This is an M rated story.
A/N: If anyone is interested in being a Beta, or know a good Beta accepting new stories, PM me.
A/N2: Harry Potter and his world belong to J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and anyone that has received licensing rights. I am grateful she gives us the privilege of playing in her world.
Chapter 21
January 1, 1995
The West Country, England
Hermione stood holding Harry's arm. She liked the fact that the House crest on both their chests was the same size, meaning something very different than the last time she wore her dress robes a month ago. She felt unsteady because of the reason they were here. His steady presence was helping to ground her.
"Are you on the list," a wizard asked looking at the group.
This was part of what was setting her off. They stood on the edge of a cobbled courtyard after having walked down a hedgerow lane in the middle of the countryside. An old fashion gate house stood before them with a guardhouse and she smelled trolls. The smell was raising her hackles and bringing back bad memories of them. They smelled awful, like rotten meat and fetid mud. Her instincts were to attack them before they could harm her pack.
The steady tone of Sirius helped to ground her more. "Lord Sirius Black. I am escorting the Heirs Apparent of the Potters and Blacks, and their Guardian, Remus Lupin. Lord Greengrass invited us today," he held out the letter that Remus had received. They had been told that with Sirius being the ranking member of the group, it was his responsibility. She could tell he hated having to do this, but he kept his calm and composure. She was sure that everyone smelled the same thing she did.
The guard in dull green and black robes took the letter. Harry saw the man's wand sticking out of his sleeve, ready to take out at a moment's notice. Harry and her had theirs in a similar holster. She had mentioned to Tonks about how she was able to access her wand months ago, and they had received Auror grade holsters for Christmas, complete with disillusionment charms. She wasn't sure if they were entirely legal, but she doubted Tonks would do something that would get her in trouble.
"Bastian, Lord Black and Mr. Lupin each have two wands and we can't tell where Mr. and Mrs. Potter have theirs," a woman said behind them.
"They are welcome guests, Charlotte. You can enter. Please see Head Elf Cadmus in the main entry way."
"Thank you, sir. Come on you lot," Sirius said to them.
"Why do you both have two wands," Harry asked when they were halfway between the Gatehouse and the large manor house before them. She looked at it and realized that Bliyhl House was a cottage compared to this place. The grounds around it had gardens, fountains, smaller out buildings and beyond that were fields of fruit trees, crops and greenhouses. She realized there must be enough farmland and greenhouses to supply a hefty portion of apothecaries in Britain.
"Yes, pup. It wouldn't do to be caught without one," Sirius said with a grin.
"Why don't we have two," he asked them.
"Until you get your OWL's, the WRI law only allows you to carry one."
He growled and she felt his irritation. "They really want us to just fold if something happens," Harry said aggravated.
"That was the idea, pup. We won't let that happen though. Alright, remember what I told you. I am not sure if this is a formal meeting or not," Sirius said.
She hung to Harry's arm. The closer to the house, the more her unease grew. There was someone here that was rubbing her the wrong way before even meeting them. It wasn't a wolf, not yet anyways.
The elf met them and showed them into a large greenhouse with a sitting area that had a dozen high back chairs around a dark wood table. Couches and other chairs had been moved around to the edges. She suspected this was a favored part of the house the way the plants and beds with valuable potion materials were meticulously maintained. She recognized a half dozen species that would make Neville drool and Snape wet his pants to get his hands on even a few grams.
"Master and Mistress shall be in shortly," the elf said in a deeper tone than she was used to an elf having. "Refreshments are available on the carts. Please help yourself," the elf said bowing lowly.
"Sirius, how well off are the Greengrasses," Harry asked looking around.
Sirius looked around sadly. "I wish you could have seen Potter Manor. It would have easily matched this place. Your grandmother was a Potion Master and had a greenhouse like this. She would have loved Lily and to have someone to teach."
"There are plants here that have ingredients that sell for a hundred galleons a gram and is that a silver belldown? Those are supposed to be extinct in Britain," Hermione said. "And that is a singing butterfly bush, if I am not mistaken."
She was still looking around as she heard someone approach them. "You have a very keen eye," a voice said behind them. She turned to see a tall woman with a warm smile, long dark hair and expressive dark eyes. "Do you recognize anything else?"
"Blue cone belladona. White rimmed puffpods. Chilean venomous tentacular. I wish Neville was here. There are some I don't recognize but he would know," she said looking around. "Is that a library back there."
The woman laughed. "I am glad to see I am not the only one to be enthused to be in this room. Lord Greengrass and I are pleased you could come today, but I am afraid he is running a little late. If you would sit, I would start the conversation."
