Harry Potter and the Pack
Chapter four
-Harry-
As the train gathered speed he turned to Ron and Hermione, "Shall we go and find a compartment then?" Harry asked his friends.
They exchanged, "Er," Ron said.
"Ron and I have to go to a meeting in the prefect's carriage." Hermione said nervously.
"Fine I'll see you later then." Harry replied and walked off to find a compartment. He and Ginny walked down to the last carriage and found Neville and a blonde Ravenclaw girl. "Mind if we join you?" Harry asked.
Grinning shyly Neville said "Not at all." and gestured at some empty seats. The blonde girl looked up from her upside down magazine, "Hello Harry Potter." She said dreamily.
"Hello. Harry replied perplexed by the strange girl.
"Everyone this is Luna Lovegood." Ginny said happily.
"Don't you mean Loony Lovegood Weaslet?" said a drawling voice that Harry knew.
Turning Harry saw Draco Malfoy standing in the doorway and, as usual, backed by Crabbe and Goyle. "What do you and your boyfriends want Malfoy?" Harry asked coolly.
"They're not my… we aren't a…" Draco spluttered looking aghast at what he was insinuating.
"Oh you mean you three aren't in a relationship together?" Ginny asked mockingly, having caught on instantly to what he was going "I mean why else would they follow you so closely and never leave your side?". By this point Crabbe and Goyle had figured out what Harry and Ginny had said and they started backing away from Malfoy who stormed off, his cronies following at a distance.
Once they left the three Gryffindors and one Ravenclaw burst out laughing, "Did you see his face?" Neville asked gleefully.
"Yeah!" Ginny agreed "Maybe I can convince Ron to give Malfoy lines in detention 'I must not be an annoying ferret.'!"the three Gryffindors laughed again and even the Ravenclaw girl, Luna, smiled in amusement.
-Later that night-
-Gryffindor Common Room-
Harry sat down next to Ron and Hermione on the couch watching the last of the other Gryffindors go to bed. "Okay guys what do you think about expanding our pack?", at their confused expressions he continued "We need more members than just the three of us, Sirius, and Lupin you know.".
They nodded in agreement, "What do you think that Umbridge's class will be like?" Ron asked.
"Utter rubbish if the book is any indication." Hermione grumbled, "Not to mention she is a spy for the ministry so she is probably out for Harry and Dumbledore's blood.".
At this Harry flashed a feral grin that he had picked up since the ritual, "Oh is she in for a surprise .".
"What do you mean?" Ron asked confused.
"The Pack has it's own set of laws," he explained, having looked through a great deal of the spell tome "and the Ministry has no sway or control over the pack and so were immune to their laws. It basically makes 'the pack' its own small mobile country." the others copied his grin and went to bed dreaming of ways to get revenge on the Ministry.
-Next morning-
Harry and Ron walked down to the Common Room to find it nearly deserted, only the three girls of their year were there. Seeing them Hermione broke off and dragged the two quickly away. "What was that about?" he asked confused.
"My dorm mates have been pestering me nonstop about two things." Hermione grumbled, "One good thing is that they believe you about you-know…".
"Voldemort." Harry interjected firmly making both Ron and Hermione wince, "It's not even his real bloody name. Get over your feat and either call him Voldemort or his real name Tom, bloody hell you can even call him Quirellmort and be accurate.".
Somehow looking both nervous and amused Hermione continued, "Okay they believe you about V-v-voldemort.".
"And the other thing?" Ron asked intrigued.
At this Hermione blushed, "They asked me to try and get them dates with you two and what spell I used on myself.".
"What are you talking about?" he and Ron asked in confusion.
Rolling her eyes Hermione elaborated "The Pack Bond accelerated and enhanced our bodies remember? Harry you've grown taller and have the muscles you should have gotten from all the years of work, quiditch, and everything else you've done. Ron you've gotten more muscle too and I well," at this point she blushed again "my chest has gotten noticeably bigger since the ritual." Harry and Ron's eyes widened in understanding.
"Why did it do that anyway?" Ron asked confused.
"The most common way people joined the back was through marriage," he explained "according to the book anyway. It also states that the ritual tries to make the pack members the best possible mate candidates it can.
