Hey, guys, I am sorry for the delay. I try to post every weekend, but I had a lot of stuff to do this past one, so new chapter is up today. I hope you will enjoy it.

Kaldus


Chapter 3: Malfoy Lord and Werewolves

The National Magical Library of England was huge. Much bigger than the one in Clyth. Of course, not bigger than at Harvard's, but Carwyn seriously doubted there was any bigger than that.

The staff had barely acknowledged his presence. They seemed rather occupied, so Carwyn asked for direction to the law sector.

There were hundreds of books in it. The only titles on them were years and some other numbers. There was no cataloging system. They were sorted by dates. Carwyn took out random one, sat down at the table and read.

The information in the book was absolutely useless. It was the description of the Wizengamot session from 18th century. It contained some new laws that were introduced and some revisions. The references were made to previous "books".

Carwyn groaned. He found one of the employees.

"Is there any book that describes the basic of your legal system? Some compendium or something?"

"The basics?"

"Yes."

"No I don't think so. Mostly, the noble families pass it through the lines, as no one beside them are entitled to rule. Well, obviously, the people in the Minister's office are too, but generally it's either that or studying at Magical University of London."

"There is nothing. Absolutely nothing?"

"Well, not that I know of" the man shook his head.

That was great. Absolutely great.

"There are some specialist in terms of law. The heads of noble families, but I doubt they would be willing to instruct anyone. You could try professors from MUL."

"Thank you" Harry waved his hand and returned to his table.

He opened his computer and run some queries through the WizNet. All he found was that the magical UK didn't have any constitution, just like it counterpart. Everything was based on some simple privileges granted in Magna Charta Libertatum in 13th century by King John Lackland.

He looked around and took the books from 1945. He had to start somewhere and the end of last great war seemed like quite a good point. Later he had to find out why the hell the Crefydd was prohibited. But at the time he needed some more basic informations.

The reading turned out rather useless, but Carwyn expected that the more he would read, the more sense it would all make. His only issue was that it would take forever. Even with his abilities to read quickly and remember.

He was reading for quite some time when he felt someone staring at him. He raised his eyes to see the blonde man again. Lord Malfoy. He carried some books and parchments.

"Good morning, Lord Malfoy. Are you going to be standing there all day and staring at me?" he asked.

The man flinched subtly and Carwyn frowned. Malfoy didn't look like someone who would flinch. He looked every inch a Lord he was. Confident, composed, regal, imposing. And yet he flinched. It was surprising.

"Good morning, Hybrach" he said slowly.

"Is there a problem, Lord Malfoy?"

"No, there isn't. May I sit?"

"Of course" Carwyn nodded.

Lucius Malfoy slowly put his books on the opposite side of the table and sat down. He looked at the man in front of him. Hybrach Carwyn was sweeping pages quickly. Lucius observed him silently. The only two people that read so quickly was himself and Severus. Probably also the Dark Lord, but Lucius had never actually seen him reading. The man in front of him was gifted and powerful. Like the Dark Lord. He could be the new one, for all Lucius knew. For all Dumbledore knew. They knew nothing about the man.

And Lucius would do everything to stop the man from becoming the new Dark Lord. Even kill him.

Now, he needed to find out everything that could be found in England about Crefydd. He would know then, what exactly was the agenda of Hybrach Carwyn, Harrison James Potter, the Boy Who Lived, the One Who Conquered the Dark Lord. The influence he would gain from this was enormous.

Lucius wanted to bring back the old ways, but not for the price of helping a new Dark Lord rise. He yearned the balance. But what did Harry Potter yearn?

The man was reading through law books. It was rather useless for someone who had no idea how the British system worked. But Lucius had no intention of helping him for now. He settled down for reading the law books. He needed some more information.

Carwyn was irritated. He was sitting in the library again, trying to get through the bloody laws. In front of him sat Lucius Malfoy. Again. During the last three days, Malfoy was going through law books, just as he was. Only, he was reading those from 1890s. Carwyn assumed that he was looking for information on Crefydd. The Malfoy Lord was also extremely wary of him. The discreet observation told him that he was not the only one that the man was wary of. However, in his case it was much more evident. He suspected what his problem might have been.