"Thank you, Lady Greengrass," Sirius said next to her.
She inclined her head and took a seat across from them. "Now, I confess to knowing all you by the papers, but I think a more formal introduction should be in order. I am Lady Illiana Greengrass. As you can see, I dabble in potions and the growth of their ingredients. It has been a long tradition of my family and the Greengrasses."
Sirius nodded. "It is a very impressive greenhouse and lab, Lady Greengrass. I must confess to not knowing much of the Greengrasses or the Bentleys. My family was into different circles. Lord Sirius Black at your service, Lady Greengrass."
Lady Greengrass inclined her head again. "No. Neither of our families are supporters of certain beliefs or groups I knew much of your family to support. Now, who is this lovely young woman?"
"Hermione Grang… I mean Potter, Lady Greengrass." She felt her cheeks flush. She was a Potter now.
Lady Greengrass gave her an indulgent smile. "I tripped up a few times when I first was married. I must confess to being surprised to see your Crests. There was no formal announcement of a betrothal or wedding. You both seem young too."
"This would be House business I would not like repeated." She looked at Sirius before nodding. "I understand certain Laws would require such, but they are a recognized mated pair under the ICW and the Werewolf Reform Commission. Their new status meant they could not wait for a normal betrothal period. This change in status was quite recent and pleasantly unexpected." Sirius raised an eyebrow at them, as though he was holding in a joke. Hermione tried not to flush. Yes, the last week had been very pleasant, but she didn't want to talk about it with strangers.
"I see. And you must be Harry Potter, Heir apparent to the House of Potter?"
"Yes, ma'am. We are both named heirs now, as well as to the House of Black," Harry told her.
Lady Greengrass' eyes widened some. "So, you are a bonded pair? Not many would submit themselves to that anymore. Too much risk should one of you die prematurely."
As they talked and completed the introduction, Hermione had a whiff of the smell that had bothered her as they walked up to the house. It was fresh and much stronger. It also rankled her. A growl formed without her noticing as she looked into a shadowy part of the greenhouse. The smell was not human, but it wasn't quiet wolf yet either. It was also very unpleasant, like it was diseased. She didn't like it at all.
An answering growl greeted her ears as she met a pair of dark eyes.
"Are you feeling well, Mrs. Potter," Lady Greengrass asked looking at her apprehensively.
Harry had grabbed her hand under the table and she was squeezing as hard as she could. "I think one of the people we agreed to meet is listening in," Remus said gently. "Hermione, please stop."
As Remus said it, she realized what she was doing. She squeezed Harry's hand as hard as she could as she forced her wolf down. Lady Greengrass turned to look towards the back of the greenhouse. The girl in the shadows was still growling. "Daphne, why are you hiding back there? Please stop that, these people have been invited into our house."
Daphne stepped forward between the hanging plants and into the sunlight that was filtering into the greenhouse. The girl's growl had dropped low enough that only those with the enhanced hearing of the wolf or dog could hear. "I do not like them in our house," Daphne told her mother, looking directly at Hermione.
Daphne looked a little worse for wear, her dark brown hair was mussed as though she had been grasping large portions and just pulling or kneading it in her hands. Her dark eyes looked sunken and as though she hadn't slept in days. The normal prim and haughty exterior she knew the girl to possess at school was ragged and tortured looking. She wore a dress that looked like she had slept in. Even in her haggard disarray she was still pretty.
Hermione had the urge to get up and challenge the pretty dark hair girl. The hard look she was getting from the girl didn't help. It helped even less when Daphne locked her eyes on Harry. Harry was hers, but she felt a danger to her pack. There was something that pulled on her bond to him.
"They are here as guests," Lady Greengrass said as though offended at her daughter's behavior.
"Lady Greengrass, your daughter has not gone through her first change yet. This is common behavior for our kind at this stage. Perhaps I should ask my wards to wait in a different room while we talk," Remus said. "A new wolf can be very irritable in the first month or two."
Harry was looking at Daphne with an equally hard look. He reacted faster than she could when a magical presence suddenly came towards them. It pushed on her magic and she felt her own rise in opposition. Harry was on his feet, his chair pushed over, looking at the door to the greenhouse. She felt him push his own magic out towards the other presence. It enveloped their Pack and she felt herself calm down. As she took stock of the situation, she realized her wand had come to her hand.
A man in finely cut black robes and a silver and black muggle like businessman clothes that would have fit into Victorian England had stopped inside the greenhouse door. His dark eyes, very much like Daphne's, had locked on Harry. There was a frown on his face as he eyed her husband. Daphne had pulled back a little, looking at Harry, not looking as certain in her challenge. Lady Greengrass, as though sensing the situation, spoke up.
