CHAPTER ONE

INCURRING WRATH

"Well, and we all know who's coming in next…" murmured Lyall Lupin.

He shuffled his papers with an irritated sigh as he and the other members of The Ministry of Magic-Homicide Council prepared for their next suspect.

"Yes, Fenrir Greyback, is it?" Ingrid Mastfall questioned, straightening her tight, brown bun.

The group nodded and murmured in agreement.

"Harold, bring him in!" called Pete.

The council sat in silence. This was a very savage murder they were to deal with. Fenrir Greyback was accused of murdering two young girls...as a werewolf. The witness said that he stationed himself and his pack before the girls, right before the full moon was at its peak. They transformed in front of them, then attacked, violently murdering them. Though the witness swore up and down that Fenrir was a werewolf, he was given trial due to his not being listed on the Ministry's Werewolf Registry.

The door opened and Harold guided a very brawny man inside. He had many whiskers on his face and bright blue eyes. His teeth were yellow and sharpened to points. Fenrir looked ferociously rabid. Monstrous even.

Harold guided him to a seat that was much too small for him. He managed to squeeze into it and sit comfortably, his cuffed hands in his lap.

"Fenrir Greyback, you are accused of the murders concerning Jill Reeves and Sylvia Sutton. How do you plead?" asked the greying Head of Council.

"Not guilty," he said in a guttural snarl.

Lyall's eyes narrowed on him. He had to be a werewolf. It was very possible he had gone unlisted and to purposefully go unlisted for the sake of killing innocents was nothing short of scandalous

"You are also accused of refusing to register on the Ministry's Werewolf Registry, with intent to murder and contaminate witches and wizards. How do you plead?"

"Not guilty," he repeated.

Lyall almost scoffed. This was ridiculous! He was obviously a werewolf. The council might as well give the verdict now, then again, he did get to say his piece, though it would hardly do him any good.

"A witness stated that they observed you and a pack transform before the victims as the moon reached its peak, then lunged forward and killed them. The witness states 'he stood before them, just waiting to pounce like the monster he is, then he transformed with his pack and they slaughtered those two girls. He relished it.' We will now allow you to say your piece, Mr. Greyback."

"I'm not on your little registry, am I? If you all are as precise and perfect as you claim to be, wouldn't I be listed? Seems like you all keep pretty decent track of the werewolf community from what I've heard. How can you convict me?"

Lyall observed the way he sat, feet wide set. His knuckles and face littered with whiskers that weren't of an unshaven man, but a beast. His eyes were wild, just like an animal's. Then there were his teeth. Who would sharpen their teeth if not to utilize them to attack people? It wasn't fashionable or common.

"Where were you June 17th, Mr. Greyback?" asked Suzy Shaft.

"At the pub."

"Do you have anyone who can attest that?" Lyall probed.

"No. Look at me. Does it look like anyone would want to go to the pub with me?"

The council chuckled quietly, while Lyall continued to scrutinize Greyback with his eyes.

"You have no hard evidence, so how can you convict me? Sounds to me like you all hoped you would get me to confess to this crime. I'll have you know, I won't confess for a crime I didn't commit. Just because you twats are second guessing the accuracy of your system doesn't mean that I have to pay the price. Time and time again, you accuse me of wrong doings which I haven't done. It's discrimination for the way I look, isn't it?" he said darkly.

The council all looked at their papers, embarrassed. Lyall shook his head.

"We can't find any other werewolf on our registry that wasn't in containment at Saint Mungos or with their families on that night. You display every aspect of a werewolf. Especially one that would go unlisted. Saint Mungos specializes in the care of those plagued with Lycanthropy in keeping them restrained and maintaining their cleanliness. Your appearance is very suggestive of an unlisted werewolf," Lyall said exchanging looks with the council and Fenrir.

"He's right, Lyall…" muttered the Head of Council.

Lyall's eyes shot over to him, widening in disbelief.

"We have no hard evidence," Suzy added.

"You've got to be joking…" groaned Lyall.

Lyall glared at Greyback who smiled wickedly.

"What day is it?" Lyall asked, keeping his eyes on Greyback.

"The eighteenth…" said Theon.

"The full moon is twenty four hours from now. Let's detain him and see what happens. See if he's telling the truth!" he protested.

"That's against the ordinance. You can't containment against my will without wielding hard evidence," Greyback commented.

"He's right," sighed Ingrid.

"We have liable cause!"

"Lyall, surely you can't expect to contain him for looking odd," snickered the head of council.

The room once again, laughed to one another silently.

"No offense, Mr. Greyback," sighed Suzy.

"None taken. I'm not the most handsome, I'll admit."

The council chortled quietly and shrugged.

Lyall couldn't stand it any longer, he was enraged by their ignorance.

"That man is a werewolf. A soulless, evil, deserving nothing but death!" he bellowed.

"Mr. Lupin, you're excused," the head of council growled, glowering at Lyall.

Lyall maintained vicious eye contact with head of council the gathered his papers, leaving the room, whispering curses under his breath.

Lyall Lupin realized on the walk to his car, that he had done more than offend Fenrir Greyback. He had given him cause to come after him. He knew his name and if he had the dark connections that people claimed, Fenrir would be able to find him instantly. Little did he know, that was coming much sooner than he expected. That night.