A Life Worth Living

Chapter 47

Harry woke at four o'clock in the morning to his wards pinging, Harry felt out the ping and realized it was Hermione. She must have deliberately did so since she was one of the few who could come and go as she pleased. She probably did this to avoid wakening up any of the other occupants in the house, well aware they probably needed the rest. He didn't begrudge Hermione coming to him, and was grateful she hadn't woken everyone up. The pack hadn't been able to rest easily, in fact it's only been a few hours since sleep pulled them under. Easing himself from where he'd been plastered across Peter's back, managing to stop himself from face planting on one of the wolves that were curled up next to the rest of the pack here in the pile for comfort and security.

Harry tip-toed out of the living room, being as quiet as possible, before closing the door behind him and relaxing a little. With the door closed, the pack could continue to sleep in peace now with no sound able to penetrate the room. With his normal gait he made his way to the door and opened it, giving Hermione a small sympathetic smile. "Decaf coffee?" he suggested, dressed in a t-shirt and a pair of boxers, when Hermione nodded, Harry led her towards the kitchen, both of them unconsciously quiet.

Hermione sighed softly as she took one of the seats, "I honestly want something stronger," she rasped out, today had been…horrific, what a way to begin a career. She'd known she'd find a lot of unpleasantness, but this…what they'd found…she couldn't have imagined in her worst nightmares and she had a lot of them.

"Fire Whiskey?" Harry suggested, giving her a look, he wouldn't judge her for taking the alcohol over decaf coffee. Pausing in his bid to make her the brew, waiting patiently for an answer. There was no point to continuing if she didn't want any after all, but no point to stopping if she was only going to take it.

"Go on then, make it a double," Hermione agreed, glamour slipping away from her features.

Harry noticed her face was drawn and tired, eyes red from where she'd been crying, probably continuously tonight. The wizarding version of a pair of sun glasses for when the occasion rose. Today had most definitely been that day…or yesterday really if you wanted to be all technical. Merlin, he knew she would be up and back at it bright and early and probably had been told to leave for the night.

"Thanks," Hermione murmured, as Harry set the glass down beside her, she just didn't want to be alone. The thought of going to her flat – which was very near MACUSA's building in New York – had filled her with dread. She probably shouldn't have woken him up, no doubt he hadn't had much sleep either, but she just couldn't force herself to go home alone. "How's Aaron?"

Harry pursed his lips as he sat down, "We don't know yet, they bathed him and got him comfortable, he's had a Dreamless Sleep draught, he'll sleep throughout the night." Stiles had eventually had to go home to his dad, Erica had stopped by for a bit before reluctantly leaving again. The pack bonds had been so strong that Erica had been compelled to make sure her pack was alright, so nobody blamed her for appearing at the door out of breath after Stiles text messages weren't satisfactory enough for the girl.

Hermione solemnly nodded, rubbing her eyes, so bone achingly tired, but too wired and still in some state of shock to sleep. She'd thought she'd seen every possible depraved thing during the war. This job she realized, was going to make her realize just how very wrong she was about a lot of things.

"What did Damon find out about the 'Dread Doctors'?" Harry asked, rolling his eyes at the name they'd proclaimed for themselves. Honestly, giving themselves stupid names, it was idiotic really. At least Lord Voldemort had been a little bit more original, and quite smart given it was every single letter of Tom Riddle's name.

"I actually don't know yet, what he found out though…he ordered their execution immediately, they were a threat most extreme according to Damon, and frankly from what I've read I agreed." Hermione murmured, "He was actually shocked and whatever he saw was abhorrent to him, according to everyone else, he's never reacted to whatever he saw in someone's mind before."

"No, he's the best of the best," Harry agreed, "It's why MACUSA pay so much for him to consult, he's not officially a MACUSA employee," they were lucky he was nearby and free in order to aid them.

Hermione nodded, sipping on the whiskey, feeling much better for having company despite the conversation. Harry always made her feel more centred, more in control, which was funny to her, since most of Harry's plans had been on the spot, and admittedly they all got out alive so there had to be something to his luck.

"So what exactly did happen to them? They were impervious to magic were they not?" Harry asked, the floorboards outside the door creaking, Harry couldn't say he was overly surprised to see Peter there, his desire for information was just as level as his own.