He was a sixteen year old teenager, who was obviously both talented and powerful enough to have two masterships and to kill the Dark Lord, that England had been fighting for quite a long time, as it seemed. And Malfoy Lord knew nothing about him. He was a spy at war. It was obvious that he would be wary of people.

Carwyn ignored the man and started to read another book. So far, he gained nothing from reading. The bill he had read were implemented only for the war time. And then for the aftermath. Carwyn read them, because they could have some resemblance to those that were used in the war that he had just ended. He got just to the abolishing of these bills the previous day and hoped for something more

It was the book from 1957. The only concern of entire book was a werewolf bill. The first point of the bill sent him into absolute shock. He read the page again and again and again.

"You've gotta be kidding me" he muttered to himself, frowning. "What the fuck is this?"

At that Malfoy Lord raised his eyes at him.

"Problem, Hybrach?" he asked.

"Yes, definitely" Carwyn confirmed.

The man straightened a little to see what was he reading.

"Ah, werewolf regulations."

"Is that some kind of a joke?"

"What do you mean?"

Carwyn pushed the book in his direction.

"This" he pointed at the first paragraph.

1. We declare that lycans shall not have the full rights of the wizards.

2. We revoke the citizenship of every one carrying the lycanthropy. [...]

17. Every lycan shall present himself to the Ministry of Magic within three months from passing this bill or within two weeks from being bitten to register as a lycanthrope. [...]

21. Every lycan shall be sterilized. [...]

25. Every lycan shall have the responsibility of informing his prospective employer of his condition. [...] The list of positions available for lycans is enclosed in Annex to The Lycanthrope's Regulation Bill No. 3.

26. Lycans shall not be allowed to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. [...]

31. Every lycan shall be held responsible for biting another human being. The punishment for it will be Dementor's Kiss. [...]

And so on and so forth.

"Who the hell has passed this bullshit?"

"Wizengamot would be an obvious answer" muttered Lucius.

Carwyn scowled at him and Malfoy Lord backed slightly. Carwyn considered apologizing, but he suspected it wouldn't be welcomed.

"You know, I think you, English idiots, have gotten exactly what you deserved. Is it strictly kept?" Lucius felt little offended by his words, but his answered nonetheless.

"It is stricter now. After... Greyback."

"Greyback?"

"He was..." Malfoy hesitated. "The Dark Lord's pet werewolf."

"And the werewolf I have met?"

"Remus Lupin. He may be a hero, but he is still a werewolf."

Carwyn closed his book sharply. "The doings of one man should not affect the treatment of the entire race."

He stood up. "Thank you. I think I have a business meeting to attend. Till the next time."

Malfoy Lord nodded.

Thirty minutes later, Carwyn was back in Garnurok's office.

"Carwyn. I thought we had a meeting sometime next week" the goblin said instead of greeting.

"Indeed, we do. However, I am here for something a little bit different. You see, Garnurok, I started to introduce myself to your magnificent law and read about werewolves' regulations today. Well, I have read the first page anyway."

"Rather harsh, isn't it?"

"I see we agree on that."

"Yes, we do. However, I fail to understand what does it have to do with me."

"I have to transfer some funds from the USA. I thought it would not be necessary so quickly, but I guess the circumstances have changed."

"Of course, we can do that, but can I inquire as to why?"

"Well, as you know, I want to restore Crefydd. That basically means that one of my future goals is to create a circle here in the UK. Clyth usually has a lot of support staff. Librarians, administration, teachers, cooks, researchers, everything really. Bendithios do usually their work and they need help. I was going to start a company that would lay the foundations for this staff at the later date. However, finding out about the werewolves situation in this magic forsaken land, has sped up my plans. I won't need cooks for now, but I could use researchers or some businessmen. The money for that will come from States."

Garnaruk was staring at him.

"You want to employ werewolves for your so-called company."

"You saw right through me."

"You won't find many that are educated."

"That can be remedied, can't it? And they are allowed to carry wands, aren't they?"

"Yes, they are. But not much above that, actually."

"And I will need office space. Perhaps some building on Diagon Alley, so I don't have to apparate, floo or use any other means of magical travel."

"That can be arranged, but I should warn you about the public response."

"You know England better than I do. What can I expect?"