When they sat down Professor McGonagall handed them their schedules and both Harry and Ron groaned, "Double potions, history of Magic, Divination, and Double Defense against the Dark Arts. This is the worst Monday in the history of Mondays!" after several minutes of choice complaints the trio set off to potions.
Once they had been seated Snape turned to the class, "Today you shall be making the Draught of Peace and working in pairs WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN DECIDED!" he shouted at the end as everyone turned to their friends. "Now," he continued unfurling a roll of parchment, "Ms. Granger with Ms. Davis. Mr. Weasley with Mr. Zabini. Mr. Potter with Ms. Greengrass." the list continued and Harry grinned when Seamus was paired with Malfoy 'serves him right believing the Prophet' Harry thought but blanched when Goyle was paired with Neville 'they'll be lucky not to blow up the whole castle'. When Harry sat down next to the pretty blonde Slytherin he expected an insult but all she did was nod in acknowledgement and started chopping ingredients. She didn't talk until a point where she reminded him to add the syrup of hellebore, when he thanked her he thought he saw a ghost of a smile in her eyes. When they finished only Harry, Ron, and Hermione's groups had the correct silver vapor coming our much to Snape's annoyance.
Grinning he remembered the second dinner at Grimmuald place where Snape had become wary of him…or more like who was on his neck.
-Flashback-
Sitting down happily he loaded up on food, having been hungry all the time ever since he completed the ritual which, according to the book, was due to the magic attempting to correct his body. "Oh great," the sickening voice of the resident potion's master drawled "it looks like Potter has picked up that oaf Weasley's eating habits.".
"Shut up Snivelus!" a voice called out from his locket which he noticed had popped open. Pulling it up he opened the locket the rest of the way so that his parents glaring visages could see the rest of those assembled and be seen in return.
"L-lily!?" Snape asked in shock, the potion's master falling back in his seat.
"That's Lady Potter to you Snivelus," his mother growled angrily "we aren't friends anymore. We haven't been since you labeled me a 'mudblood' for trying to help you in fifth year.".
Hearing this he snarled low and deep at the Potion's master, his wolf side showing and clearly surprising Remus who glanced at him in shock. "Remember Snapey," his dad said with a feral grin that was almost pack-worthy "you owe my family a life-debt, and as my son is the unofficial head of the Potter family he controls that debt. If he wanted to he could claim your life, your magic, I bet he could even use it to strip you of your Potion's knowledge.".
At the last threat Snape had paled drastically before bolting from the room causing him to laugh happily along with his parents and friends. "Hey Harry," Fred asked after everyone had calmed down "not that I'm complaining but what gives? I expected you to be more angry at everyone for not being able to give you any information about what's been going on.".
"Ron and Hermione explained in their letter's that Dumbledore made them swear a magically binding oath not to say anything sensitive should the mail be intercepted," he explained with a shrug "but that they would tell me all they could once I got here and that they were trying to convince Dumbledore to remove me from the Dursleys.".
Giving a nod of understanding the meal went about normally till afterwards when he, Ron, and Hermione explained about the ritual to Remus before they induced Sirius and Lupin to the Pack.
-End flashback-
As he was packing up his things he felt a note pressed into his hand and, after making sure it was secure, saw his potions partner Daphne Greengrass walking off. When he was in history of magic, and everybody but Hermione was happily snoring away, he opened the note.
Harry,
Just to assure you this note is from Daphne Greengrass but if you throw it away because I'm a Slytherin I will hex you. I want you to know that you have four supporters in Slytherin (Myself, Tracey Davis, Blaise Zabini, and my little sister Astoria). We hate that little ferret Malfoy and we believe you about you-know-who. You are not alone.
Sincerely,
Daphne Greengrass
A.K.A. The Ice Queen
The note made Harry give his feral grin, 'four more possible recruits for the pack'. Divination was the usual trash of Trelawney predicting his Death as her back to school greeting. Finally Harry entered the DADA class and gagged. He saw pink everywhere. Sitting next to Ron he watched as the rest of the Gryffindors and Slytherins filled in. Giving her annoying girl cough Umbridge stood and said "Now now this won't do. I want all the Gryffindors and Slytherins to mingle. I heard you were in two person groups in Professor Snape's class so you are to go into those same groups.". Standing Harry walked over to Daphne and gave her a nod to show he read her letter. Umbridge told them to take out the book and read the first chapter, Harry took out his book and pretended to read when he noticed Hermione's hand in the air. Noticing the hand Umbridge asked "Do you have a question about the chapter Ms…?".