"It's probably breaking news on the TV," Hermione told him, gesturing towards the TV in the kitchen, which was very rarely used, it was all hooked up to the internet and everything, Teddy liked using it. He was despite the fact he was a wizard, endlessly fascinated with all things Mundane, between him and Stiles they knew the ins and outs of all this technology. Giving a tired smile to Peter, who without pause squeezed her shoulder in reassurance. He could smell how lonely and tired she felt, he knew those feelings intimately, and as a pack adjacent she shouldn't ever feel alone.

Harry put the TV on and turned it to a local news channel's to see what Hermione was referring to, as Peter came to stand behind him, before arms were wrapping around his shoulders bringing him closer to the werewolf. A massive wall of fire was the first thing they saw, amid a black background before they begun to comprehend everything they were seeing. The institution was engulfed in flames,

"A fire spread out in the premises at around 9:32 this evening…"

"…Working tirelessly to try and control the flames and drowse the fire…"

"…it's been reported that no patient has come to harm, but twenty-five orderlies and doctors have thought to perished in the flames getting their charges to safety."

"…the blazing inferno is too much for the firemen to even attempt to breech the building…"

"…the speed in which the building is being consumed…"

"...and the official cause will sure to be investigated once the blaze has been put out which doesn't seem to be any time soon."

"…the patients are being escorted to safety, for information about it call this number 0…" The TV was then muted then, as they processed what they'd just heard.

The reporters were reporting from behind the tape as dozens of fire engines and firemen tried to control the blaze. They'd made sure that no servicemen had attempted to enter the building, this was a controlled and sanctioned mission, and they did not want anyone, not even Mundane's to die doing their job.

"Merlin, please tell me you and everyone made sure nobody else was sequestered there?" Harry swallowed thickly, the place was massive. He knew if he stepped out of his property he would be able to see the blazing inferno from his back door, and knew tomorrow morning there would be nothing left of it, Eichen house would be no more.

"Of course we did, we did an actual physical search, then the president did another search physically and magically." Hermione wasn't offended by Harry's words, she would have asked the same thing. "The Dread Doctors were still in there though, they were set ablaze first…we ensured they perished before vacating the premises. There are five wizards still in the area making sure the Muggles are safe."

"And you're making the orderlies hero's," Peter said, distaste evident, but it was a good way to prevent any questions as to why so many people had gone missing he supposed. Dying to save their patients instead of being known as the despicable characters that they actually were.

"No," Hermione said, pursing her lips, "We're going to…leave out information for the reporters to find…it might not be the truth but it will shed more than a heroic light on them." complaints about heavy handedness going unpunished with the patients and other…disreputable things not all of them lies either. They were too disgusted to allow them to be buried as good men. They didn't deserve the honour, whether they were covering it up or not. Sipping on her fire whiskey again, a pleasant warmth radiating within her.

Peter's mouth stretched into a vicious thing, as he tightened his hold on Harry, satisfaction purring through him.

"How do you explain the entire workforce being there?" Peter asked, it stank of a coverup.

"Well, not all of them died, those unaware came with us, they've been obliviated, two inmates going missing had them calling on the workforce to find them, the reporters will probably suggest they started the fire but there's nothing that can be done about that." the official cause of the fire would be an accidental in due time, but he didn't state as such in front of Peter, she knew it would be a sore point for him, naturally. They thought of everything in order to keep themselves safe and leave no stone unturned.

"There's also something else," Hermione said, sliding her hand into her cloak pocket and withdrawing parchment. "These people have been seen around the vicinity tonight. We could sense the other about them. I don't pretend to know everything about the pack or your decisions…but have you given permission for anyone to be in your territory?"

Harry's lips twitched, 'don't pretend to know everything' that was Hermione being polite, she knew everything about werewolves, and what she didn't know she'd discover very quickly and in the best manner possible.

Peter moved slightly, but didn't release his hold on Harry, looking at the drawings he'd been presented with. "Deucalion…that's Kali and this is Ennis, the Alpha pack we've been warned that they were here but we haven't seen them yet." he told her, she already knew about the Alpha pack, so he didn't say anything farther. "If they've seen magic at play…I wouldn't be surprised if Deucalion actually contemplates backing away for now until he gets more information or a greater understanding. Or at least the Deucalion I knew…but the one I knew would not have done the things he's done." He was as close to a hippy werewolf as one could have gotten, with all the peace talks with the hunters.

