The Leader

Chapter 36

Everyone that was in the general vicinity of the warehouse all packed into the building which expanded slightly, just to allow them all to fit comfortably within, the wards upon the place were intricately done and very well thought out. Rick allowed the door to close, gazing around in contemplation, it must have been Wyatt's words, but he was thinking on things he hadn't in years. He had been there to see the foundations laid down in this very room, the entire area secured, Rick had listened to Kai spout the speech constantly but he hadn't thought anything would ever come of it. Nobody changes the status quo, they just lived with it. Until Harry had put every effort into changing everything. Now they were so close he could almost taste it. It had been a long time coming, and he would bet they still had a few years to go before everything settled, but they'd soon be free. Not forced to remain in hiding all the time, Kai would be inordinately proud his vision had come to pass by a boy he had loved like a son, the bond they'd had…wasn't quite like the bond he'd had with his other chides who had all died in the war.

"Today I am going to hunt a group of Death Eaters, I need the best of the best to come with me, those I'm hunting are inner circle Death Eaters and I think you all understand what that means without further detail." Harry informed them grimly; he wouldn't let them get away with hurting any creature under his care. The day they'd come to collect Aaron Greyback and he'd told them they were welcome to stay was the day he had declared it so. Now that they were staying it was even more permanent. Although a bigger part of him just wanted to make it more difficult for Voldemort. The less followers he had the less a threat he would be. "One has to be captured; only if it's possible to do so, any danger to the group must be dispatched quickly."

"Any preferences on who you want captured?" Rick enquired; the silent room glanced his way before turning back to their leader, also curious about the answer. Harry was standing up on the pool table, so he could be seen by everyone. There was no other elevated platform in the room, and it wasn't the first time he'd stood on the pool table either, although the second last time it happened it had needed repaired.

"Both Carrows, Lestrange brothers, Dolohov, Rosier, Rowle and Travers are the ones we're going after, I think the Lestrange brothers might be the best to capture for information, what do you say, Severus?" Harry turned to Severus for advice on how to proceed.

Severus blinked in surprise as the attention turned to him; it unnerved him that they were looking to him for answers. "Actually Carrow will be the one you want, the Lestranges haven't been around the Dark Lord much due to their long stint in Azkaban. They weren't useful for a long time after they were 'rescued', however the Carrows have been given quite a few missions for the cause and held back for private meetings quite a few times. The others while they're in the inner circle are invisible to the Dark Lord he cares little for them," Severus replied smoothly, he'd began to see Harry's side was nothing like the Dark Lord's or even Dumbledore, but he was truly beginning to see it. Harry actively asked for advice if he thought someone else knew better, he let everyone feel useful, let them decide whether they wanted to go, just demanded the best of the best and there was nothing wrong with that. Merlin help him, he was falling further and further, if he didn't get a grip of himself he would drown with these feelings he had.

"The male or female?" Harry enquired thoughtfully. He generally suspected it would be the wizard, judging by the fact he had only marked two witches Voldemort probably underestimated them. Thought them nothing more than a nuisance, weaklings, like he believed his own mother to be.

"Amycus Carrow, the wizard," Severus replied, it seemed as though Harry had suspected as much since he didn't even bat an eyelash in surprise.

"Then that is who he focus on bringing in alive," Harry replied, "But safety comes first." he repeated, his tone booking no argument, he had gotten them this far and only lost a few good men in the process, he didn't want to lose anymore, not so close to them succeeding at any rate.

"How many?" May softly asked, but she was clearly heard all around the room, everyone there had extremely impressing hearing abilities. The vampires of course much more intensely than werewolves and it was a toss up between who was the best at scent marking, since they couldn't honestly tell. May rarely spoke above a whisper, despite how long she'd been a werewolf, she couldn't help but try and remain invisible, unnoticed by everyone. After the life she'd had, nobody could blame her, not that many people knew, just a few close to her, her leader had suggested she tell someone at least, unburdening somehow easing her pain then she'd understood why he suggested it.

Unbeknown to her, Harry had been asked to do the same thing with Kai when he first showed up in the area soaked to the bone in the pouring rain. If Kai hadn't taken him in he would have most likely been food for the vampires that night.

