Harry's Requiem
Chapter 22: Plans advancing
The weekend had passed with leaps and bounds it was decided it was safer for everyone if Regulus came to the castle so he could finish regaining his strength. And so the brothers could gradually get used to one another again. It turned out Harry was rather magnetized to Regulus as the young Duarti had issues with some of his homework he didn't quite feel like such a dork asking Regulus for help as he did asking Sirius. Draco had his father to pester with questions and Hermione found a rather advanced potions book and brought it to Severus to discuss and go over the individual potions within. That Friday was the full-moon. It would be a day they wouldn't forget.
~Flashback~
"I have something in mind." Remus said leaning against the wall. A terrifying gleam sparked in those gray eyes. "Who? What?" Remus smiled and gold eyes glittered. "We prank Dumbledore." Nods could be seen before an evil laugh made Remus jump a foot in the air. "Pranking Dumbledore? I'm in.." Came Kaitou's voice in a sing-song tone from the kitchen downstairs.
~Monday - Back at Hogwarts~
When they had returned to the school, the Bloodmoon Masters were pulled into a conference when lunch was going on in the great hall. Albus was happy to have friends in places that he used to ensure none of those blasted Red-moon teachers of Snow's were in his hall. "Good afternoon students!" All the students in the hall looked him. He didn't notice that Percy was now sitting next to his twin brothers in the midst of several different clan students or that the other houses were blended with the clans. "I would like to say how proud I am to see you embracing our sister school with such excellent behavior and dedication to your studies. Therefore, I would like to reward you by canceling classes this Friday and as a school treat. Having the first ever, Hogwarts camp out." The younger years cheered loud enough that Albus felt the hall ring. Ah here was his due, his cheering fans even if they were only little brats.
The older years clapped along politely. "Now do not worry about writing home Children. Hogwarts has tents and supplies for the weekend. There will be games and fun to be had. Including some pick up Quidditch!" Lots more cheering. Marcus Flint felt something move against his side to see a small girl trying to hide under his robe. "What are you doing?" His voice rumbled, he usually scared every one away from him. "Hiding.. You smell nice." Marcus flushed, her pretty amber eyes sparkled back at him from under his arm. "What are you afraid of?" The girl shivered surprisingly wrapping her arms around his waist and holding fairly tight. "Hurting you." Marcus raised his eyebrow as the chatter in the great hall got louder and more excited by the announcement. Some of the students were uncertain but by the time lunch was over and everyone was in their afternoon classes no one thought to mention this to the Masters.
~Wednesday, before lunch. Hogwarts Library~
Fred and George had been rather out of their depth when Percy had told them he had managed to get them spots in Master Mordane's Spell creation class. When Hermione had showed up on during their free period in the library Harry and Draco behind her carrying some things. "Hello Percival." The twins almost laughed until they saw Harry's disapproving look. "Hello Hermione. What do you have there?" She grinned. Handing all three of them a copy of a book Spell & Enchantment Foundations: Grade 1 "You'll need these for Mother's class. I'm in it too. I got assigned as your tutor until you catch up to where we are currently.
You'll also have the option if you do well enough to continue studying next year with a broader range of classes open to you." Her tail flicked back and forth as her gray purple flecked eyes seemed to sparkle in the lights. "This sounds amazing Hermione. Is spell creation the only class we can take this year?" She thought. "I'll ask. But, I can suggest things for you to study for my Father's classes and proof read your essays." To say the three were gobsmacked was no small feat but the three redheads were blinking open mouthed. Harry held his hand out. "Pay up Dragon. She broke them." Draco grumbled and dropped four chocolate frogs in his hand. "Damn, I thought it would be harder." Harry snorted. "Dude, her dad is like the Hogwarts version of Mother." Draco facepalmed. "He's not that bad." Harry snickered and Draco flushed. Both laughed and they sat down pulling out their homework. "This way we get help too. Hermione said Percival is really good at his Hogwarts studies." Percy couldn't help being proud of the complement.
To their surprise the first year was able to answer several in depth questions over the first chapters and she pointed out the problems that she had when they had started out. Harry pulled his pale wand and cast a few small spells on his parchment. To the twins amazement the spelling fixed itself as the letters lined themselves up. "Made myself a couple of handy charms.. Spell corrector and word spacer. That way my parchment doesn't look like my mother's potions notes. Now that's dragons scratch." They all giggled. Steadily they worked through their homework until Fred made a comment. "Hey Hermione?" "Yes?" She looked up from her Potions essay. "Do you have any ideas about this whole camp out thing on Friday?" Hermione's eyes widened. "Oh, sweet mother of magic!" They looked at her in shock, it was an old saying. "Mother still doesn't know! None of the Master's or my Father was in the Hall when Dumbledore announced it."