"I honestly have no idea. It may cause an outrage or you may help to see them as humans, but I doubt anyone could foresee that."

"I don't care. I need to fix this bloody country and I have to start somewhere. Make a statement. Employing werewolves is as good as any other."

"Do you care about the werewolves?"

"I don't. But I do care about balance. Balance between the Dark and the Light. Balance between humans and nonhumans. That's how magic works. Ensuring the balance will leave me to do my research on magic, which is something I do care about."

"We will rent you the space."

"Thank you, Garnaruk. I appreciate your assistance."

Three days after meeting Hybrach Carwyn in the library Lord Lucius Malfoy was reading his morning newspaper. Unfortunately, he hadn't found a lot about Crefydd. Only some basic references in the bills and books. Most of the books from Malfoy library concerning the subject were hidden after the Maximus la Fey's uprising. And Lucius had no idea where to find them. Cornelius Malfoy never knew and both of his brothers, who hid them, died in Azkaban before they could tell him anything.

He flipped the page and froze in shock.

Usually, the announcement's part of The Prophet wasn't exactly interesting. However, that wasn't the case. The entire page was covered in one big ad.

He read the text.

Heir Harrison James Potter seek for werewolf-employees for the research team. Interviews will be carried on June 6th and 9th at Diagon Alley 34 from 9am. No humans need to apply. The requirements will be discussed during the interviews for specific positions.

Lucius couldn't believe his eyes. 'No humans need to apply'. What exactly was that? Potter was a human. That was tested in St. Mungos as soon as they ensured that he wasn't dying. Was he so selfless to employ the werewolves just like that? Or was it some deeper agenda that Lucius was missing.

He saw his ring flashing and knew that Albus Dumbledore had read the paper and called an emergency meeting. He sighed. The Order of the Phoenix was at times unbearable for an ex-Death Eater. No matter how big of a hero he was declared. At least Severus was going to be there.

He apparated to the Grimmould Place 12.

"Malfoy" Molly Weasley sneered his name 'in greeting', when he entered the kitchen. Beside her, there was only Remus Lupin already present.

"Lupin" Lucius nodded his head.

"Lucius. Have you seen it?"

"The paper? Of course. I was reading it when I got the message."

"He wants to employ werewolves. Nobody ever wants to do that. I was wondering if he actually tries to commit political suicide or become a new Dark Lord."

Lucius shrugged.

"Does he want to be a new Dark Lord?" groaned the werewolf

Lucius didn't think so after the announcement. But he wasn't about to say anything to Lupin. He was going to wait for everyone else to arrive and maybe he would say something.

"I bet he does" scowled Black coming into the kitchen. "Employing werewolves is just the first step."

Lucius sat down in the corner. He couldn't quite understand Lupin's and Black's attitude towards the issue. One was a werewolf and the other werewolf's mate. It was absolutely idiotic of them. But Lupin has repressed his true nature. He was no more than a guard dog. Fenrir Greyback explained it to the Dark Lord once. Before Lucius was uncovered as a spy. The werewolf power came from embracing their nature. Their inner wolf as Greyback called it. The physique, the healing. And Lupin was always tired. Weak. Lucius had never seen Greyback tired. He could go on for days without a single break. He experienced that himself.

Thankfully, everybody ignored him. For them he was just a Death Eater who tried to save his own skin. People started to gather. Some ministry aurors, teachers. Finally, he saw Severus Snape and his young wife, Hermione.

The man saw him and they both approached him.

"Lucius" Severus nodded.

"Lord Malfoy" the girl bowed.

"Lady Prince, please sit" he vacated his seat.

"Thank you."

Hermione Granger was one of Ravenclaw finest. She was in love with every book she could find. Thankfully, that included those on magical etiquette and traditions. And she loved magic. Any kind of magic. Somehow she didn't lose this muggleborn-childlike attitude towards it. Moreover, she was one of the few that embraced the wizarding culture. Even if she didn't agree with some parts of it. Her love for magic and magical was something that Lucius envied her. She loved every spell, every potions. And that was probably the reason why Severus could stand her as his wife.