"Mr. Potter, we have invited you into this house as a guest. Please put your wand away and stop trying to overpower the Lord of this manor," she said in a hard voice compared to her easy tone before.
Harry took in a breath and she felt him pull his projection back. She wasn't sure how he had done that, but she would need to learn. Looking at the shock on his face, she wasn't sure if he understood. "My apologies, Lady Greengrass. Lord Greengrass, I didn't mean to offend you."
"Mrs. Potter, if you please," Lady Greengrass said quietly but insistent. She put her wand back in her holster.
"Perhaps we should be escorted to another room and let you talk with our guardian and Lord Black," Harry said. He sounded strained. Daphne was still looking at him, but she didn't seem as large of a threat now.
Lord Greengrass was looking at them with some trepidation. "I apologize for being late. Did I miss something," he asked his wife, still looking towards them.
"Lord Greengrass, please excuse my wards. Mr. and Mrs. Potter have just gotten over a very emotional and exhausting experience for a werewolf and are not at their utmost best. Lycanthropes can be sensitive to magical projections. Lady Greengrass had just offered for them to sit in another room while we talk about what you owled me about," Remus said to the man. She felt Lord Greengrass pull back his power. Remus had stood and put a hand on Harry's shoulder to steady him.
"I think that best," Lady Greengrass said looking at her husband then her daughter. "I shall show you to a sitting room and be right back."
A few minutes later, they were in a sitting room. Lady Greengrass hadn't left them right away.
Harry had moved to a window to look out onto the grounds. She knew it was rude, but she felt he needed his space. There was something about Daphne that was rubbing her the wrong way and she didn't like how Lord Greengrass had entered projecting his power the way he had. He had wanted to dominate the conversation and Harry and her would not bow to a stranger that way.
"What is it like being a werewolf?" Lady Greengrass was looking at them. For the first time, she noticed Lady Greengrass had her wand ready in a wrist holster when her long sleeve shifted.
"What do you really want to know, Lady Greengrass," Harry asked. "Are you afraid your daughter will be the raging beast most think us as?"
The woman threw up a mask that locked emotion out. She could smell her unease and fear. It was subtle, as though on the whole she didn't fear them.
"Mr. Potter, if I thought you were that large of a threat, our guards would have killed you at the gate. I did my research on you and the others before my husband invited you here. I do not think you raging beasts, but after seeing your reaction at my table and some of the stories I have heard, I have a respect for what you could be," she told them. "I also know if you were a raging beast, that would have turned into a dual. A word of advice, it is usually not healthy to challenge a Lord in his own house."
"Lady Greengrass, he issued the challenge when he projected his power. I never meant to offend you, but I will protect my Pack and my mate." His voice was steady and firm.
"And my daughter," she asked. She didn't seem to like Harry's answer.
"Your daughter, Lady Greengrass, issued a challenge because we came into her territory. You invited us here, but she did not. Your husband's projection of power was a way to dominate the situation. We are Alphas and will not submit given such a challenge that could threaten our Pack. I will defend my own," Hermione answered.
She held the Matriarch's gaze. The Lady was protecting her own family. Hermione could understand in a way she never would have months ago. After a moment, Lady Greengrass nodded. "I will keep that in mind for the future, Mrs. Potter. Is it true that Daphne will need to move into your dorms?"
She moved to his side, looking at Lady Greengrass. "It is Lobo House. The House of the wolves," she told her. "The Governors have required us to live there. The Headmaster is adamant the Governors are right. None of them will be able to go back to Slytherin."
She could see what looked like relief? "So, the Prophet was right. There is a new House outside what the Founders established?"
"There is now, Lady Greengrass. The Governors, the Headmaster, some Professors, the students, the Wizengamot and Ministry have given us no other choice. Hogwarts granted us the right of our own house after we renounced our original houses. I do not think your daughter or the others would be required to do that. My Pack just couldn't support the farce anymore," Harry said in a bitter tone.
She watched Lady Greengrass. Her mask had fallen. Many emotions played across her face. She could smell the woman was worried. "Is it a proper dorm?"
Harry snorted. "It's not a doghouse, if that is what you mean. I'm sure your daughter can tell you all about those rumors."
By the look on her face, Hermione was sure Lady Greengrass had heard some things. "Lady Greengrass, it is a very nice place. The common area is big, roomy and with lots of tables to study at and places to relax by the fireplace or quietly in secluded alcoves. We each have our own room, with different rules than the other Houses."
She looked a little more at ease. "What kind of rules?"
