The Hunters

I've seen death. Hell, I've seen a lot of death. But nothing came close to what I saw that night. At the most, I've seen maybe five, six dead bodies at the same time. It wasn’t the case that night. Men, women, children, they were all piled up on the ground. Some had been burned. Others had bled to death. A few were distorted, like something out of a bad horror movie. Their faces looked upward, frozen in an endless scream. When the final battle had finished, I looked around for anyone, enemy or friend, who was left alive. The first thing I saw was a boy. No, not a boy anymore, he was a man now. With his wand clenched tightly in his hand, he stood over his enemy, a man who had been his destiny. Kill or be killed is what the prophecy had said, and someone had to make a choice. It's just lucky for us that Harry made the right one.

"Gray, do you read me? Come in Gray?" The voice sounded out of the walkie-talkie lying on the ground. Blood was running down the hill.

"Gray, do you copy? Gray?" Shit, Emma thought to herself. This is not a good sign. She blazed through the old warehouse to the hill where her partner had been on a stake out. Why did she put him on watch? He was just a rookie, too ready to be a hero. As she rounded the corner, her worst fear was confirmed. Kevin Gray was lying on the ground. His body had been torn apart. Emma pulled back on her gun to ready it. This was just wrong. She looked over what flesh was left to gather clues. The bite marks that were still visible on his neck told her exactly what his killer was.

"Where are you? Come on out!" She started up the hill, the fog hiding her visibility.

"Here boy," called Emma as she pulled back on the slide of her gun. Climbing the hill, the silence made her feel uneasy. The wind blew through the trees, rustling the leaves. Something behind her snapped a twig on the ground. She turned around and was face to face with the werewolf. His fur was a deep yellow, but stained with patches of blood. Emma could smell the human flesh that still lingered on his claws and teeth. They stared at each other for a moment, his eyes meeting hers, locked in a stare.

"Come and get it!" Emma fired her gun as the creature started to lunge. The silver bullets hit her target dead on. The werewolf dropped to the ground and changed instantly back to its human form. Still, on her guard, she approached it. He was a local wrestler, a well-built blonde killing machine.

"Bitch," said the man on the ground, lying in a pool of blood.

"Thanks for the compliment." She fired one last round into him. Replacing her gun to its holster, she fumbled for her walkie-talkie.

"Briggs, come in."

"I hear you loud and clear, Emma. Did we bag him? "

"Yeah, I need a bounty collection team and clean up." She paused and collected herself, trying not to give up any signs of weakness. "It got Gray."

"Damn. I knew he was too much a hero to do this."

"Yeah, well, just send a cleaning crew. I'm going home. "

"Roger that. Keep safe. "

"Stay alive. 10-4." Emma spit on the corpse and started walking toward her Mustang. Another night like this, she thought, and I'm done with this.

The next morning, Emma went to the office early. The office, she laughed. It was nothing more then an oversized loft apartment that housed the bounty team's computers and ammo. Book cases lined the walls, containing volumes upon volumes on magic, the occult, and anything paranormal. There were also five large desks that took up a good portion of the room center. Those too were covered in nothing but computers and clutter. She walked in and headed straight to the coffee pot. Caffeine was the only way she could wake up in the morning. The computer tech, Heath Ridge, walked into the kitchen. He was new to team; new meant that he was still alive after three months.

"Did you have a rough night, Emma?"

"Yeah, you could say that." She groaned. Her calf muscles still aced from the hunt she preformed last night. Placing her mug of coffee on the small kitchen table, she turned attention immediately to the red envelope that was sitting on the table.

"Oh, that. " Heath pointed to the letter. "It looks important. It arrived about an hour ago by owl. It reminded me of those pigeon messengers in New York City?" Emma dropped her coffee cup. No, it can't be, she thought. It's impossible.

"Did you say an owl, Heath?"

"Yeah. I've seen some strange things, and I guess it just keeps coming." Pushing him out of the way, she grabbed the letter and ripped it open. Her eyes grew large.

Dear Miss Emma Abigail Marchbanks,
I am writing to you with the utmost urgency. The Dark Lord has grown ever more powerful. We have done what we can to best our defenses, but I fear we may need some outside help. Your great-great-great aunt, Griselda, mentioned you to me, and believes you may be of some assistance. After a lengthy conversation with her about your occupation and use of wandless magic, I agree. If you will accept this offer, please arrive with your crew at Hogsmeade Station Wednesday, at 1pm.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore, Head Master, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Emma was stunned. She hadn't spoken with her mother's family in years, and was under the impression that her great-great-great aunt was dead. Apparently not, she thought. She looked at the calendar. It was Tuesday.

"Call the crew and get packed. We're headed to London."

"What are you talking about? London?"

"This letter is from Hogwarts. You know, the best school in the world for witches and wizards. So get packed." Emma ran off to grab her car keys.

"Hogwarts? We're going to a school? And how are we gonna get to London by tomorrow morning? It's not like you can just show up at the airport and say, 'Hello, I'd like six tickets to London. By the way, where should we check our guns?' Holy Christ Woman!" Emma walked back into the kitchen and smiled at Heath.

"I forgot that you’re a muggle.” She patted him on the chest. "We're not flying. We’re . . . flooing. Just get the crew ready. We're going to go save the world."

"Flooing, what the hell is that, and what they hell did you just call me?" Heath sighed. Emma was already out the door. Save the world, what the hell have I gotten into, he thought?

"Jess, open up. Jess, come on." Emma pounded on the heavy wood door of the house. It wasn’t just any house. It was a very nice house that belonged to a family with old money. It was an old Victorian style, complimented with Romanesque columns and wrap around porches. The windows were all original; Tiffany stained glass. "Jess, come on, it's important." The door opened and a tall blonde woman who was half awake, answered.

"Do you have any idea what time it is, Emma? No, you probably don't. What do you want? I'm not on my shift ‘till tonight."

"The shift’s cancelled. We have an emergency. We have to be at Hogsmeade Station tomorrow afternoon." Those words woke Jess up. "Yes, I said Hogsmead. I got a letter from Albus Dumbledore."

"What in the name of the goddess is going on? "

"Well, I know you keep up with current events in 'our world', and not just in the US. It's Voldermort."

"What, you're kidding? They just caught another group of Death Eaters. There's really nothing we should worry about." Jess saw the worried look on her friend's face. "Is there something to worry about? Ok, well, are we using a port key, or are we flooing?" Emma smiled. "We're flooing, aren’t we? We're flooing instead of oh, I don't know, apparating, which is much easier. Or, better yet, we could just take a port key? I'm sure I can get one. Jimmie's working at the counsel center now, and he has some power."

"No, I am not involving any magical government of any kind here. I know Jimmie is your boyfriend, Jess. He's a nice guy, but no. We go the old-fashioned way. Get Walters and Briggs and get packed."

Emma gathered the rest of the crew, returning to the office around noon. The group consisted of three bounty hunters, a very nervous computer technician, one healer, and four cases of guns, ammo, and supplies. Emma walked to the old fireplace and chanted under her breath. Suddenly, from the old fireplace shot green flames, and it transformed into a majestic giant, a huge fireplace, large enough for two people to stand in.

"Okay folks, are we ready?" Looking around, Emma admired her crew. "This is it, anyone who wants to live, can back out now."

"Oh, that's encouraging."

"Can it, Heath. I'll go first with one crate. Jess, you grab your supplies and go with Heath. He's never flooed before, so keep an eye on him. Briggs, you follow with the next case. Vic, bring up the rear with the ammo. Ok, is everyone ready? Lock and load, ladies, its Showtime." With a burst of green light and smoke, Emma was gone.