Disclaimer: I do not own HP in anyway way. But I do own the OCs Alexander and Lizzy in this story :)

AN: As always a big thanks to the people adding this story to alerts! Hope you continue to enjoy the story. Also some of you may notice the way I format the chapters is just a bit different. Going to try to make things a bit clearer with this new format.

NevemTeve - Yeah, I am going to be showing a lot of Neville as the story progresses. He was the original inspiration when I began this story but you just can't write an HP story without the other Hogwarts students!

Chapter 10 - The Death Eater

Harry was staring mutely at the piece of parchment before him. It was from the new Minister of Magic, Kingsley. It had been delivered through muggle means which had made Harry laugh just a bit. The parchment looked completely out of place in the express delivered postal box.

Harry,

I had meant to write to you sooner, however reconstructing the ministry in the wake of the war has taken up more time than I had anticipated. I had hoped to include you in the fold within the month, but there were too many positions to fill. It has been hard finding capable people that I trusted in the high empty seats in the Ministry.

This leads me to the point of this letter. I wish to offer you a position in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I feel that your unique experience in the Second Wizarding War would make you an outstanding Auror.

As you know several followers of the Dark Lord escaped, from Death Eaters to Dark Creatures. They have quiet since the Dark Lord's fall, but I do not trust them to be quiet much longer. I still have much work to do before the Ministry is ready to repel such actions and I am sure they shall strike soon. The unrest and small incidents have led me to this conclusion.

I have extended similar offers to your friends Ronald Weasley and Neville Longbottom. While I do not wish to rush your decision I hope to hear from you before the school term is out. I will waiver the N.E.W.T. requirements as your experience in the field far surpasses our typical applicants.

Kingsley

Harry looked up at the empty cafeteria with a frown. He didn't like this school at all. He only ever saw the teachers during class, he had never seen the Headmaster, and there was no sense of family here. He toyed with his bracelet from the Clan Nocturnus, he knew it meant something but the student body had not let anything on.

He gave a sigh pocketing the parchment into his robes leaving his half eaten omelet for the house elves to deal with it. He needed to find Hermione and make sure they were all able to meet tonight for another round of animagus searching. Neville had been the only one to move on to the second step. He was proud of him and hoped that all the work his friend was putting in would pay off. He hoped it would be easy to think like his inner beast when he knew what it was.

Winding his way through the tables he reached for the door leading to the foyer. The door shot open cracking harshly against his hand. He gave a harsh yelp as Neville absently stepped in. He was staring intently at a book in his hands as he shuffled on taking a seat at the nearest table. "Toast." His voice sounded distracted and lazy as he flipped the page.

"Ow?" Harry stressed loud enough that his voice penetrated Neville's thoughts.

"Oh, hello Harry! Did you know that the Great Swiss Mountain dogs are very active dogs?" He beamed. Harry nursed his injured hand and tried to be happy for Neville. The man was simply infatuated with absorbing knowledge on his form.

"Neville all dogs are active. I'm surprised that a dog is your form."

"Why do you say that?"

Harry slipped over to the table taking a seat next to Neville. "Well no offense mate, but you aren't the most activate Gryffindor of the bunch. You don't fly, you don't duel for sport, you didn't even join up with any of the after school activities here." He himself was the captain and seeker for the outcast Hogwarts students. They had called their team the Veterans in honor of the war and that none of them could actually compete as part of a House team. Regretfully Ron and Harry had had to accept Draco in to make the player requirement to play. Their first match was Thursday night.

"I see, you think I should take up some sort of sport?"

"Not really, I think to get closer in touch with your inner beast you must think and act like it. Isn't that what Hermione said? If you want to become a dog then act like one. Of course not the kind of dog the girls talk about. I think you should be active, run, play, you could even be more social. I know that all the dogs I've seen in the movies love attention, you are a bit of a wallflower when you want to be."

Neville put the book down, his face unreadable. Harry thought perhaps he had insulted Neville, but the boy nodded after a moment his hand resting on the table. "You're right, are you busy? I have some time before my first class, we could go running." Harry nodded, he did have nothing better to do. His role as a chaperone was in name only. He knew it was only to get him and the other depressed gits out of their houses to tan in the sun some.

Harry was trying to pace himself so Neville could keep up. The poor boy was sorely out of shape and keeping up with Harry's lazy pace was a bit of a work out for him. "Harry." Neville gasped in between deep breathes, "wait up."

He stopped realizing in his short time of reflection he had out run Neville. The boy was in sweat pants and a loose shirt sweat already gathered around the neckline. He jogged in place waiting for him to catch up. "Wait you bastard wait!" Lizzy's voice shouted from the distance. Harry looked beyond Neville and saw a wild white wolf dashing towards them.

