least one other...

Jake looked across to Scarlett, and then readied himself once more to move. Glancing round the door frame, Jake took in the target, and cast a quick "Bombarda!" in the man's direction. The yell of pain confirmed the target hit.

"AURORS!" Another voice shouted, and Jake knew there must be more than one for someone to be calling out like that. Now, both her and Scarlett needed to press before they apparated away.

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~ Auror ~ Profile ~ DADA Professor ~
~ In a Relationship ~ 36 ~ Father ~ 6' ~ American Accent ~

Guest

Scarlett followed Jake's lead in moving towards the other side of the door- gripping her wand tightly as his fingers counted down silently. The silence was broken by a huge blast- the door splintering. Scar took advantage of that split second of surprise exhibited by the people inside and shot as many stunning spells as she could at the people she saw before they had a chance to react.

A few of her spells hit, and a few flew right past. Not long passed before they started fighting back- and Scar had to duck out of the way as a green spell whizzed through, only just missing Jake. But Jake retaliated without missing a beat.

"AURORS!" a voice shouted- and Scar knew they had to act fast with apprehending them.

Already, there was a loud crack as someone disapparated. Scar swore under her breath- realising one thing they had forgotten. Acting quickly, she cast an anti-disapparition jinx. She wasn't sure how far it'd reach, but it should cover the room- which was enough for now.

After that, Scar decided to press forward- casting again and again, blocking as best as she could as she pressed forward.

As Scarlett pressed forward, Jake followed, covering her as they moved, but his eyes were drawn to a woman - not one of the people who were against them, but one who had been captured. Her clothes were torn open, and Jake felt sick as the realisation hit. Jake sent a stunning spell towards one last person, and did a quick scan of the room.

"Clear." Jake called, before focusing on a blanket on the edge of the room. Summoning it to himself, Jake moved to wrap it around the witch before him. "Mrs Westbrook?" Jake asked, she was the only known adult that had been taken. "You're safe now, ma'am. I promise." Jake told her, touching his wand on her binds and offering her his arm to steady herself.

Looking to Scarlett, Jake raised an eyebrow at her. "The kids?" He asked, he hadn't seen them around... Which meant they were either somewhere else in the house, or gone.

He would have to hope for the former, because Merlin knew that the parents of these children would not take kindly to them not having been found.

Turning his attention back to the witch before him, Jake gave her a small, soft smile. "I'll take you back to the Ministry, if that's okay?"

________________________________________________
~ Auror ~ Profile ~ DADA Professor ~
~ In a Relationship ~ 36 ~ Father ~ 6' ~ American Accent ~

Guest

She moved forward until all enemies within the room were down. And that's when she noticed, for the first time, the woman on the floor. Jake had immediately tended to her.

"Another room," she addressed Jake. Though that was fairly obvious. She had been so on edge, so focussed, that it was only when she glanced at the woman the second time that she realised what had been just about to happen to her. And she was so relieved that they happened to interrupt it.

She walked further into the room. They needed to keep moving, and fast. She was certain that others in the house would have been alerted to their presence already.

There was a door, to the right at the back of the room "Jake, let's check in here," she nodded to the door, moving to open it, but hesitating, waiting for Jake to join her. She wasn't going to risk going in alone.

» Hathor Valois
» Aiding the Recovery (Hathor & Marcus)
» History Repeats Itself [Hathor & Marcus]
» A Respectful Request (Hathor & Marcus)
» The Wedding Nightmare [Marcus & Hathor]