Curses sounded around the table as everything was quickly but efficiently packed up via spell. The six ran down to a large ornate door and Hermione stopped. "There is a meeting supposed to be going on. I'll knock." She knocked politely and waited. The door opened and a house elf stood there. "Master Snape's missy shouldn't be intruding on Master's meeting." Hermione growled softly. "I have news the Headmistress and Masters must hear. My friends too please." The elf's ears flicked. "Flutter will ask Mistress if she will see you." The elf closed the door. A few minutes felt like hours but the door opened the house elf stood there but now it opened wider. "Mistress Snow will see the little ones." Hermione smiled at the house elf. "Thank you Flutter."
They entered the room to find the table was circular but had a space in the center for a speaker they entered the open space and saw the space close. Now they were surrounded, Harry could see the banners that he had lived with all his life. Standing before the headmistress Harry bowed the others hurriedly followed his example, Hermione curtsied happy now she wore loose pants. "Why would come all the way down here Children?" Aribella asked kindly. Hermione jabbed Percy and he stepped forward. "Headmistress I am Percival Weasley. Monday something odd occurred and it took us until now to work out that you probably hadn't been informed. So on the chance you hadn't been informed we came." Dane noticed the house colors. "What is this matter that we are uninformed of?" He asked.
Fred and George took turns explaining Percy interjecting every now and then on relevant points of information. The Masters were quiet. "You were correct in the effect we were not informed of this matter. Now, we need to keep appearances while we figure out what to do." Percival raised his hand. "My eldest brother Bill works for Gringotts perhaps he can help?" They looked at each other. "We will deliberate on the matter children. You have done well. It would be safer for you if you board among us until this has passed." Dane chuckled. "I will take them. They already wear Unicorn colors. And from one of my students I heard Percival lends out aid in essays and looking up references." Severus scowled. "I'll speak to Minerva, she's never willing to compromise the safety of her students. Not even to Albus' 'Greater Good'." Dane called an elf after writing a scroll. "Take this and the three Weasley boys to Corina and have her set them up among the herd." The elf nodded. "Yes master horsey." Soft snickers from Kaitou's end of the table. Dane looked over to see the Dark Arts master and her monochrome other half. "Come little reds, I's will takes you to a safe place. And you's will have a snack." Once the Weasleys were gone Kaitou looked at her pups. "Kaya." The elf appeared in a crack. "Mistress?" "Take the pups back to our quarters and see they have a snack while they study, also alert the brothers Grim I want to meet with them after the meeting too." The elf bowed. "At once Mistress. Come Kaya's babies, time to go." The three left without protest and a waive the great door sealed itself once more.
Aribella lost the kindly smile on her face for a look of worry. "This weekend? Why did it have to be those specific days?" Severus raised his eyebrow as his mind brought up mental calendars only to realize something important. "The full moon starts Friday night. Oh shit." Mina sighed. "That will leave us about defenseless, since ¾ of the Warwolves are Were's. We will need more wands then we have in case of anything... But where do we get them?" Severus thought about it before the idea struck him. "I know." The Masters turned to him. "The Slytherin parents are a tight knit community and I can make few visits or send Lucius and there would be a few more wands to defend the children. Aribella nodded. "Both of you go if possible, we can cover your classes so no one will know you are not here." It wasn't long after that the meeting broke and they separated.
Severus looked to Kaitou. "Will you cover my classes so I can rouse help?" She nodded with a toothy smile. "I promise you will not return to Dunderhead paradise." He laughed as the two walked hand in hand towards the Duarti's rooms.