"Twelve including myself," Harry stated, he usually gave the other side a fighting chance, but he wasn't feeling generous today. No, he wanted to make sure they were taken care off, that he got information and dealt Voldemort a striking blow.

"I'd like to come!" May replied, even her leader had said she was good; she wanted to play her part, help out a little. She rarely left the compound, but she was feeling brave today.

"I'm coming," Rick and Jack the second in commands insisted, nobody would refute their demands to go.

"I too wouldn't mind accompanying the group," Severus stated smoothly, at the same time Wyatt chimed in excitedly, "I'll come." brushing back his blonde locks and putting it into a ponytail getting himself ready to go whenever his leader gave the word.

"I could put up anti-Apparation wards up? Prevent anyone from leaving?" Dale suggested, from just inside the door, where he must have come through during Harry's speech otherwise he surely wouldn't know what was being said. He wanted them caught, if more than they could handle came around, well it stood to reason they'd Apparate away and Harry wanted them caught.

"Excellent idea," Harry nodded his approval, and unlike the Death Eaters they would know where they ended and could get to them and away should anything happen and they needed to retreat. "We will discuss it more when we catch up with them."

"What makes you think they're still out there?" Takumi enquired, he never left the area, he was there primarily as a guard.

"Good point, I mean if our mission failed we would get the hell out of there," Alan nodded thoughtfully, the incubus had fed recently and it showed, he was positively glowing even with his glamours on.

"The Death Eaters do not take failure lightly;" Severus informed them his tone blank, "Not out of vanity or an inflated sense of self-importance, but fear, nobody in their right mind would go back to the Dark Lord and tell him they'd failed unless they ultimately had absolutely no choice. There is a big possibility that they've continued their search." torture was a big motivator in making sure that they did things right the first time around. They couldn't understand what the Dark Lord was like; they could get a general sense but truly would never be able to contemplate it. They were lucky, Harry actually gave a shit about every single one of them apparently, he knew everyone there, understood what motivated them and gave them everything they needed.

"We have no idea how long they'll continue their search, so hurry this up," Harry stated sharply, glancing at the time.

"I'm coming," Bill informed him, like he'd miss a chance to take down some Death Eaters.

"I'll come," Alan added, not that there had been any chance of him missing a chance to go.

"Me as well," Josh nodded; he was the fastest of the group of vampires. That took them up to nine people so far.

"Count me in," Rachel said calmly, she might be a healer, learning from Darius, Darius was learning from Poppy, but that didn't mean she wanted to heal others all the time. There was always a rush when fighting, just like the time they had in Malfoy manor.

Just then Brecon wandered in, blinking in surprise, "Whatever that's happening, count me in," grinned the dark wizard unconcerned. The others laughed at him, of course he would choose to go, and Brecon loved a good fight almost as much as Alan did.

Severus shook his head, for some odd reason, Brecon reminded him of Regulus Black, before the life had been sucked out of him at any rate, working the Dark Lord would do that to just about anyone. No, Regulus had joined under an illusion and the fact his parents spoke of him in reverence, he had become quickly disillusioned with his new life, he liked to think Draco, his godson would figure it out before it was too late and he ended up dead too.

"I wouldn't mind taking care of some Death Eaters," Jessie claimed, cracking his knuckles.

Severus, Harry, May, Josh, Alan, Rick, Bill, Dale, Jack, Rachel, Brecon and Jessie it was then. The female werewolves rarely left, and a few good fighters like Takumi didn't volunteer knowing that they needed to leave good fighters here just in case anything happened. Their Leader always left contingency plans for anything that might happen, it had never been required as of yet, but there was no saying it might not in future, especially with Dumbledore nosing around. It had become the norm that they didn't bother volunteer now. That and the major players weren't even there, they were away on missions, watching other covens, and making sure everyone was playing by the rules.

"I'm coming," Fenrir said, his tone booking no arguments, he was leaning against the door, looking half dead, but still standing which said a lot about his character and pain tolerance given what he's been through.