Neville tripped as the harsh howl rang out. Harry winced watching his friend roll once on the green Quidditch pitch. Where Lizzy and the white wolf had come from he wasn't sure, but he was determined to keep him safe. He stumbled next to Neville popping his wand free from the plastic bracelet. "Stupefy!" He shouted the sliver of red magic shooting towards the beast. It jumped out of the way the spell connecting with Lizzy who had been trailing close behind.

"Not good." Harry frowned seeing the girl collapse in a dead faint to the floor. It was like she had run into an invisible wall. The wolf did not stop its run. It turned sharply and began to run to the fallen figure.

"It's an animagus!" Harry ignored Neville's obvious statement as saw as the white fur darkened. Small patches turned a heartly tan color while a large patch at its crown turned an auburn hue. Alexander was stumbling as he kneeled down next to his fallen girlfriend. A rather fluid release of his wand and a quick flip and the girl was standing again.

"You didn't have to do that." Alexander snapped sharply helping Lizzy up. She was spotting grass green hair and vivid violet eyes. Together they staggered towards them.

"You're an animagus?" Harry glared at the Clan Head. The teen was aggravated, that Harry could see plain as day, perhaps he should have opted for a shield charm. His eyes flashed even deeper rage as he waved his hand for Harry and Neville to stand. Aggravated was not the proper description of his mood, perhaps livid would be more to the point.

"Yes I am an animagus," Turning to Lizzy he glared, "You said the pitch was empty love. You know I don't like sharing my little tid-bit of information."

Lizzy pouted, "It was, they must have been on the far end when I checked. I'm sorry." Harry ignored the chastising of Alexander's girlfriend homing in on what had actually been said.

"Are you not required to register as an Animagus? Is it against the law here?" Neville nodded wondering the same thing. Lizzy seemed unwilling to look up from her feet as Alexander's stern hand was on her shoulder.

"I know how things are where you two are from, but in America wizarding law is a different story. Our community as a whole is spread too far and too thin. We have a government that controls what can and cannot be done as a wizard. However, small patches of community such as ours… we are too far away for the law to reach us."

Alexander could see the confused looks cross the pair before him. "For example, say I robbed and kill Neville in his home. I could be done, take some time to watch a movie and use the loo before I would even have to worry about the authorities coming. There are laws to register as Animagus, but I believe that department is run by one person. Last case I heard that was about illegal animagus charges was a notice that went up in nineteen eighty two. I'd say it will be a few decades more before the person in charge of that department gets to me."

"Alexander enough of this," Lizzy snapped finding her voice once more, "let's get back to what we were going to do. Maybe even if those two stop acting like purebloods they can join us." Harry's annoyance boiled over at Lizzy's comment. He huffed at the girl before pushing passed her.

"Hey! That's not a proper thing to say. And for you information Harry's not even a pureblood." Neville shot back. Alexander was already stepping away from his girlfriend sighing rubbing his temples.

"She didn't know, don't worry about it. She'll bite her tongue before she says it again. Isn't that right dear?" Lizzy nodded her eyes glued to the floor once more. Neville watched Harry retreat wondering what was on his mind. He wanted to chase him, but felt it probably wouldn't be the best idea. "Join us in a jog?" Neville shook his head. "Well then, let's go." The teen spun on his heels shifting as he did. The white wolf was back and off like a rocket Lizzy giving a strangled sob as she chased after the wolf.

'Women and their bloody time of the month.' A thought echoed in Neville's head. Shrugging of unbidden thought he turned to make his way back to the school. His running with Harry hadn't been cut too short and it was probably time for him to return for his class anyway.

Dear Mr. Potter,

I know that you and I hardly know each other. And that we have hardly spoken since that battle. We are a family you and I. You are the godfather to my beloved grandson and though I have spared you raising the infant in this last year. It's time for you to have a part in his life. I have held out as long as I could taking care of the child, though it has worn on me far too much. I had hoped to spare you raising a child at your young age, but I know that you want a part in Teddy's life and I can no longer manage it alone.

I hope that you are well as the losses were great for all involved. I know you lost much as any other and I want Teddy to bring back a spark in your life I am sure you have been looking for. I know he had for me, but I cannot stand to look at him every day… not yet. To see my Dora in his eyes and his frequent if odd hair changes. I need a moment for myself to grieve. I have put it off to long and I fear I will start failing Teddy as a mother.

I have rambled enough. I know of your current situation and I believe Teddy to be safe in your current company. Owl me soon with your reply. I'm sure Teddy would love to meet his Godfather.

Sincerely,

Andromeda Tonks

Harry sighed, their animagus session had been canceled that week when Hermione had come down with the flu. Ron followed her the next day, no doubt from exchanging bodily fluid with her. He was almost certain Neville was either studying or nursing his budding plans. All this was irrelevant as Harry was standing outside staring at the Owlery tower. The tower had been erected when the old plantation had been turned into a magic school.