"I suspected as much," Hermione nodded, "I've contemplating approaching them and giving them an official warning…either that or having them arrested for their previous crimes, but I'm unsure if I have the authority to arrest them for crimes when my division wasn't up and running. It's something I'll need to discuss with the president, Donovan." She'd find out, even if she had to pass the case to Major Crimes. she was not going to allow Harry or Teddy to remain in danger or any of the Hales who Teddy and Harry loved so much, and would be devastated if anything happened to them. She would too, she was becoming fond of them all. And she and Harry protected those they loved with a fiery passion born of blood and war.

"You, definitely," Harry stated curtly, absently curling his fingers through Peter, feeling the need to be close to his mate, through the bond from Peter, and indulging it. "Major crimes cannot do anything with your division up and running, they'd need to give anything considered a magical creature whether it be a suspect or victim to you. They only have the authority to go after wizards and witches as has been the norm for a good long while since Dexter Hale and MACUSA came to an agreement." There was no time limit on being arrested for murder, and they had collectively committed a lot of murder if rumour was to be believed. Which was technically all they had, rumours no proof.

"That's quite correct," Hermione conceded, nodding it was what she suspected but still would make enquires before doing anything about this so called Alpha pack. At least now she had pictures to add to the ever growing list of information she had. Once she had confirmation she would begin the process and go after them, but this case took precedence. Understandably so.

"They were too close to Cora for comfort," Harry added. "There is no coincidence that they've been in both places, I dread to think what they had in store for her." A grim reminder that they had actually encountered the Alpha pack in the past before they'd made their way to Beacon Hills and most definitely for a reason. Whatever that reason was, well, they'd foiled it by getting Cora from under them, and nobody in the pack would be hurt by those disreputable werewolves.

Peter's lips pressed together at the mere thought of what Deucalion could have done. "Are you able to discuss the case in it's entirety?" with me, went unsaid. Not that he really cared about breaking laws in general but he didn't want to Hermione to end up in trouble, so if he knew it wasn't to be discussed outside of this room, then it would not be.

"Well, you work for MACUSA as does Harry, so legally I'm not breaking any laws," Hermione pointed out, "Although, technically I probably shouldn't be discussing it since it directly impacts you, as both a relative of the victim, and since it's affected your territory… it is a double edged sword." Finishing her drink off, her brow furrowed.

"Donovan allowed his presence to continue after finding out about Aaron, if he was going to ban him he would have already done so by now." Harry explained, "Although, I wouldn't be surprised if you aren't called in to deal with any of the people involved as a lawyer, which will give you time to focus on your exams anyway, which you'll probably need with your attention divided." Something else that would stop them going on a date. They knew each other, were familiar with each other, intimately, without any sexual feelings coming into it. They were mates but there had never been any sexual intimacy or actions. First because Peter had to recover…now it seemed as if they were destined to wait longer and longer. Part of him feared that the moment had passed and they were destined to be non-sexual partners for life, but there were small moments were it seemed possible to turn the tables that continued to

"What is it you wanted to know anyway?" Hermione asked, well aware that Peter wasn't just asking out of the goodness of his heart, he must want to know something. Hearing a noise, she glanced at the doorway, and found Derek pushing open the door, with the most vulnerable look Hermione had ever seen on the young werewolf yet. Although, considering his age, one couldn't actually call him a young werewolf truly. He'd seen too much to be considered young too, and adding this burden on top of his already burdened shoulders – whether he was to blame or not – wasn't something she wished on anyone let alone Derek. Giving him a warm smile, even though she didn't feel like doing anything other than falling asleep.

Derek grimaced right back, at least he'd tried that was the main thing, Derek's usual countenance was to scowl and retreat when they first met. As she spent more time in their home – and there was no doubt that Derek, Peter, Cora and the others all considered this home – he begun to calm around her. She was pleased to see despite what happened he hadn't retreated to old habits.