"You are absolutely no use to anyone in that state, if anything you're dead weight, I wont risk anyone being killed not even you." Harry stated sharply, boring holes into the large man, who could and did tower over even him as tall as he was. In fact he was even taller than Jack but not by much he suspected it might be an Alpha werewolf thing.

"You won't get them without me there," Fenrir stated calmly, clutching at his side, "They're tracking my pack, they must have been tracking them through me, I am the only one they know the full name off to use their magic on. Take me with you and they'll walk right into your trap." hopefully this place was off the grid and his son would remain hidden from their tracking spells. If they did track him his pack would be vulnerable, but he could see the majority of Harry's people were staying here, which meant Aaron was safer with them than him.

Harry smoothly dismounted from the pool table, a thoughtful frown appearing on his face, he had to admit it was appealing. Surely they would suspect a trap thus making any trap they could spring unreliable at best? If it went wrong Dale could remove the wards swiftly and they could all get out of there. He would have really preferred if Caron and Shade were available but they were busy right now. "Are you sure you're in any shape to be Apparated then wait for however long we will need to for them to come?" reluctantly agreeing with this plan, because damn it was a good one and one he would have come up with if he'd been willing to risk Greyback. Which he didn't, he had a very young son, one that had been through hell.

"I've continued on with worse," Fenrir grumbled out, feeling slightly insulted that he was being questioned; he wouldn't be suggesting this if he couldn't handle it.

"Go about your day," Harry told everyone, his lips twitching as they all began to go back to their chores, fights or reading what have you. The only people that remained were the people who were going on this current mission.

"Alright, where we you when you were attacked?" Harry enquired as Rachel did a quick diagnosis on his wordless command. She then removed a few potions and gave them to him; "Drink these." was all she said before stepping back, it would have to do, since he was so determined to come. Aaron was presumably still asleep, since he didn't normally stray far from Greyback's side.

"Near the water between Kensington Park and Hyde Park, we came out of the underground station and straight there, I thought we had shaken them off," Fenrir replied.

"There's not many great hiding spots there, and that is out in the open," Harry replied grimly.

"Mostly, but it was night, the few people that were there ran, the Death Eaters open fired." Fenrir admitted, he had hoped they wouldn't risk open firing in a Muggle area boy he'd been wrong.

"Well I won't risk that, we'll need to find something nearby, but secluded, Josh where do you suggest?" Harry questioned him, Josh knew London from top to bottom, every nook and cranny, especially if it was a Muggle area.

"Serpentine road should be perfect, the royal parks are there, should be secluded enough to do what we need to do, Dale can put up Muggle repelling charms as soon as they appear, after the anti-Apparation wards of course." Josh mused out loud to himself. "It would keep anyone from seeing things they shouldn't if they're there." in other words stop the Ministry from getting word and coming in half cocked, thinking they were invincible and could Obliviate everyone. The ironic thing was, they never did mange to get everyone and Obliviate them, many Muggles were aware of the magical world just smart enough to stay quiet.

"Everyone know where they're going?" Harry asked firmly.

"Yes," everyone replied the affirmative.

"We go in from the Board Walk they'll hopefully come at us from the opposite end masking our Apparation," Harry stated sharply, before he Apparated away with a small crack, everyone else promptly followed. As soon as they were touching down on Broad Walk they quickly got into formation, with the exception of Greyback who looked a little worse for wear at Apparating, but he straightened up proudly. The trees stopped anyone from seeing their abrupt appearance.

"You'll have to make yourself slightly visible perhaps that tree? While everyone else hides, many of us can mask our presence from the homing spell," the homing spell letting Wizards and Witches know how many people were there. Since they were dead, technically the spell didn't pick up on them, and two of his werewolves were successfully able to do it as well leaving only a few people unmasked so to speak.

Greyback nodded grimly, a grimace twisting his face as he hobbled over to the tree and slid down, he did not like it one bit, he felt extremely vulnerable, but he wanted those bastards to pay with their lives for harming his pack. So far it looked as every one of his members would survive which pleased and relieved him greatly. It didn't stave off the need for revenge any though, and when he'd heard about the meeting he'd forced himself up and listened. This would be his one chance to get revenge on them; otherwise Harry would have already taken care of them. As an Alpha he had demanded retribution and made his case, it was sound, so he knew as he spoke he'd win.