He slipped into dark wooden tower looking at all the frantic birds fluttering in and out. There were countless other sleeping birds. Those he was certain were day birds. He knew he had to get a long range flyer; a bird that could travel overseas and deliver his message to Dromeda. In frustration he pulled his wand free. As weakly as he could muster he flicked his wand, "Accio Sooty Tern." He was surprised when the bird Hermione had suggested nearly fell off the rafters above. It gave an aggravated squawk at him before gliding down to meet him at the open perch.

"Deliver this message to Andromeda Tonk." He said to the large black and white bird. The creature flared its massive wing span at him before extending a leg. He saw a canister to hold his note on its leg. Wondering if it was for the sake of the bird or the fact it would be traveling overseas, he popped open the container.

He felt odd using muggle paper once more, but he had not thought to bring any parchment and the American school only had their own style of materials. He wondered what Dromeda would say when she saw it. He already knew that all the wizard raised children couldn't understand the thinner more delicate paper. The bird shot off towards the open hole above.

Slipping through the door Harry continued to muse. He had been in the wizarding world for well over seven years now only having breaks in the muggle world during summer. He for the moment until he decided his goals had a foot in each world as odd as it sounded. He could continue to live a muggle life if he wanted to. His relatives' lies had insured that. But would he? He could fall off the face of the muggle world as they knew it and continue his wizarding life. Which did he prefer?

He was almost glad he had not made any rash decisions just after the war. Instead, he now had the choice to decline Kingsley's offer and be a full time father to Teddy. Or he could even continue to father Teddy and be an Auror anyway. Even as he tossed the ideas over in his mind he knew that the muggle life he dreamed of as a child away from his relative no longer held him. His escape was not growing up and finding his own way in the muggle world. It was becoming a wizard at eleven.

It was time to decide how he would relish his escape from that old life as a man. He definitely wanted to help raise Teddy. The last of his blood connections to the family he never knew, son of the last late Marauder. He would not fail that boy as he had been failed. At this thought a wild howl pierced his thoughts. He turned to a horrific sight.

The birds from the tower were giving mad squawks and screeches. He could see all the birds were rushing out of the holes at the top of the tower taking flight into the night sky. His bracelet was humming and glowing brightly. The first howl was joined by several other and the pack of werewolves swarmed around the tower. Some were even pounding on the door trying to get in. His grip on his wand tightened, no way would he be able to outrun the wolves, his best bet would be to give off some sort of signal and hope help arrived in time.

Only one spell would come to mind to bring enough attention to get help. A signal that would be sure to get someone's attention, with a harsh swing over his head he whispered hoping the werewolves would not hear. "Morsmordre." The green magic shot forward into the sky.

One of the werewolves stopped moving and sniffed the air. It turned sharply its grey hide gleaming in the moonlight. "Why did I pick night time to deliver my letter?" He whined feeling all the feeling in his legs seep into the ground. The small grey werewolf howled harshly over the pack trying to eat the birds that were still pouring out of the tower.

"Run." He told himself willing his legs to move. The clouds above him were already gathered in the monstrous dark mark. The cloud snake slithered in and out of the skull's skinless mouth. The pack turned in unison setting their hungry eyes on Harry. With a yelp his body found its will once more and he ran. He haphazardly swung his wand behind him casting stunners. He hoped that the yelps he heard from the werewolves giving chase were ones the spells had disabled, but he wasn't going to stop to check.

He was still running his thighs burning with the effort to run faster. He could feel his glasses slipping off his nose every few seconds and tried to keep them in place with his free hand. He could see a door distinctly in the distance and wondered if he could get back to the school before the werewolves had him. A werewolf leapt over him blocking his immediate path.

He had no time to consider what to do, but his instincts were already taking over. He altered his course to run a bit to the right even as he swung his arm. "Reducto!" The werewolf howled as the streak of red connected with its foreleg. The limb exploded in a mass of blood and fur. The injury distracted the werewolf long enough for Harry to run by it without being caught. The fact that Harry's left ear felt numb from the piercing howls was unimportant. His right ear was still good enough to hear the panting and howls behind him. How many more werewolves were close enough to bite him?

As if hearing his thoughts, another shadow over took him yet again blocking his path. A massive dragon landed before him the gust of wind from its touchdown throwing Harry off his feet. His momentum took him forward as he rolled several times. This was it. Despite Dark Lords, Dark Creatures, tournaments, killing curses, and hordes of evil Death Eater minions he was going to be done in by a pack of werewolves and a dragon.

The giant dragon loomed over Harry's body with a loud roar. Harry rolled onto his back wincing in pain. All his limbs hurt and his wand was spared merely by the fact he refused to let it break again. It was abandoned in the grass nearby intentionally letting it go when he had lost his footing. The dragon did not rear back ready to squash or eat him. Instead it stood firm unmoving leaving a dark expanse of belly disturbingly close to Harry's face.