He moved to sit as close to Peter as humanly possible without crowding him, seeking the safety and security of his Alpha while he was vulnerable, while the whole pack was vulnerable. If one member of the pack was vulnerable, they all were, and they'd received quite a significant blow to their reality today. Derek would probably feel slightly embarrassed about it in the morning. Peter had made sure that every member of his pack fully accepted their wolves, and while training Erica, Derek had easily slipped back into the right mindset, easily done to a safe and secure place to stay and an Alpha that cared. A mindset Derek hadn't had since he was fifteen-years-old and he'd taken a hit of guilt and lack of confidence due to what happened to Paige, and then with Kate and the fire…well, it was hardly surprising he'd been at odds with himself. It wasn't something glaringly obvious, that anyone could point out but it had nonetheless been there.

"The Were's down there, where are they now?" Peter queried, leaning against Derek, giving him the comfort his wolf wholly sought.

"They're currently in an induced slumber in our healing ward at MACUSA, nearly every single one of them," Hermione revealed honestly, "There are a few who aren't as…affected by what that place was doing and were able to leave under their own power. Only due to the fact they are only recently captured, a few days to a few months. They're with the others, healing, and we will ensure they are truly alright and have somewhere to go before we let them get on with their lives." She swore, she would not see a single of them lonely, afraid or wondering what they were going to do next. There was a fund for magical victims, and she'd use it if need be, she would not see any of them suffering further because of what that horrific place had stripped from them.

"And their packs?" Peter asked.

"We've not spoken to any of them yet, Peter, they're in a healing sleep while their bodies recover from the horror they've endured. They'll be getting what they need, sustenance…then begins the hard work, the bodies heal much easier than the mind…more so with those who have healing abilities." Hermione sighed, "We honestly don't know what the hell we're going to do, there are so many people but we're working on it." this case might just be the biggest one they'd ever undertaken in the history of MACUSA – except the whole war with Grindelwald of course – they needed to bring in other Alpha werewolves in, they'll definitely need them, to ground the others, anchor them, give them pack should they need it – a temporary Alpha – until their packs were informed if they were lucky enough to have any.

"I see," Peter said smoothly, eyeing her speculatively, wondering if she had any additional information she'd be willing to share. His eyes closing, what he'd seen earlier that day playing across his closed lids, the people, the fear, the terror…inhaling sharply, he re-opened his eyes, "If you need any help whatsoever, I will do what I can, so long as it does not affect our pack." and Hermione was pack, albeit right now just pack adjacent although truthfully she was more like pack than pack adjacent these days. The fact she didn't want to be alone and immediately came to the pack house spoke volumes.

"We will need your help," Hermione agreed, "So many Beta's are without an Alpha…" her mind dwelling on the Alpha pack…a way to build redemption on their characters…binding vows to ensure they never harm those under their care. Was there any hope for any of them anyway? Did she want those people anywhere near people who are vulnerable? It was certainly something worth digging into. The mundane trauma seems to have made them all break.

"I'll do what I can, plus, it would be good to have a more secure pack," Peter agreed, without turning more teens anyway, it was the best time to turn them, although Peter wasn't sure if he believed that or not. Even someone near death – or actually dead for a few minutes – could come back fully healed and a Were. "More people to patrol, we are vulnerable I can't deny that and obviously I cannot ask the teens to take their focus from their education to patrol as often as it needs done." Thankfully though, it wasn't as desperately needed with Harry's magic making things easier.

"Do you even need to patrol?" Hermione pondered, head cocked to the side, the buzz from the alcohol allowing her to think on things that wasn't the current case she was on.

"Yes," Peter answered solemnly, "Don't get me wrong, magic is…a wonder to behold, but the territory needs to smell of pack, otherwise Omega's and other packs will think it's for the taking." Which in the long run could prove quite…problematic to say the least.

Derek was nodding in agreement, he couldn't be more grateful than he was for Stiles and his introduction to Harry, despite the fact he'd been most unwilling to begin with. He had given him something he desperately wanted, and hadn't had for six years. Stability, home, an Alpha, someone to answer to, and more importantly his family back. Peter, Cora and Aaron…Circe he didn't want to think on what would have happened to them otherwise it made him sick to his stomach.

"That makes sense," Hermione agreed.

