Culling Ⅳ

The shocked, ambushed group finally begins to retaliate, but Percius, who had been waiting for that moment raises his wand into the snow-filled air. "Protego Totalum," he cried out casting a protective enchantment to defend the group of Auror's before them. With every second and spell that hit the barrier the faster, his magic would drain until he would be unable to maintain the shield. But this was what Alastor had requested of him, and that was exactly what he would do. That and he could not bear to lose anyone else before his eyes, not again.

Seeing their fallen comrades falling rapidly under the attack of the Aurors, the group begins to frantically retreat into the pub only to find themselves being viciously attacked from the pub entrance by those they considered allies, the henchmen of Sanderson, Hyde, and Floyd.

A sly-looking wizard angrily roared, "Why the sudden betrayal from Sanderson?" He fiercely cried out as he cradled his bleeding arm earned from attempting to force his way in only to be rebuffed by the two burly wizards. "We're members of the underworld and by right we can call upon his protection from the Auror's!"

"The time of mayhem and chaos has come to an end," Floyd dutifully replied, while Hyde sent red stunning sparks at those before him. "The Potentate of London will cease to exist as of this very night to assure in the dawning of a new era."

"Impossible," the sly-looking wizard swore before a stark realization began to dawn on his face. Sanderson was retiring from the game and in doing so, he'd made a deal with the Ministry of Magic. Their heads for his peaceful retirement.

"Some of us have got families and children," the sly-looking wizard gasped. "Is there no clemency from Sanderson!"

"Sanderson will ensure that all those with families and other responsibilities will be fiscally taken care of," Floyd hmphed. "I dare say that they'll be much better off now with the lot of you gone from their lives." The sly-looking wizard cursed only to find his mouth filled with soap and choking as he spat out soap bubbles.

The others in the group realized far too late of the truth that lay before them as they were ambushed on both fronts. They had no choice but to move forward and find a way to break out. Filled with desperation, the group forced themselves forward only to be rebuffed by the arrival of the reinforcement from the A.P.D. Under the mass wave of reinforcements, the last of the stragglers fell and were soon easily captured and tied up to be transported to the Ministry of Magic of dungeon cells that were filled with Auror ready to interrogate those captured.

The A.P.D. fiercely guards the apprehended criminals while Auror's and other A.P.D. officers verify the identities of those captured and compare them to the names on the list prepared by Sanderson. Miraculously, the mission was astonishingly successful without a single loss nor severely wounded Auror beyond minor injuries. Minister Jenkins and their Head of Department Elphinstone Urquart would be right pleased with the conclusion of their mission. Even better, they'd be able to appease the public after the death of Damocles Belby and show that the Auror department was capable of defending the wizarding world.

While Percius oversaw the Auror's, Alastor Moody approached the two lightly injured figures of Hyde and Floyd. "You both did rather well," Alastor shrewdly observed, before sticking out his hand to shake. "If you ever decide to have a change of occupations the Auror Academy will gladly welcome you two."

Hyde blinks in surprise and flushes in embarrassment, while the beady-eyed Floyd shrugs and says, "Nah, we're a bit too old to be dreaming about being Auror's," Floyd answered as he reached and genuinely shook Auror Moody's hand. "However, we've got a younger sister her name's Daffodil. She's a sturdy girl, never married. If you're willing to give her the recommendation, she'd be willing that's for certain."

Alastor Moody reaches into his pocket and pulls out a rumbled card from his pocket. He hands the card over to Floyd, who narrows his beady eyes a bit surprised as he had been mostly jesting. "Well, if she's as good as the two of you, we'd be honored," Alastor said as he handed the card for Floyd to take.

Floyd accepts the card and carefully studies with one eye before respectful saying, "We'll let our younger sister have the final say."

"As it should be with the bonnie lasses," Alastor said with a deep Scottish brogue earning a faint smile from Floyd, while Hyde blinks with shock at his brother's smile at an Auror.

"Well, it's a busy night," Alastor said, "I best be seeing to my Auror's. I shall be seeing you, lads, again before the night is up," before turning away and striding back to the gathered group in the middle of the snowstorm.

"You aren't serious and letting Daffodil join the Auror's," Hyde protested as they went inside the pub and closed the pub doors behind them. "Why ever not?" Floyd asked as he began to clean up the broken glasses around the bar that had fallen during the attack. "Daffodil's nearly just as good as you and me, and the only reason she isn't working for the boss is cuz ma didn't want her to be mixed up in this kind of business. And with the boss now leaving the business as it is why can't Daffodil become an Auror?"

"But's she's from this side of London!" Hyde protested. "You know what they'll say about her! We all do!"

"And she'll punch them in the nose if need be," Floyd deadpanned. "Daffodil's got a right good hook and you know she's good for it."

"But-," Hyde began to say, but Floyd cut harshly cut him off. "But nothing, Hyde! Here's an opportunity for Daffodil to make something of herself and I don't see the harm. Besides, you know ma's worried about Daffodil becoming some sort of Lady of the night-."

Hyde sniffs and mutters under his breath. "She ain't pretty enough to be one."

Floyd sends a shooting glare at Hyde, but Hyde shrugs. "What?! We both know Daffodil's big, sturdy, and homely. She ain't a looker no matter how you put it."

"So!" Floyd snapped at his brother. "Daffodil's got more talent than most witches and wizards! It's jus' been covered up all this time until now! And now that she's got a BLOODY well chance, ya want her to throw it away for the sake of your pride!" He irritably hissed as he waved Alastor Moody's handwritten card in front of Hyde.

Hyde has the grace flush with shame, before turning to glance downstairs. "But ma won't approve, you know how ma gets. She'll say that a proper girl has got no reason for joining the Auror's."

"Leave ma to me," Floyd confidently replied as he carefully tucked the card from Alastor Moody into his inner pocket.

"If you say so," Hyde murmured not convinced by his brothers' words at all. Before fixing his gaze to the closed doors at the end of the pub that lead to the basement. "Do you think it's already started?" He quietly asked.

"No," Floyd sincerely replied as he got out a broom and began to sweep the pub.

"What makes you say that?" Hyde curiously asked as his large forehead furrowed creating a deep crease.

"I don't spell any blood," Floyd firmly answered causing Hyde to peer at the door again. "Stop looking at the door, it's damn not going anywhere. Now help me clean."

"Right," Hyde said going over to help his brother to sweep. It would go a long way to quiet his mind as he didn't want to recall what was going to occur downstairs. No, somethings are better to remain ignorant about, and this was one of them.