Harry didn't say anything, instead crossing his arms across his chest. "Harry and I are the acting Prefects. Inside the dorm, the normal rules apply except on student relations if any of us have a mate. I have been Mrs. Potter for only about a week. Harry and I were allowed to share a room for months before then." She felt a slight flush on her face.
Lady Greengrass pursed her lips. "You have relations with all the others in your dorm?"
"No," Harry said harshly. "I have had relations only with my mate, Lady Greengrass. All boys in the dorm are kept out of a girl's room unless they are mates. That is a bond that a wolf is not to be kept from."
Lady Greengrass stood there, looking at them. After a few, she spoke in a gentle tone. "It hasn't been easy for you, has it?"
Harry balled his hands, staring out the window. She wrapped her arms around his waist. She didn't care that it wasn't proper. It was what he needed. She did too.
"It has not been easy. We will make it though." Hermione was determined.
"I knew your father, Mr. Potter. Lily and James were two years behind me. I grew up with James in the social circles we both were in. He was a troublemaker, but a good man. Very protective of his friends and Lily when she finally agreed to go out with him," Lady Greengrass said. She felt Harry's muscles pull taught. "You look much like him. I hope you can find a way to work with my daughter and the others. They will need your guidance. I can see your pack looks to you already and I have heard good things about you two."
Lady Greengrass nodded to them and then walked out of the room.
She moved in front of Harry when he pulled her in. Settling her back to his chest, he wrapped his strong arms around her waist. It was a comfort that finally ground her and let her think clearly. When had it happened that she felt safest when wrapped in his arms?
They didn't talk as they looked out the window. Harry buried his nose in her hair for a few before kissing the top of her head.
The soft steps of someone twitched at her ears in the hallway before she smelled the girl that had unsettled her earlier. Harry didn't move and she grabbed his arms, holding him close to her. A moment later, she heard someone lean against the door frame to the sitting room.
"I never thought I would have to share a dorm with a Gryffindor," the girl stated.
Harry put his nose into her hair again. "We are not Gryffindors anymore," she said with conviction.
There was a long pause. "I can never show my face in Slytherin again. Do you really have your own rooms?"
"We are people, not just raging beasts," she repeated a Skeeter line she had heard the girl use before. Her wolf was hard to suppress at the moment. "We have our own rooms."
"I heard my mother earlier. I don't need your help," she told them.
Harry stood up tall and shrugged. "Greengrass, that is up to you. We are Prefects and will do our duties. If that means you need us, we will be there. Make no mistake though, most of the other Lobos are my Pack. I will defend them if need be. "
"I have seen the way you defend them. I heard you broke Diggory's nose that time."
"He deserved it if that had happened," she spoke up. "Harry didn't break his nose, but Diggory broke his word."
She didn't sound so derisive this time. "I thought you did that because he looked at Granger the wrong way."
"That's Potter now," Harry told her. "I would not hit someone just because they looked at her the wrong way. I know Hermione is mine and don't feel threatened that way. Diggory promised to keep the Lobos in his house safe. That didn't happen when those seventh-year Slytherins caught Bonnie and Jason alone."
"The beasts started it," Daphne said in a hard tone.
Harry let out a long breath. She wanted to rant at the girl, but Harry pulled her in tighter, talking before she could. "Greengrass, if you believe those rumors then I am sure you believe we have orgies under the full moon and eat virgins for fun. Are you ready to bend over the next moon?"
"Harry," she admonished him. It didn't matter that he had repeated words they had heard her say, her wolf was cheering at him or that it was probably his wolf speaking. "That is uncalled for."
The smell from Daphne had become scared. "Oh, Merlin, that was true?"
Harry shook his head. "Do you think Remus and Sirius would mind if we wait outside the front gate? I can't take this stupidity and bigotry."
"I am not stupid or a bigot, Potter," Daphne said angrily.
She pulled out of his arms and turned to face the girl. "You do a good job of pretending one. We have heard you, Daphne Greengrass. We heard you and your friends when you didn't think we were listening. You will come to find that wolves have excellent hearing. If half those rumors were true do you think the Ministry, let alone the Headmaster or the Governors, would have allowed us to stay at the school?"
"All we want is to be left alone and allowed to live like normal people. Yes, like you now, we have this horrible thing in us, but I refuse to let it control me. I refuse to let it dominate what people see in me. I refuse to let our Pack be subjugated that way. If you dare to bring in those bigoted ideas or treat any of our pack poorly, I swear to Merlin you will regret it, Daphne Greengrass," Hermione threatened. It was the wolf protecting her Pack, but she gave into it. She would not be cowered or give into this bint or her parents.