"Do not make any verbal indication, use only hand signals, signal with your two middle fingers like so," Jack told the other Alpha werewolf, showing him, the only thing preventing it from looking like he was swearing at Greyback was the fact his fingers were closed together. "On this side so we can see it. Just one finger when they're in distance where we can spring an attack, Dale will begin putting the wards up as soon as you indicate one." Jack pointed to the left side where the rest of the group were going to be hiding.

"If they aim their wands at you screw everything else and dive out of the way," Harry instructed once Jack was finished. "I won't return to our rendezvous clearing and tell your son you died through sheer need for revenge and arrogant belief you're better than them." Greyback didn't have a wand, he like many of his own wolves preferred to fight with their bare hands, which was why it had been so bad when the group of wizards had attacked. He wondered when the last time he'd held a wand, he was magical, Greyback was a wizarding name, that and the odd first name gave way that his parents were purebloods. The fact they abandoned their son when they learned the news they'd either been young and knew they could have another kid or Greyback was the second born, and not as important as an heir.

Greyback grunted affirmative, his watching the mixture of werewolves and vampires and an incubus (he could smell it on him, even if he couldn't see his true form, the shimmer of glamour charms could be seen gleaming though) take up hiding places that even he found difficult to see. Back then just a few years after he'd been turned, he'd made it his mission to turn as many kids as possible, raise them away from their families, giving him a family at the same time as getting a large group in order to take over the magical world. Let Lycans take over, make them the superior species for once instead of spat on and hated for something beyond their control. He'd been too short sighted; Potter didn't just have werewolves, but vampires, wizards, and an assortment of other creatures that the magical world loathed. Everything the magical world condemned went to him for a better life, he couldn't help but wonder what Potters end goal was, he had a feeling it was big, something similar like he wanted.

It was what had helped his decision to stay, despite every instinct he had screaming at him for doing so. He was an Alpha; he wasn't born to take orders from others. Yet he had to give his son the best possible chance of surviving. He'd lost his son once, and nearly again a few days ago, he refused to let Voldemort get his hands on him again. Aaron was still traumatised by what happened; having to change all the time without his pack…it had done untold damage.

Despite his turbulent thoughts, Greyback's blue eyes continued to scan his surroundings like a predator he was. He wasn't sure how long it had been, but considering daylight was beginning to fade into darkness, he'd say it had been at least two hours since they Apparated into the area. Perhaps they had been wrong all along, maybe the Death Eaters had given up and gone back to the Dark Lord to give him the bad news and they were currently suffering? While the thought of them suffering was pleasant enough, he wanted them dead.

"It's been over two hours, I don't think they're going to show," Alan whispered quietly under his breath, not wishing to give away their position, added to the fact he knew his whisper would be heard by everyone anyway. He non-verbally cast a hearing spell so he could pick up the others if they replied.

"It seems to be that way," Harry admitted darkly, he hated when he was wrong, and it didn't happen very often. "We wait a while longer, if they don't show up we leave." he didn't have to worry that the warehouse was being invaded when he wasn't there, the second the wards were so much as tampered with slightly it would go on lockdown, giving him more than enough time to get there and lay hell on anyone that was stupid enough to try and get passed his wards. He hadn't kept his people safe thus far by being an idiot about it.

"Yeah well I need to pee," Brecon added to the conversation sounding extremely disgusted at having to admit it to everyone. He was a wizard damn it not a vampire, he actually had bodily functions that hadn't ceased thank you very much. And werewolves could hold their bladders up to ten hours or more even while drinking, it was bloody ridiculous.

"Alan go with him, watch his back," they were always paired up; he never let anyone go anywhere alone just in case.

"Alright," Alan said immediately, easing out of his crouch sighing in relief, he'd been there for hours and his muscles protested heavily at the movement. Yet the relief that followed afterwards was more than worth it as both of them headed towards the a more wooded area, to give Beacon more 'privacy' if it could be called that no matter how far he went the others would be able to hear it and worse smell it.

"This is pointless, we should just bring the fight to them, if they're still out there, idiots," Rick said getting deeply impatient.

