"OI!"
Brandon was suddenly in the paddock and delivering a vicious kick to a large furry creatures. The creature sailed right into James' arms who held it up with a disgusted, "eggh!"
It was a Heffler. A distant cousin to Nifflers they burrowed underground and then burrowed into their prey and laid eggs in them. Hagrid and other magical creature experts were convinced Hefflers, which were recent additions to the world, had been created by dark wizards as terror weapons. Brandon was sure it had been Grindlewald,as it was bit too clever for Voldemort. Brandon had noted that years ago and had spoken about it at length to his father and other Aurors.
Voldemort was no doubt a talented and gifted wizard, and quite intelligent, but he tended to allow his ego to overwhelm common sense. He ignored those he thought weak, even to his cost, and refused to alter his opinions, and he absolutely refused to rely on anyone or anything without sufficient power. True he used giants,vampires, dementors, werewolves like Fenrir Greyback, hags, Inferi,and some other dark creatures, but he refused to utilize hundreds of others with powers that in his opinion were useless or weak, when actually they could have been key to the destruction of his enemies.
Hefflers, Hydras, Trolls, spiders (though Hagrid would disagree), manticores and strangely enough dragons (though Brandon felt that Voldemort secretly feared the great lizards), billywigs, nifflers themselves, Kappas, redcaps, grindylows, and virtually every creature in the textbooks. Brandon had pointed out how each of these creature could maim, kill or at least distract while armies of Muggles and wizards but Voldemort steadfastly refused them. In this Brandon viewed Grindlewald as the far more dangerous as the elder Dark wizard had successfully created a global wizarding war that only his defeat by Dumbledore had been able to stop.
Brandon used this to confirm his belief that as dangerous as Voldemort was he was too foolish and weak in his own right to ever achieve his goals and made no secret of his beliefs and had even been known to mock known Dark Art practitioners, such as Lucius Malfoy and most of the Black family(especially Bellatrix) for their poor judgement right to their face. It had caused such a stir, as open hostilities had been growing to a fever pitch but no one had proof against the vaunted daughter of such a noble family, that Brandon had been threatened by the Ministry itself for upsetting the citizenry but he had calmly pointed out that all he had said was that he thought Voldemort was an idiot and if Bellatrix was truly that upset by it then perhaps they should investigate her.
The Ministry had been shocked by the accusation and had done nothing of the sort but they had also left Brandon alone. Despite appearances,he played the game of politics far too well.
Mulciber clearly was thinking of all this as he stared at the Heffler not noting that Brandon was rushing toward him enraged. Professor Kettleburn and Hagrid tried to get in the way yelling for Brandon to stop but Brandon was having none of it. He spun around Kettleburn and actually vaulted over Hagrid in a display of athleticism that made even James and Sirius gaze, then with a roar of fury Brandon leapt into the air and delivered a driving punch to Mulciber's face that was so hard everyone heard his jaw snap and what sounded like several teeth break. Hagrid was on Brandon in a flash but Brandon still managed two more punches, then several brutal heel kicks to Mulciber before Hagrid dragged him off all while screaming. "YOU SCUMMY BASTARD!! YOU FUCKING SCUMMY BASTARD!!! YOU EVER COME NEAR CLEO OR OUR ANIMALS AGAIN I'LL TURN YOUR BODY IN PUDDING AND FEED IT TO THE SQUID!!! YOU FUCKING BASTARD YOU BETTER HOPE I NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN!!!"
"MR. KRISSIN!!" Everyone froze, even Brandon, though his eyes shot pure hatred at Mulciber, who was not moving and bleeding badly, though clearly bethinking. Professor Dumbledore marched other, clearly angry. "What is this meaning of this?"
Before Hagrid could speak Brandon roared. "That bastard put a Heffler in the paddock with the pegasi!!!"
Dumbledore actually flinched and looked at Hagrid who nodded, followed by james who held up the creature. Dumbledore stared at it in horror then took out his wand and waved it intricately and soon had the whole matter well in hand. He too glared at Mulciber, by now Madame Pomfrey had been fetched and she had mended him up rather well, though she had not been able to prevent his jaw from gaining a rather odd bend in the middle as Brandon had shattered it in his fury. Mulciber's friends, Severus had been careful to stay well away from them all, had claimed that Mulciber had not known it was Heffler, and had meant it as a joke. Hagrid had wisely kept a hold of Brandon the whole time as he was still straining to rip them apart, having dropped his wand when he had begun kicking Mulciber.
Dumbledore was furious. "Slytherin House will lose two hundred points for this poorly conceived practical joke. endangering innocent lives is neither to be played at." The Slytherins started to protest but eh cut them off. "I remind you that pegasi are nervous by nature and nifflers frighten them badly. They could have harmed themselves badly. The fact that it is actually a heffler is far worse. Mulciber you will no longer be allowed visits to Hogsmeade, I will be writing to your parents and the ministry concerning your actions, and you will serve detention with me for the rest of your time here at Hogwarts. be grateful I do not expel you. And if i ever learn you were aware of the danger of your actions I assure you I shall. now be off all you. Expect you two." He pointed at Brandon and Cleo.
