December 24th, 1991

With school being let out a week ago, Harry and the others who chose to remain behind at Hogwarts, like to preoccupy themselves with snowball fights (careful to mind the teachers this time), caramel apples, and wondering whether they had been good enough children to earn the presents they obtained from their friends and family members throughout the month.

Harry, of course, knows that he's good enough, and he makes it known by sneering at Ron Weasley with disdain, knowing it's not worth it to give the stupid boy his time, because it would only make him stoop to Weasley's level. Instead, he makes new friends with those who are neither in his pack, in his house, or both. This he learned from Selene, who has proved herself worthy just by being a friend, though there is a price to pay. Harry winced at the conversation a few days ago:

"I want to join your Tribe."

"Your-my what?"

"Don't act stupid. Phoebus told me all about it, and I want to join."

"Selene, it's not as great as you think it is. We are...different, and it's not easy being that way."

"I know, but I'd rather spend time with someone who may be family then without anyone at all. You know I'm an orphan."

"That someone being Phoebus, just because you two look exactly alike?"

"I have my suspicions about that, and no, not just because of that."

Hesitancy. Then...

"Alright, I'll talk to Ri-my dad."

It was the first time Harry ever called Richmond 'Dad'. It's not like it's frowned upon, but the fact is both Richmond and Harry just feel awkward about the whole adoption thing, even years later. Harry wonders whether that will truly go away.

Maybe, maybe not, he thought optimistically as he sauntered into the Great Hall for a snack and a conversation or two. In the Great Hall, where houses no longer existed at this time of the year, Harry chose to sit with a few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, such as Cedric Diggory and Cho Chang.

"Hey Cho, what's with the big book? I don't remember you being so serious before," Diggory addressed to the usually cheery and thoughtless Ravenclaw.

"Well, I have to keep up with my Ravenclaw image. Just because I don't like to study, doesn't mean I don't like to read," came Cho's pleasant reply, her dark midnight hair swooped behind her ears, giving her a pretty complexion in the torchlight. For Cedric, though. Harry couldn't care less about the third year, all because of one certain Gryffindor.

"All right, fair enough. How you can read books like those is beyond me," Cedric complained. Cho only shrugged and kept reading. Harry then noticed the pages weren't exactly as clean or well kept as some of the school's textbooks. It's certainly not anything Harry's seen before.

"What book are you reading, Cho?" the first year asked, curious. Cho glanced at the book cover casually, then simply dismissed it and went back to her current page.

"It's a book titled 'Great Sorcerers and their Deeds' by Bathilda Bagshot. It's one of her lesser known books, but it has a multitude of information."

"Like what?"

"Well, for example, I'm on the page of Nicholas Flamel. He's a sorceror who's been friends with Dumbledore for years, but unlike Dumbledore who became a master of magic, Flamel became a master of alchemy. It's said he discovered how to create the Philosopher's Stone and uses it and the Elixir of Life to keep him and his wife Perenelle from dying. When this book was written, Flamel had just turned 665 years old." Harry's eyes widened.

"That's amazing," he uttered in awe. Cho nodded excitedly at the Slytherin's reaction, then showed him a picture. Sure enough, there was Flamel in his wrinkly and aged glory. Over to the side, Harry also noticed a smaller picture of a reddish-mahogany stone, glimmering in the light. Cho perceived Harry's curiosity as a thirst for knowledge, and explained,

"That's the Philosopher's Stone, though nobody really knows that that's how it really looks. Flamel is very possessive of his treasure."

"I can understand why," Harry remarked, still in awe, "If anyone got their hands on it, the results could be disastrous." Cho nodded and kept reading, while Harry grabbed a treacle tart and continued eating, digesting not only the sweet but this new information.

December 25th, 1991

Christmas arrived way too soon, but maybe Harry has those thoughts because two kind werewolves his year were so kind as to wake him up by jumping on his bed. Repeatedly. Poking his face with their wands all the while. Certainly put him in the Christmas spirit enough to Wingardium Leviosa their butts over by the window until they apologized.

After the rude wake up call, Harry, Phoebus, and Adam excitedly sorted their presents in the dorm room and decided to take turns opening one present at a time: Harry first, then Phoebus, then humble little Adam last.

Harry received charming little presents from his friends and family, until there was only one present left. It was a letter of sorts, addressed directly to Harry. Harry's first impression of it as a cheery 'Happy New Year' letter were quickly disbanded the more he read:

To whoever is the son of Richmond and Penny Stidolph:

The Tribe feels most inconvenienced at your arrival a few years ago and your constant presence among the other werewolves. You may not, however, be aware of this only because the Alphas have been so kind as to lie to your face. In order to prevent even worse troubles from arising in the future because of this, look up page 74 in 'Werewolf Ways'.