They married simply because of protection his position offered. As one of the brightest witches in her generation she was a great interest of late Dark Lord. When he killed her entire family, Severus was coerced into marrying his student by Dumbledore. Lucius thought it was rather good match. His best and only friend was surprisingly content with the girl after he found out that below the knows-it-all attitude were vast amounts of intelligence. And the girl was a surprise too. Not many could have tamed the Slytherin Prince. But she had managed it somehow. Not that Severus would ever admit it or even allow anyone else any measure of control over him. But after almost a year of marriage, the girl hold a lot of power over his friend. But she was too noble to use it.

"How are you, Lucius?" Severus interrupted his trail of thoughts.

"Fine."

Severus shot him a look that indicated that he didn't believe him and started asking some other question, but before he could finish formulating the sentence, Albus Dumbledore entered the room.

"Good morning everyone" he greeted them. "I assume that most of you knows why we had gathered."

"Of course, we know, Albus!" scowled Black. "My godson is a bloody Dark Wizard."

"I wouldn't drew such a conclusion just yet, Sirius. But there is a possibility."

"There are such idiots" muttered Severus.

"Harry Potter or Hybrach Carwyn like he wants people to call him has decided to employ werewolves in his research team. Only werewolves. I quote here "no humans need to apply". That's exactly what his ad in the today's morning issue of The Daily Prophet. It is indeed concerning and we have to entertain the possibility of him being a rising Dark Lord" explained Dumbledore.

"I will sooner kill him then let him become another Voldemort" scowled Black.

There were some mutterings of agreement among the gathered. Lucius rolled his eyes. There were thousands of possibilities as to why Hybrach decided to employ werewolfs. One of them was being a rising Dark Lord. Lucius was rather puzzled by man's reaction to the werewolves' bill, but unless Carwyn was really good in hiding his emotions it didn't indicated the will to rule them all.

"We can't have another Dark Lord. Especially, since the boy is so powerful" said the acting Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt. "The werewolves are essentially Dark creatures."

"Excuse me!" spoke Hermione Snape. "I think you are all overreacting. And it is very reassuring to hear what you really think about mister Lupin."

Lucius wondered sometimes if the girl didn't have some Gryffindor in her. From time to time she acted like a real lioness.

"Mrs. Snape. I don't see how..." started Lupin, but girl interrupted him.

"But I do, mister-dark-creature" Lupin blinked. "I can't believe how can you out of all people be such a hypocrite. You are a werewolf! And you, mister Black, are his mate. How can you condemn Heir Potter... Hybrach... for trying to help your own kind?! And you didn't even asked him why he did this! You don't know him at all. You just assumed that because of his abilities and power to kill Voldemort he is a Dark Wizard, a rising Dark Lord. You have no idea about his motives. You don't even know the guy. You all met him once. Once. Maybe he just wants to help them! Have you thought about that? Or you just think that mister Lupin is one and only werewolf on earth that is capable of working and socializing with humans? Because as I see it, Hybrach, is employing the people that have nowhere to go to. Nobody to turn to! The people that are overlooked because of their condition! And you, mister Lupin should understand that best! Not talking about rising Dark Lords!"

She shouted the last few lines at them. And that shocked them speechless. Severus groaned discreetly and Lucius turned slightly to him.

"Mrs. Snape..." started Dumbledore. "I understand your position, but werewolves are naturally dark. They are aligned with the dark."

"And mister Lupin is a werewolf. I don't see him going on a rampage and killing everybody on sight! According to you all we should threw him out of here together with mister Black, because they are mated" responded Hermione. "Maybe Hybrach is a rising Dark Lord, or maybe not. But we can't say he is, just because he wants to employ werewolves. Maybe that has some meaning in his religion!"

Albus Dumbledore blinked.

"I remember Crefydd, Mrs. Snape. I am old enough. It was a brutal, dark religion, that used people as sacrifices. I am afraid you are wrong about young Carwyn."

"No, it wasn't" Andromeda Tonks joined the debate and some people stared disbelievingly at her. Lucius concentrated on the woman. She had access to the Black library in her childhood. She could know something.

"Do you know something about Crefydd, Mrs. Tonks?"

"Indeed, I do. And what you are referring to, Albus, was how Maximus la Fey had twisted the old religion for his own gain. The old religion was based on the balance between the Light and the Dark and Hybrachs and Bendithios were the guards of this balance. It was meant to allow everybody to live in peace and practise accordingly to their alignment to magic. It was a cult of magic itself in the pure form. They revered the Lady Magic and served Her."