James handed the heffler to Dumbledore who clutched it by the scruff of the neck, ignoring ti's gnashing teeth while he watched the class troop off. only when they were in the castle did he nod to Hagrid who released Brandon. Brandon grunted and scooped up his wand glowering at the creature but he did nothing waiting for Dumbledore to speak. Dumbledore pointed his own wand at it and ignoring Hagrid whimper, killed it, then handed the body to Hagrid. "The nest is in the forest. find them and burn the bodies Hagrid. They are too dangerous to let live."
"Yessir Professor Dumbledore sir." he went off to work while Dumbledore looked at Brandon, who was still shaking with rage, his clothes torn and wrinkled from his struggle to break free from Hagrid.
"Mr. Krissin I need you to calm down so we may speak."
Brandon glowered at Dumbledore but took a deep breath and held it then let it out. repeating this he soon visibly relaxed and nodded at the headmaster, though it was clear he was still furious. Dumbledore sighed. "I understand Mr. Krissin. you were a father protecting your children and a husband protecting your wife." Brandon grunted but could not help a smile at the thought of marrying Cleo, though he did not look at her for fear it would set him off again. Dumbledore spoke quickly to distract him. "I doubt anyone would so foolish to threaten Ms. Gale in such a manner again, despite Voldemort's presumption and likely attempts to eliminate you. i applaud your instincts, but I must point out that you did frighten your classmates."
"I don't care. I would have killed him had I the chance."
"That is what concerns me. Killed him? For what he claims to have been a practical joke?"
"Do you really-"
"No I don't believe it. But I cannot prove it. However it can be proved that you attacked him, seemingly unprovoked, and very nearly killed him with your bare hands. we must address this."
Brandon's eyes narrowed. "How?"
"I shall have to suspend your Hogsmeade's visits, remove two hundred points from Gryffindor, and I may have to suspend you from Quidditch."
Brandon scowled. he had always liked Dumbledore but he was not going to back down. "Go ahead. i don't care about the points. the only thing that matters in this world is my family. Especially her." he pointed at Cleo and Dumbledore studied the young man for a long moment then nodded.
"So I see. However that does not help your continued position on the team." Brandon shrugged and Dumbledore sighed shaking his head. "I will not remove you. But you are on probation. If you strike another student I shall have to remove you." Brandon shrugged again and Dumbledore sighed again. "Mr. Krissin do you not understand the danger of what you have done?"
"A known violent troublemaker threatened the life of my family, namely my soulmate. I prevented harm to befall her and sent a clear message to the Dark Marked bastard that I will not allow anyone to threaten Cleo. In so doing I also sent a clear message to Voldemort. thus again making myself a target and shattering the shell of illusion that this place is safe from him. It's not sir. as long as the students that support him are allowed to walk free then we cripple ourselves by giving them the power. you yourself are crippled because you cannot expel them without proof and have to endure the complaints about them and their actions but if you dare act against them the entire wizardry community starts screaming for your head. i understand precisely what I did sir. And I'll tell you this. Bring that fucker back here now and I'll kill him."
Dumbledore actually flinched at the profanity, he had never liked it, but nodded impressed. "I see you do understand. But I can't have you killing or threatening students no matter the reason."
Brandon grunted. "So what's the solution?"
"You will begin your Auror training now. A bit irregular but considering your marks it should be no trouble. It will keep you away from Mulciber. it will mean time away from Ms. Gale as well but it protects you from expulsion and though Alastor will be able to convince the Auror office that your fighting spirit is crucial to the job, getting expelled would destroy any chance you have of becoming one."
Brandon nodded. "Very well sir."
Dumbledore sighed again and smiled. "Very well. Now...did you really have to hit him so hard? his face is crooked now." His eyes gave a twinkled and Brandon grinned then laughed. "Sir forgive me but if you threatened Cleo I'd do the same to you. not my fault he can't take a punch."
Dumbledore smirked and gripped Brandon's powerful right arm, the muscle not giving way even a millimeter. "Nor is it his fault that you are so fit and that you took martial arts." he chuckled . "very well then. Good day Mr. Krissin. Ms. Gale. have a lovely evening. and Ms. gale? try to contain your beast." he winked at brandon who shrugged again but was still grinning as Dumbledore went up to the castle.
Brandon turned on his heel and waved his wand, gathering all of their things into his bag then gently cupped her chin and kissed her. "Sorry babe. Did I embarrass you? all that scene?" He genuinely looked concerned and studied her eyes awaiting her judgement. Her opinion meant everything to him. The world could burn for all of him if she wished it. his eyes told her this and more. He would die before he let anyone, especially Voldemort touch her, and the consequences be damned.