Thank you for your time!

T

P.S. Should you ignore the obvious warning in this letter, then you will find that you will be begging for Death.

"Well, that's cheery," Phoebus remarked at Harry's letter. "But, honestly, who'd be stupid enough to threaten you?"

"Whoever this 'T' is, I suppose," Harry noted casually as he threw the letter into the fireplace nearby, alarming the Hufflepuff.

"Harry! That guy threatened you to leave the Tribe or die, and you just throw the letter in the fire?"

"Is that what's on page 74?" Harry asked, a little concerned. Adam nodded with vigor.

"I've read that book many times. Page 74 is how, if Alphas adopt young orphan wolves as their own, some of the pack feels threatened, and thus, the young wolf is forced to either leave their new home or die."

"Surely the Alphas have some say in that?" Phoebus asked doubtlessly.

"Of course, if they knew what happened. Most of the time, the young adopted pups run away in the night. Others are found dead in the morning." At this, Harry's face paled slightly, causing a little alarm amongst the other two adolescents.

"Well, don't worry about it Harry. We'll figure something out," Phoebus promised.

"Yeah, nothing to be scared about!" Adam assured, but Harry suddenly felt like he'd lose his breakfast and respectfully requested to go back to bed after the rest of the presents are unwrapped. After all this, it was Phoebus' last present, which was also a letter, though the boys hope that it's not as degrading as Harry's was. As his eyes read the paper, Harry and Adam noticed their friend's eyes grow wider, as if extremely excited, extremely nervous, or both. There were multiple papers and as Phoebus flipped through each one, he got so into the letter that Harry was worried he might get absorbed into it.

"Care to share with us, Feeb?" Harry asked jokingly. It's about time that Phoebus got a nickname after all. However, Phoebus didn't even bother to acknowledge the name as he ecstatically showed the pages to the boys.

"Selene and I are twins! Here's the actual proof right here! We were born to Courtney and Arnold Grint. Says here they were killed by werewolves, and Selene and I were separated! Selene went to the orphanage, and I was nowhere to be found!"

"You're happy about your dead parents?" Adam asked dubiously.

"No, I'm not happy about that. I'm happy because I finally have my own flesh and blood. I have a twin sister!"

"Well, it wasn't too hard to figure out, you two do look a lot alike, not to mention the same last name, and of course how close you two are," Harry noted happily, all thoughts of the letter gone now. "Now we have the actual proof." Phoebus nodded ecstatically and ran off to who-knows-where.

"Phoebus, Adam has one more present!" Harry shouted, but it was far too late.

"It's okay, Harry," Adam said with an understanding smile, "It's exciting to find lost family." With that, Adam opened his badly wrapped gift, only to receive howling laughter from Harry and a bright blush creep his cheeks.

A simple celtic knot pendant from one Irene Hunter. It wasn't very big, about the size of Adam's thumb, and the craftsmanship was worthy of the nine year old that she is.

"Looks like Phoebus isn't the only one with an admirer! This is rich, Adam! Wait 'til Phoebus hears! A nine year old! What a bride!" Harry howled. Adam didn't say anything. Instead, he simply put on the pendant and hid it beneath his T-shirt where it lay hidden and close to his heart.

The rest of Christmas day was spent with laughter, fun, and snowballs thrown at the back of Professor Quirrell's head (a pastime passed down by the Weasley twins). Harry isn't so worried about the letter anymore, but he does think about it from time to time now. Who is this T? Why does he want Harry banished or dead? A snowball hit Harry square in the jaw, forcing all thoughts of banishment out of his head as Harry conjured up his own snowball and threw it straight and true into Adam's face.

Lunae Tristitiam Camp

Fortunately, the little brat decided not to come home for Christmas, which gives him a little more time to figure out his plan. How will he get the Alphas away from their pride and joy? It wouldn't be easy, not with wolf parents. They can be extremely protective should the need arise. Of course, he doesn't want to kill Harry in the middle of the night, like he's done with other pups in the past. He wants to give Harry a chance to expose him for the true brat he is, not the 'Golden Child' that everyone makes him out to be.

He sees Penelope, Harry's mother, through the tent flaps of the Alpha tent and dismisses his fast beating heart. She reminds him so much of his own mother, poor Kanta. She was so beautiful, and smart, and his own mother. She would still be alive if not for...

But he can't think about that right now. The Tribe's future is in jeopardy unless he does something about it. With that, he sits down at his desk and continues drawing up his plans.

A/N:

Merry christmas one and all! I don't have much to say except to R&R, I don't own anything Harry Potter except my own characters, and for those of you taking finals, may the odds be ever in your favor. Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, etc.!

~ Galatea Griffiths