During the next two days Kaitou took up teaching Severus' class, to the amazement of the students she lectured on the interplay between Herbology and Potions. Neville cried tears of joy, because one of the first year Warwolves would sit and work with him after class. For the 7th years she assigned them the task of helping reorganize and clean the ingredient storage rooms with the elves watching. 6th year had an essay on the different properties of the metals of their cauldrons and what potions were they suited best for. 5th year was assigned to working on their OWL topics. 4th year was scrubbing all the cauldrons and equipment in the lab. 3rd year had to move everything back into the room after the floor had been cleaned, but then got a great treat of playing guess the ingredient. 2nd year was assigned to set the tables that had been re-sanded and varnished a new before having a fun lesson of name that potion. 1st year was astounded by the now clean classroom and it had only taken a day to do it. They got to play three games since it was a double period for them. When the class was done the three waited for her and as she closed the door behind her. "Mother that was a great class!"
Kaitou chuckled. "Do not tell your father that Hermione, he is a master at his craft. He just doesn't like teaching those who can not dedicate themselves to learning it." Three heads nodded. The trio heard a miniature lecture about spell properties all the way down to the families quarters. When they walked in they heard a yell between Sirius and Severus. "And what Black? Me entrust my child to you Black? Regulus has had to bail you out of almost every situation we have gone into. It is no wonder he is Lord Black, you are reckless, arrogant and unable to put anyone elses needs before your own. Black you are supposed to be a godfather, yet you are less mature than Harry." "Look here Snivillus, Harry is my godson! And I am still important." Hermione saw Sirius wind his fist back an before she dropped her bag and launched herself at him.
Sirius threw his punch, only to feel something connect with his body and PAIN! He changed into Padfoot to try for an advantage, but the figure attacking him was now on top of him. He twisted trying to sink his teeth into something fleshy but the thing wouldn't let go of him. He heard a snarl as his teeth finally caught some of his attackers skin both he and the attacker yelped as Sirius was suddenly looking into purple-blue eyes, with her clawed fingers clamping down on his neck. "You bit my puppy!" She snarled in his face, her fangs making themselves known in her anger. Sirius looked to see Hermione favoring one hand, it being tended to by both her father and his brother. Remus had both boys by the shoulder keeping them out of the men's way. Sirius whined but couldn't shake the grasp she had of his neck. He transformed back and nearly wet himself at the sight of the enraged female before him.
"What do you mean I bit Hermione?" Sirius snapped. She snarled lower in her throat, and Sirius felt the hairs on his neck stand up. "You went to attack her father and her instincts got the better of her.. You bit my puppy! Give me a damn good reason I shouldn't tear you apart!" Her voice was getting rougher and lower in octaves as she spoke. Her tail was puffing up as her outline began to blur. Harry groaned and tugged himself over to Regulus' side. "How's Hermione?" Light gray eyes gleamed at him as a hand found his arm comfortingly. "She will be just fine, My brother is an idiot but he didn't do very much damage. I know many healing spells, Severus is cleaning the bite for me to ensure nothing infects the wound nor that it causes her to much pain." The other man pulled back and Harry watched Regulus set to work with his wand gently weaving together healing magic almost in song. Harry met Hermione's purple flecked gray eyes. "I'm sorry Harry.. When your Godfather went to hit my father... Something snapped inside.." He smiled at her. "That's perfectly normal Hermione, he's your dad. Someone's going to hurt him your supposed to put the teeth to 'em. He did kinda deserve that one.. Plus he was calling your dad names.. That's childish, I'm sorry." Hermione scoffed. "You do not need to apologize Harry. He does. To my father. And, No more name calling! Its so asinine, I will have mother transfigure the mongrel into a throw pillow if he insults my father's name again."
Sirius felt a little outnumbered here then he saw Harry's face, he was disappointed in him. That hit the old dog pretty hard and he slumped where he stood. "I'm sorry Harry." Harry looked at Sirius. "You need to grow up Sirius, this bullshit rivalry got my mother killed because you and my dad wouldn't grow the hell up and apologize to Hermione's dad. Do you know it was exactly one week after Dumbledore was refused the cloak that Voldemort came knocking." Sirius looked horrified. "How did you learn that?" Harry pulled a book out of his bag. "This is my mother's journal.. It leaves dates and explains a lot." Kaitou was barely out of rage. Remus had seen Draco grab her thrashing tail and she seemed to calm a bit but her outline was still blurring. His wolf was screaming to submit before he was killed he tried to reason with it that her ire was directed at another but the whine in the back of his mind didn't cease.
My wonderful readers. I am so sorry its taken this long to Update. On St. Valentines day of 2019 I lost my fiance, he was my sounding board for Severus and my muse for Requiem.. But, I know he would want me to continue in his memory if nothing else. Thank you for being so patient. ~Kyuubi