Look! The beginning of a plot! And I apologize if you think Harry seems a little too trusting a little too fast, but I had to get this story going…

Chapter Ten

"Happy birthday, Harry," Hermione said softly as she and Ron sat on the hotel room's bed. "It's good to see you again."

"How's it feel to be sixteen, mate?" Ron grinned.

Harry dropped into an armchair with a smile. "Not much different than being fifteen, Ron," he answered.

Hermione chuckled and pulled a box from her bag, sliding it across the bed towards Harry. "The twins helped us fix these. They work off magic, so the batteries won't ever die and you'll never lose connection." Harry pulled out a laptop and a cell phone and gave a grin. They were both sleek, black machines with a silver, howling wolf on the backs.

"All the information we have is already on the computer," Ron added. "We have some as well, so we'll keep you informed."

Information was important. Especially now. They had figured out Dumbledore's plan for Harry and the Wizarding World not long after second year. After that, it hadn't been hard to find out about the horcruxes through a few subtle questions asked in the right places and some even more subtle evesdropping. Harry had already destroyed one of the seven that Voldemort had made, but then he had found that being bitten by the basilisk had destroyed the one that had been in him. Knowing that he had been a horcrux had been a little disturbing, but it was gone now and they had six more they had to find.

"What's happening at Headquarters?" Harry asked.

Ron scowled. "Dumbledore offered me ten thousand galleons and a place in the Order if I spy on you. He knows you're not at the Dursleys but I've led him to believe that you're coming to school this year." Ron shrugged. "I said yes. Figured I could lead them off your trail while getting information. They believed me when I 'hated' you during fourth year. Figured I could do it again."

Harry grinned. "Yeah, you're good at that." He grinned some more. "Hermione? You love me right?"

She gave him a suspicious look. "What do you want?"

"For you not to study yourself to death this year," Harry smiled. He then sighed, the smile slipping from his face. "I have to destroy the horcruxes, and then I can destroy Voldemort. And maybe then we can finally live in peace."

Both Ron and Hermione sighed. "You don't have to believe the prophesy, Harry," Ron said. "The future can always change."

"Except that Voldemort believes the prophesy, and therefore I don't have a choice but to go along," Harry mumbled.

There was a small flash of light and a letter floated to the bed between the three. They looked at if first in shock and then warily, not knowing exactly what it was. "That's the Black crest," Harry said, pointing to one of the crests on the envelope. "The other…" he tilted his head to one side. There was a lily, a stag, a wolf, a dog, a phoenix, a dragon, a panther and a unicorn, all arranged in a shield. "Those are the Marauders, plus Mum, minus Peter, and plus four others."

He picked up the envelope, opening it and pulling out the letter. Reading aloud, he glanced at his two companions.

Harry, Cub,

You don't know us, as it probably wasn't safe for Sirius or Remus to mention us at any time. You see, you have four god-brothers, adopted by Sirius right before you were born. Remus raised us after he was sent to prison, but it was all under the radar. We couldn't let Dumbledore know who we were, or what we could do.

You could say that we're not normal wizards.

Remus, Mooney, Alpha—whatever you want to call him—contacted us after he went on the run. All four of us live in the United States, and Alpha wanted us to take you in. He wanted us to help you find and destroy the Snake's puzzle pieces, if you know what I mean. They're all over here in America.

We realize that you probably have no reason to believe us and we respect your decision whatever you may choose. If you do decide to come join us over here, this letter can be used as a port-key. Code words: Pack and Pride.

Just know, that if you were to join us, you would probably be moving around. We four live in different states. The oldest one of us is thirty and lives in D.C. Next is twenty-eight, lives in New York. Another twenty-eight in New Jersey. And twenty-seven in Las Vegas, Nevada. We'd be helping you search for the puzzle pieces, but at the same time we have our jobs as well. One Crime Lab tech, one federal agent, one Crime Scene Investigator (detective) and one doctor. So, you'd have to put up with that.

We're a strange family, but we're a family all the same. And we're hoping that you'll join the family and that, somehow, we can get Alpha over here as well, especially now that Beta's gone. (By the way, Beta's death is not your fault. Don't blame yourself for him acting stupid. Dad was always like that…a bit irrational at times. James was always getting onto him about it.)

So, with that, we'll leave you to your decision.