"Norberta calm down they're gone!" A husky familiar voice shouted over the dragon's irritated growls. Harry turned to the side of the dragon the voice was issuing from. He could see only a pair of inky black dragon hide boots as the feet paced from the side of the dragon to the front. "Did you find the Death Eater girl?"

"There is no Death Eater!" Harry cried out from under the dragon. "I had to get help. There were werewolves!" He saw the boots had stiffened. "Please, get me out from under here before they come back." Even as he said that though, he considered that as long as he was under the dragon those werewolves would never come back.

"I know there are werewolves, they haven't left yet." The English accent snapped back acidly. "Best get out from under there and come with me. I arrived on broom you'd be safer to leave with me and account for your actions Death Eater." He frowned at the harsh sarcasm coming from the speaker in the boots. He was not a Death Eater, why didn't he believe him. Though, he mused again, he had cast the Dark Mark and it sounded as though the man's hate was rooted in experience.

Hesitantly he began to crawl free from the dragon picking up his wand as he went. He had to squirm as trying to crawl on his hands and knees left him flush against the Dragon's belly and it was far too hot to rub against the heated scales too long. He wondered if hugging a dragon could burn as he finally slipped out from beneath the creature. He was welcomed to a familiar face as he stood up.

"Charlie!"

"Harry!"

"Let's get out of here mate before the werewolves decide dinner is worth death." The elder Weasley mused taking Harry by the waist and hoisting him on his broom. The magical broom had been floating lazily by his side, but as he pushed Harry on and mounted it as well the werewolves that had been cowering at bay whined. Their dinner was escaping and they couldn't let that happen. Harry felt his stomach fall as they shot up into the air a daring werewolf jumping up to meet them.

Harry squeezed his eyes run ready for the mangy beast to collide with them. It gave a howl of pain. In confusion harry opened his eyes watching the werewolf struggle under the determine claw of the dragon. "We have to hurry, those are people Norberta is hurting for us."

He felt dead suddenly. He had cast the Reductor Curse on one of them, come tomorrow there would be someone potentially missing an arm. He was ashamed, how could he hurt a person that had done him no foul. Though, he did not want to become werewolf food, so it was a matter of self-defense. But he could have done something less damaging. Maybe more Stunners, would he have escaped the one that had gotten in his way if he had? What would Remus have said to him about this if the man were still living?

They landed at the double doors leading into the foyer. "Hurry, before the werewolves come back." Charlie urged opening the door and dragging Harry in. Charlie discarded the broom without a thought turning back to the door listening for the tell-tale click of it locking. Numbly Harry watched as the floral ward guardians bounced off the walls and floated lazily to the door.

There was a loud thud against the door. It shook slightly. "Not good." Charlie muttered stepping away from the door. The tiny fairies continued to float towards the door locking their wands together. The pounding continued the door shaking at his hinges now. He could see dark forms through the narrow windows at the side. The fairies were like a web now over the door getting thicker and brighter as more joined the fray. There was a loud howl and the door snapped open. Charlie grabbed onto Harry as he staggered back.

Harry was unafraid as the werewolf snapped its jaws through the open hole. Deep black eyes stared back at him as the bloodlust left the creature. It gave a harsh bark to the werewolves near it and they paced back. The ward guardians were blinding specs of light now as some broke from the formation and settled on the werewolf's mussel. Other tiny specs settled into the broken wood and brought the shattered door back together. As the hole repaired itself he could see the werewolves turning and running away.

"Bloody hell! Harry you never do anything small do you Harry? Not even without the Dark Lord on your heels." Charlie frowned.

"The ward guardians kept us safe… where did the werewolves come from?"

Charlie stared back at the younger man in disbelief. "Are you so thick? This school is filled with half breeds. All those wolves out there are students Harry! Did you not read the manual on the bracelet? Why didn't you use the portkey to get you back here? Let alone the bloody pamphlet on the school, the non-humans outnumber the human students fifteen to one.

"It's the middle of the night, no one is even paying attention to the night sky Harry. You would have died if Norberta and I weren't aware of the Dark Mark and came running!"

He felt drained. Charlie's ranting was going right through him. Absently he opened his mouth and let the words flow. "Why are you here?"

"Are you daft? Just go to bed I don't even want to see you right now." Charlie snapped pushing the boy towards the door he knew led to the student quarter. He watched Harry shuffle to the door mindlessly. When the door snapped softly shut Charlie let himself tumble to the floor. He had seen Harry cast that Reductor Curse on that poor werewolf. He had to let the infirmary know of the injured students. He was almost certain Norberta would not have retreated when they had. He desperately hoped no students died tonight. He was sick of death. He took a deep breath Fred coming to mind before he could stop it.

Pushing himself off the ground he turned and made his way to the infirmary.