"That is what gets people killed," Harry warned. "Going in half cocked, have patience. If we don't get them tonight there will be other opportunities I'm sure." he was annoyed himself, but he didn't let it get the better of him.

"Are we actively looking for them then?" May asked speaking for the first time, her voice sounding further down from the others.

"Yes, if the opportunity comes by," Harry said, smirking wryly when he could smell the excitement of the hunt and thrill going through his people. They always got like that when the got to go out and stalk preys, which was what they were when Harry demanded them brought to him or killed. Only those that went rouge, drew attention to the supernatural, or did something to one of his own.

Rick smirked, the hunt for Pettigrew had been lacking any satisfaction, he hadn't put up much of a fight, just tried to turn tail and run literally as he had been a rat at the time. Instead Black, Lupin and Severus had gotten all the fun with the disgusting thing.

Those Death Eaters were meant to be good, if he couldn't get a fight tonight at least he knew he would get one sooner or later. Harry was stepping up his game, Merlin he couldn't wait to see the end results; it was going to be absolutely amazing.

"Incoming," Jack said tensely seeing Greyback signal them, he sniffed the air, sensing magic in it, they were there, they must have been too far away for them to hear the Apparation if they did.

"Broomsticks," Severus stated sharply, looking up and seeing shapes in the sky.

With that they fight was on, the simmering of the wards Dale was putting up clogged the air, as Harry's people shot up spells into the air, dislodging them from their brooms. Severus and Harry worked back to back; trying to get the rest of them, but on a broomstick against a spell that only went in one direction wasn't easy. The others were taking care of those on the ground from what he could hear but he wasn't paying much attention.

"Fire?" Severus suggested it was quite possibly the only thing that would get them to dismount.

"Risky," Harry admitted, "Too many of us could get hurt in the process," Wandlessly firing up six beams at the riders, only successfully getting one.

"Not if they were out of the area," Severus admitted, firing three spells in rapid succession without needing to breathe it made him faster, more lethal. Not that there was anything really lethal about stunning spells, Harry wanted Carrow brought back alive - with their robes and masks on it wasn't easy to distinguish which one was which. So until Carrow was captured they were best to stick to non-lethal spells.

"GET BACK!" Harry shouted, obviously those in the air didn't know what they were doing, since they were still circling them, firing their own spells which they were all able to get out of the way. Rick was right they were idiots, they were going after werewolves and they didn't think to cast a spell that let them hear better? It was one of the first spells he made sure his people knew, well the wizards, witches and other creatures without superior hearing anyway.

"We can't," Rick replied, before firing off a spell, jumping over the one that had been aimed at him, revelling in the rush. He wasn't the only one fighting, Brecon was fighting another Death Eater viciously six feet from them, and if he tried to run it would kill him.

"Incendio! Incendio! Incendio!" Harry cast a less lethal fire spell, aiming for the broomsticks, smirking viciously when one hit the broom tail and had it in flames, try as they might to put it out, it failed causing the broom to malfunction.

"How is that possible!" cried the Death Eater before screaming as he plummeted to earth, there were protection spells on broomsticks, including one to stop it catching fire, or it should have been, he smashing against a tree before gravity took hold and he was falling the rest of the way down. Landing with an agonising crunch as his tailbone shattered upon contact with the ground, the pain was disabling causing Rabastan Lestrange to curl up as pain coursed through him.

The rest of the Death Eaters seemed to realize how vulnerable they were in the sky and quickly began dismounting and attacking everyone using lethal spell after spell.

"FIENDFYRE!" spat out Rodolphus and Amycus Carrow as one, determined to make the vampires pay for killing one of their own and hurting their friend. They were aiming at Severus and Rick, who were currently fighting Dolohov and Travers backs turned to the fire spell. Which was lethal to them, hell fire was lethal to all things that moved.

Rick turned marginally, his eyes wide in fear as the fire came ever looming closer, he knew he wouldn't even raise his wand and get out water or air spell before it would consume him.