"Are there any more victims from Beacon Hills?" Derek asked, and they were victims, all of them. Being a victim didn't make you weak, didn't make you stupid…didn't make you gullible, it just made you exactly that a victim of circumstances, or life.

"There probably is, especially those who became victims to the Dread Doctors, this is their hunting grounds," Hermione said, "Damon has returned home and intents to give us a list of everyone that they did experiments on as well as pictures to make things easier. It will take a while apparently, they'd become somewhat immortal with all their experiments they did upon themselves. Fortunately, for us at any rate, they weren't impervious to Fiendfyre."

That silenced them all, quite frankly what could you say in the face of the fact that people – calling them people was generous – had created creatures using humans as experiments. It was the sort of thing you read about in comic books not in real life, that wasn't meant to be the reality but unfortunately, it was turning out to be so.

"You going in to work at your normal time tomorrow?" Harry eventually ventured to ask.

"Yes," Hermione stated immediately, she was the boss, she had to give everyone their orders and make sure everything was done correctly. There could be no mistakes on this case, she refused to allow any to be made on a case of this magnitude. Not that it would lead to them being freed or any such thing like in the Mundane world. They would never let a threat to magic, to society to go free, you'd really need to severely screw up for that to happen.

"Then get some sleep," Harry ordered, "You're going to need it if you're going to spend all your time in MACUSA." He refused to allow her heath to decline for anything, even this case. Hermione could be singularly focused, he'd already gone through worrying to death about Hermione's health after Ron and the baby.

"He's right, if you're going to be of any use to everyone you need rest," Peter agreed fully, "Exhausting yourself will help nobody." He was pleased by her worth ethic and desire to help them so much, but not at the extent of her own health and Harry's worry. He was already worrying about enough without that on top of it. He refused to allow his mate to worry about things that were no need of it.

"I know," Hermione replied sighing softly, she knew that, but her body just didn't want to shut off, she wanted to help, she wanted to be in charge of every aspect of the investigation but she couldn't. The urge to ask how Aaron was again was strong, but the answer would be the same, they just didn't know. She honestly didn't think they'd be able to question Aaron any time soon either, it was just a feeling they had and it wasn't just because the pack wouldn't allow it either.

"With us or do you wish to use your usual room?" Harry asked her, his voice and face softening seeing that she was going to get some rest and wouldn't continue to fight him on it. 'usual room' was the guest room which she hadn't really used since before she'd met Peter and the rest of the pack. Even when she stayed the nights of the full moon, she'd make her way to the bedroom at around five o'clock in the morning desiring a proper rest.

"I'd rather not be on my own," Hermione admitted, hating herself for it too. Fortunately, she was with people who fully understood, one through a severely lonely childhood and adulthood – although admittedly it was his own choice for a while – and those who had grown up with a pack without having a single real moment of privacy and silence in their lives. Their sudden exile when their pack was destroyed was enough to last them an entire elongated lifetime.

"Want another drink or a sleeping draught?" Harry asked her, reluctantly standing up and coming away from the welcoming warmth of Peter.

"Drink," Hermione declared wryly, sleeping draughts would render her exhausted throughout the day after she slept, it was one of the downsides of taking it.

"Alright, let me get it for you," Harry murmured, and before long all of them were back in the living room and retiring for the night or what was left of it at any rate.

"Planning on passing on the Alpha powers?" Hermione asked, as she entered the library with coffee in each hand. Everyone else was still sleeping, and she did not wish to wake them. No, she'd have something quick to eat, drink and straighten her clothes and change their colour before making her way to MACUSA to begin her work.

Peter all but jumped, shifting as if he had a sudden desire to hide the book and feel like a child.

Passing a coffee over to him, she sat down near him, a curious look on her face removing the small plate she had her breakfast on, two pop-tarts. "Are you alright?" wondering if there was a reason for his sudden desire to read from the book. "Why would you desire to give up the Alpha powers?" she asked, breaking it up and popping the warm gooey breakfast food into her mouth.

"I don't," Peter confessed seriously, sipping the coffee, it wasn't exactly how he liked it but good enough to drink without grimacing.

"Then why?" Hermione asked shrewdly, tapping the book with her finger, first ensuring there was no sugar on her finger, she respected books too much to get them dirty. She was aware of everything in the book, she'd read it recently and knew everything contained therein. There weren't many books she wouldn't or couldn't read. She loved and cherished all knowledge.