Gregory Allen Sanders Black, Magus

Robert Christopher Chase Black, Medi

Dante Giovanni Messer Black, Eyes

Antonio Carlos DiNozzo Black, Kitten

Harry looked up at his two friends and shrugged. "Well? What do you think?"

~*~

Meanwhile, at Ravenshold, the four brothers were busy catching up with each other. Tony was lounging on the couch, Greg sprawled across the same couch, his upper half resting across Tony's lap. Chase was sitting on a loveseat across from them, absently talking about a strange case at the hospital. Danny was staring at a butterfly in a case on the wall, a strange look on his face.

"Hey," he said, getting the attention of the others. "Can we get rid of this?" He waved to the butterfly and Chase and Greg gave him odd looks. The bug was rather beautiful, and they couldn't see a reason to get rid of it. But Tony frowned, glancing at the lightly bandaged hands and the scar that crossed his neck. He still hadn't spoken of that case.

"Sure," the agent said softly, nudging Greg. The blond glanced at him and then gave a subtle wave of his hand, the butterfly disappearing from the wall.

"Thanks," Danny said. "Don't really like bug collections, much," he muttered, sitting down next to Chase. At their questioning looks, he shrugged. "Don't ask."

There was a startled yelp then, and another person joined them, blinking up at them from his place on the floor. "I hate port-keys," he said, and they all four noticed his wand in his hand, subtly pointed at them.

"Don't blame you," Greg said cheerily. "You're Harry, I presume?"

"Yes," Harry said, getting slowly to his feet. "And you?"

"Greg."

Danny gave a small wave. "Danny."

Tony nodded. "Tony."

Chase smiled. "I'm Robbie." And then he frowned. "Though, most outside the family call me Chase."

Harry gave a small sigh, lowering his wand. "You said you could help me. That Remus wanted you to help me. And that you weren't normal wizards."

Tony smiled tiredly, still not fully healed from his experience the day before with the Death Eaters. They explained their various situations, and the teen revealed that he could see magic and identify it. "Not many people can do that," Chase said. "Actually," he frowned. "I've never heard of anyone being able to do that."

Greg rolled his eyes. "No one can do what we can do either," he pointed out.

Danny yawned. "Yeah, yeah. But, man, what we can do can help end the war."

"I'm all for that," Harry said, trying to wrap his head around the idea of his god-brothers. They were definitely different, of that there was no doubt. "Question, though. What are you going to do with me?"

Chase shrugged. "You're going to be coming with one of us. Depending on where the horcruxes are located you'll be moved to whoever's closest. Where we are now is the 'family home' so to speak. Ravenshold, in Delaware. I assume you have everything you need?" he asked, frowning at Harry. They had just realized he didn't have anything other than the clothes on his back and his wand.

Harry grinned and tapped the collar at his neck and pulled a laptop out of it, so to speak. They all blinked at him and he shrugged. "I have amazing friends."

Tony grinned as well. "Those amazing friends working on the inside for you?"

"Yeah. Ron's my inside-guy to the Order," he revealed.

"Ah, yes, the Fire Chickens," Danny mumbled. "Greg, expect a visit from them sometime soon."

Greg scowled. "Geez…they still want me dead."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Yeah, Dumbledore wants me dead too. But not until I kill Riddle for him."

"Sucks to be you," Tony commented flippantly.

Harry childishly stuck his tongue out. "Sucks to be you too. He wants you dead as well, if Ron's intel is correct."

Tony blinked. "Wow. That was fast."

Harry shrugged. "He's also being paid to spy on me," he grinned. "Ron's a great actor when it comes to fooling the headmaster. Hermione's my inside to info on the horcruxes." He held up the laptop before letting it go back into his collar. "It's all on the computer and more will be coming."

Chase sighed. "Well, it's late, I'm tired and Danny's about to fall over from exhaustion. I think it's time for bed," he said, poking the blond CSI, who was beginning to sag against him. "And you're taking a Dreamless Sleep potion tonight, Eyes."

Harry made a small, sheepish noise. "Could I possibly have one of those too?" At their questioning looks he motioned to his scar. "The horcrux in me may be dead, but I still have that blasted link. And although I can keep Voodletort from looking into my mind, I still see everything he wants me to see."

The four brothers grimaced. "Harsh," Greg mumbled.