Harry roared in anger, his hand out, unleashing the full extent of his magic, the blasting wave had absolutely everyone blown off their feet. A large shield of water appeared in front of all his people, fighting with the fire, putting it out bit by bit until nothing but steam remained behind. The blast had utterly destroyed Lestrange and Carrows wands.

Severus turned to stare at Harry completely stunned, he didn't even think the Dark Lord was as powerful as him. Never once had the Dark Lord's explosive magic rendered absolutely everyone within a certain radius off their feet by the blast. "AVADA KEDAVRA!" Severus snapped out pointing his wand at Travers causing the wizard who had just started standing up regaining his bearings, he toppled over, his head smashing against the earth, and he never moved again.

Rick sped over to Amycus Carrow and had the bastard on his knees, clutching his throat dangerous close to choking him or draining him of life. He's almost killed him, he had never felt that much fear before and if he was honest it had left him shaken. His only saving grace was the rest of them felt the same thing. Snarling at his throat the predator in him well and truly woken.

"Well, we won," Brecon said panting outrageously, out of breath due to the mad sprint back when they heard the commotion and dodging spells.

"Dale did the wards hold?" Harry commanded not even able to sense anything due to his immense use of Wandless magic to save his people and mate. He'd never felt such fear before in his life when that disgusting scum had cast that spell, he never led with emotions, ever. Yet tonight he had, his mate was making him vulnerable and he didn't even know it, he wished he could just board that piece of himself up and forget about it, but he couldn't, he didn't want to spend eternity alone.

"Yes sir," Dale said quietly, still stunned by the blast.

"Take them all back with us, burn the dead bodies, put those who survived in the cells, Carrow however, put him in the pit." Harry demanded his green eyes flashing mercilessly. "GO!" he barked impatiently, the spells were swiftly removed after that, and they all began to Apparate away from the area, Harry as always waiting until his people were all away before he too Apparated, having to delve into his reserves.

"The pit?" Severus queried as soon as they returned to camp. Everyone else had followed, those there relaxed and sighed in relief at seeing them all alive and well, well most of them since not everyone had returned yet. A few were already demanding the story and Wyatt was all to happy to share it with smugness.

"Exactly what it suggests, a whole in the ground imbued with powerful spells, littered with creatures at the bottom," Rick replied already on the move.

"Creatures?" Severus wondered if he even wanted to know. He idly noticed that Rick was moving and began to move with him, wanting further answers and Rick so far had always answered him truthfully and frankly.

Rick nodded as he dragged the still conscious terrified wizard over to the pit, and drew back he gate magically then shoved the wizard in. There were poles stuck out in various parts of the pit, they usually sat on them in a bid to get away from the snakes that were constantly lunging and biting them. Closing the gate he watched Carrow for a few moments in satisfaction.

"Snakes, mostly, their bites aren't venomous but they don't need to know that," Rick informed him before he stepped away, he needed to be on his own for a while, that close call…had left him shaken so it was little wonder he wanted some 'me time' he never regretted his decision to join Harry, never would, even if it cost him his life.

Severus peered down himself, it was so dark even he had trouble seeing down there properly, but he could make the outline of Carrow desperately clawing at the stone walls, scrambling to get away from the shadows he knew were snakes now. He'd never noticed that before, he'd come here how many times now? Then again he hadn't come to this part; he usually went to the field or the warehouse itself. He wondered where the cells were, listening intently, no he couldn't hear them, silencing spells? Gazing around shrewdly, well there were a few places the cells could be, two different outer buildings that weren't werewolf made homes. He summarised he would find out sooner or later.

He did notice that Harry wasn't there, if he had used as much magic has he suspected, he would have gone home, which was Potter Manor. He Apparated himself back there as well, just to test his theory on whether he knew Harry well enough of not. The last thing he noticed before he did was Reg running up to Jack, the young one was truly attached to the Alpha. A smirk appeared on his face, he could smell him, he was in his study drinking a goblet of blood, and he certainly hadn't wasted any time.

"Are you just going to stand there or join me?" Harry said coolly his voice heard clearly.

Severus needed no other prompting in joining him for some blood.

There we go! took two days to get this one out what did you think? more action with the Death Eaters? Or more manipulation at the Ministry? Dumbledore time? Hermione writing first? R&R please