"I was merely trying to find out if a bonded human would live as long as a bonded Alpha Werewolf," Peter explained, and Harry was an Alpha, they were destined to be together so much so that Derek had submitted to Harry before he came along, saw him as his Alpha. Magical or not, Harry was human, he would decline at a human rate. He just wanted to know if a magical wizard – who was essentially still human – would have his aging slowed due to their bond or if in a few decades he would lose him. He did not believe that Harry would ever accept the bite and give up his magic, not for anything.

Hermione stared at Peter, unblinkingly. "Wizards and witches can live up to over two hundred years if they take care of themselves…but Harry…Harry's different, it's not my secret to share so it's something you'll need to discuss with him." she and Harry had investigated it, keeping it from Ron, for fear that the boy would get angry and run his mouth. Ron was loyal, but easily angered and lets his temper get the better of him. He'd have died for Harry, no doubt about it, but Ron was still…easily jealous and angry. He would have seen it as yet another thing that Harry 'gained' because of who he was. Ron would have calmed and seen it for the reality it was though, but they couldn't risk something like this becoming known because of Ron's temper. She loved him, had loved him fiercely, but it didn't mean she was blind to his faults. He'd had many faults but so many good points, she'd miss him always picking up her life after losing Ron and the baby had been singularly the most difficult time in her life.

"What does that mean?" Peter asked, a shrewd look appearing on his face, as he tried to gauge just exactly what Hermione meant and how Harry was different from others of his own kind. It was clear he was, Hermione had basically confirmed that, and he wondered just how different he was that she felt he wouldn't need to worry about Harry aging…it seems she believed the other way may happen. His coffee completely forgotten as his mind mulled over the puzzle that had been handed to him.

Hermione shook her head, a grim smile, "Talk to him about it, I shouldn't have even mentioned it," she told him, taking her empty cup and single pop-tart before vacating the room. "Bye," she added, padding through to the kitchen and a moment later Peter heard her Apparating away, preventing him from grilling her for more information.

Peter sighed, shaking his head, well, there went his source of information then. re-entering the library, he grabbed the book and put it back into place. Staring at the book in the shelf amongst the other books, pondering on what on earth Hermione could have meant…there were only so many ways one could take that pronouncement and he wasn't sure he liked some of his thoughts regarding that.

He would definitely be asking him, his curiosity had been roused, but for now, the urge to return to the pack was strong. Everyone was still sleeping, the collective stress of his entire pack had woken him up. Leaving him feeling restless, and not wanting to disturb the rest of them, he'd decided to head for the library.

"Mmm, you 'Kay?" Harry murmured, head burrowed in the pile of pillows, his head almost burrowed under Derek's arm from when he moved sometime in the night. Feeling Peter plaster himself across his back, Aaron was in the middle of their pile, and everyone made sure to touch him but not overwhelming the boy should he wake up before them. Which was unlikely, the potion would keep him out of it for a good long while yet.

"Yes," Peter replied, he wasn't really, but there were better times to discuss what Hermione had implied to be a secret. He was going to enjoy what calm and quiet he could grab. He wasn't the only one to have had a restless night, Derek had been restless too.

He wondered what gossip would be roused today with the total destruction of Eichen House…to be fair if they hadn't done it…he would have.

Fear of fire or not…he would not have borne its existence any longer, and that's without knowing what his nephew had gone through. He hadn't read the file, he couldn't bring himself to read it.

Will there be redemption for the Alpha pack? Will Deucalion wave a white flag so to speak (He'll still get his ass kicked in Big Bad no worries lmao) realizing that its futile and he wanted to remain free? Or will Harry and Hermione be able to speak to the part of him that died when his own pack turned their claws on him and bring him back to that mindset instead of a monster? Or will this be the first of the many battles to get the supernatural world to settle down and become aware of MACUSA and that it is now being policed? Mreg yes or no? if no then Malia will be brought into it i think...is yes, well would you like to see it written out or just a quick scribble in the epilogue? R&R please!

Oh, and Happy Holidays everyone :) I hope you enjoy it and have a good time! Just in case I don't update again before the holidays are over! :D