"Really?" there was a real interest in Hermione Snape's voice. Lucius mentally groaned. Of course, she would be curious. The girl's interest would be her downfall.

"Yes."

"And how do you know that?" scowled Sirius Black.

"If you used sometimes the library in your own house, cousin, you would know that too."

"Oh, so you read something in the darkest library in England and think that's true. For all you know, our dear family could made that up, because they allied with la Fey!"

"Actually, I know they didn't, Sirius, because I have a Mastership in British Magical History, if you remember. Blacks didn't ally with Maximus la Fey. They were actually opposing him. As were the Malfoys. In the end, of course it didn't matter, because they opposed the banning of Crefydd as the third side to the conflict and were all thrown in Azkaban."

That was a new information for Lucius. He thought that Antoine and Marius Malfoy had been on la Fey's side.

"So, there were no human sacrifices" said Hermione revealed.

"No, of course, not. The Magic doesn't require human sacrifice apart from few exceptions. But it is almost always life for life situations" explained Andromeda. "I have met Hybrach Carwyn few days ago and ate breakfast with him. He didn't strike me as a new Dark Lord, to be honest. We made rather pleasant conversation."

"Andromeda, this can be very dangerous" warned Albus.

"I will be a judge as to what is a danger to me, Albus. I am a grown up woman. Black woman in fact. I can protect myself quite fine or I wouldn't be still alive. Hybrach Carwyn is also partly a Black, if you remember, and he was perfectly cordial."

"You're right, Andy" Lucius surprised even himself when he spoke. "I also met Hybrach a few times in National Magical Library. I also may know the reason why he decided to hire werewolves."

"Shut up, Death Eater. Nobody asked you for opinion" scowled one of the Weasley boys. Lucius ignored him. They couldn't even come up with better insults than "Death Eater".

"Lucius, my boy, do tell, what this reason might be" asked Dumbledore and Lucius scowled at being called a boy.

"We, Hybrach and I, were doing research. Well, I was doing my research and he was doing his. However, we sit at the same table at the library. He was reading the bills issued by Wizengamot and he found the werewolves' bill. He asked me, if it was executed. When I confirmed, he thanked me and left, saying that he had a business meeting to attend to. That was three days ago and I have not seen him since. I think he might genuinely want to help the werewolves, but his reasons I do not know."

"Have you observed him, my boy?"

"Yes, I did. Apart from strange things that he uses and annoying habit of running his hand through his hair when he is irritated, I have not noticed any murderous urges" he finished sarcastically. "But as a Death Eater I probably do not have experience in noticing Dark Lords."

"Oh, come on, Malfoy, you probably want to find yourself a new master, so you could whore yourself to him. And he's better looking than Voldemort, isn't he?" asked Black.

Lucius paled terribly.

"Congratulations, Black!" scowled Severus. "Your godson is our new so-called Dark Lord. You are probably proud of your godfather-ly abilities. Oh, no, wait. You have none. Because instead of handling yourself over to aurors, requesting the Veritaserum and taking care of your godson, you went after Pettigrew and got yourself thrown into Azkaban. And now, when your godson has returned, you are willing to label him as a new Dark Lord, without even trying to meet him, get to know him. You ignored his every request in St. Mungos. Oh, your dear James would be so proud of you. Abandoning his child not only once, but twice. Are you that dense, or are you just trying to cover up your mistakes, so you won't have to explain to him, why his godfather left him?"

"Severus" Albus warning voice was perfectly clear in the silence after man words.

"I only speak the truth. We don't know the brat. We have no idea who he is, what he does and why. Maybe you shall wait till you announce that he is a Dark Lord to the general public until you at least talk to him. That's what made so many of my Slytherins join the Dark Lord. Because they were labeled "dark" as soon as the Hat screamed "Slytherin". I will not have it done to Lily's child, because of your pettiness. I have not eaten my breakfast, so I will go to attend it, before this nonsense will contaminate me. Come on, Lucius, Hermione. I've got enough of this folly for today."


Comments/reviews make me happy. Especially when they are a critic of my language. Without constructive critic one cannot learn.