"Granger." Hermione replied, "And about the course aims, not the chapter.".
Umbridge was obviously trying hard not to look angry, "Well they seem perfectly clear to me.".
"But not to me." Hermione inserted quickly, "There's nothing in them about using defensive spells.".
With a mental chuckle Harry saw Umbridge's eye start to twitch, "Using spells? Why on earth would you need to use spells in my class?".
"I don't know." Harry said "Maybe because the class is called Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts' School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It would kinda make sense that we would learn a spell or two.". To Harry's surprise Seamus laughed at what he said 'maybe he could be convinced that I'm not barmy after all' he mused to himself.
Umbridge's sickening voice snapped him out of his thoughts "Detention Mr. Finnigan.".
This made Seamus angry, "You can't give me detention for laughing you crazy toad!" the Irishman exclaimed.
Seeing an opening Harry called out "Be nice Seamus." and everyone, including Umbridge, looked at him in surprise, "What has poor Trevor ever done to you to deserve being compared to her?". The Gryffindors looked gleeful, the Slytherins looked confused, Umbridge looked triumphant.
"Detention Mr. Potter, tonight, my office." Umbridge said with an evil grin.
Looking the toady woman in the eyes Harry said "No." with as much force as he could muster behind it.
"I don't think you understand your position Mr. Potter." said in her sickeningly sweet voice, "I am a teacher, you are a student and I have every right to punish you like you deserve.".
"That would be true," Harry said slipping into his feral grin making Umbridge shudder, "but I am immune from any laws but my own thanks to this." he rolled up his sleeve showing the wolf's head causing Umbridge to gasp in shock at the sight of it. Regaining her composure she sneered "Pretty cocky for a pack grunt aren't you Mr. Potter? I will find your Alpha and make him punish you.". Harry, Ron, and Hermione only laughed. "What is so funny?!" Umbridge demanded, "Who is the Alpha, is it Dumbledore?".
"What's so funny is that you think Harry is a grunt." Hermione said still laughing, "Harry is the Alpha and Ron is the Beta.".
Umbridge opened and closed her mouth like a fish before yelling "Class dismissed!" and running up to her office.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked out laughing at the situation. When they got back to the common room they found Neville, Dean, Parvarti, and Lavender surrounding them, "Why was Umbridge afraid of your tattoo?" Neville asked confused "And when did you guys even get tattoos?".
"Because it puts me out of her control." Harry said shrugging, "The ministry has no control over ancient orders of magic and ours is the last one around. We formed it over the summer…not really ancient I know but the spell used is.".
"Wow." Lavender enthused, "Are there any drawbacks?".
"You have to be truly loyal to your Alpha and your pack." Harry said without emotion, "If you betray your pack or your Alpha you not only are removed from the pack but you lose your magic.".
This seemed to put the others off until Neville stepped forward, "I want to join the pack Harry. I believe you about you-know-who and you've always tried to help me.".
Nodding Harry stepped forward, "Are you sure Neville?" he asked, "Once you do this there's no going back.", Neville's only reply was to nod. Stepping forward Harry clasped arms with Neville and said the incantation. Neville winced after the flash of light and massaged his new tattoo. This convinced the other three and so the process was repeated.
By this point a crowd had gathered and there was a lot of muttering, "You lot are barmy following that nutter!" someone shouted .
"Say that to our faces!" Neville shouted and a seventh year boy stepped forward, he was big and looked like he could be a professional beater.
"You are barmy." he said looking like he was sure Neville would back down. He was clearly not expecting it when Neville punched him in the jaw.
"Anyone else got a problem with Harry?!" Neville shouted looking angrily around the room. Fred, George, and Ginny followed by Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnett, and Angelina Johnson came forward and stood with Harry glaring at the other students in their House who, after a moment, dispersed. Once the others were gone the rest of the Weasleys and the three Gryffindor chasers took the oath. Harry smiled at his twelve pack members, Umbridge was in for one hell of a surprise.