Daphne had taken a step back, the pallor of her skin paling. The haggard mask she had been holding up shattered and she grabbed the door frame. The wolf retreated a little to see the girl look almost broken. "You feel it too? Like there is something else inside you?"
She suddenly remembered that first month before Harry turned. He had gone through massive mood swings like this and had made a similar comment. "We like to call it our wolf," Harry said, still not turning. "I try not to fear it. It is part of me now. Daphne, I can smell how scared you are. We don't need to be your enemy. Hermione and I know what you are going through."
"I'm so scared," she told them in a small voice. "All I want to do is attack anyone that I don't know. I actually bit a Healer when I was in St. Mungo's. The smell of the trolls we use make my hair stand on end. I don't want to be a blood crazed monster."
"Then don't," Harry said in an even tone finally turning to her. "Talk to Healer Andromeda Tonks. We think she is close to making a new potion to help us. Maybe she can help." Daphne looked at them as though it was a lifeline they had just tossed at her. "Daphne, we are not monsters. No one in my pack is. You don't have to be either."
The girl's eyes were bright with unshed tears before she stood tall. After a moment, she seemed to get control of herself again. Her face took on more of the mask, that still looked shattered in her unkept state. "We don't have to be enemies, but I won't be friends."
She nodded. Harry pulled her to him again. "We will help you if you want. I have warned you if you threaten our Pack."
-oOo-
January 4, 1995
Hogwarts, Scotland
Harry was jogging with Hermione next to him. Ron, Neville, Jason and Bonnie were just behind them. He looked over his shoulder to see the others spread out in two or three groups over a few hundred meters. The run around the quidditch pitch was almost getting too easy for them all.
"So," Ron huffed as he tried to keep up with them. They had slowly increased the pace over the months to make it harder. "Who are... the new... wolves?"
"Daphne Greengrass, Blaise Zabini and Tracey Davis," Harry said easily. He felt mildly warmed up. The run around the quidditch pitch was mild compared to the longer runs they did Tuesday and Thursdays.
"Uhg. How... are you going... to live with... Slytherins," Ron asked.
"We have an accord," Hermione told him as though they were walking.
Neville looked at her. "What does that... mean," he asked her.
"Why can't you carry us," Bonnie asked. She sounded only slightly winded. Jason and her had started the same routine they had, including the two special ones Hermione and him did. The others joined them three days a week. Hermione and him usually ran a much shorter circuit with Annabel a few days a week. Her schedule didn't really match theirs and she wasn't interested in the more rigorous ones they did.
Harry laughed at her before looking over his shoulder at Neville. "Neville, you need some weight training?"
"What," he asked before Bonnie jumped on his back.
"Merlin's balls," Neville cried out, stumbling and almost dumping them both to the ground. The rest of them laughed. They had done precious little laughing in the last month or two.
Neville righted himself and Bonnie laughed as he grabbed her legs and she wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her piggyback.
"You cheat," Jason said to her.
"Yep," she said without any remorse. "I run with them on Tuesday and Thursday morning too. Oh, your nice and warm, Neville."
"Wait, you… run more than… this," Ron asked. Harry laughed to see Neville's face turn red. Hermione hit him, but not too hard. They both knew Bonnie had developed a crush on their friend. Her thirteenth birthday was only a week or so away, making him a year and a half older, but that may not matter. Harry had never thought how odd it was that Neville and him had the same birthday until Parvati mentioned it the other day.
"We do, Ron. That is only a Lobo run though," she told him.
"You never answered… our question… about an… accord," Neville started to huff as he ran uphill with Bonnie on his back.
"We leave them alone. They leave us alone. If they need help, we help them," he said simply. He hoped Daphne would keep to the simple agreement. It was obvious she was going to be the lead of the group after meeting her that day.
"Even if they… are Slytherin," Ron asked him.
"They are Lobos now," Hermione told him. "We won't let another Lobo go it alone."
Harry smiled at his wife. They had agreed on this after meeting with Daphne and her family. "A wolf does not go alone unless cast out," she had said. Harry agreed. If Hermione could think that way after her obvious dislike of the girl, he could too.
As they came up into the courtyard, he smelt Pierre and a girl. Harry knew that scent, having smelt her on Pierre for months now. He smelt agitated. "Luna, I don't have a choice. The Commission finally approved my travel back to France and my parents are withdrawing me from Hogwarts on Friday," Harry heard him. Hermione shared a look.
A rather airy voice came back. "You know that is alright, Pierre. If it is meant to be, we will meet again."
Pierre let out a huff. Hermione nodded. This was a private conversation they weren't supposed to hear. He led them to the far side of the courtyard. Bonnie jumped off Neville's back, staying close to him as they started their workout. "Luna, I don't want to leave you. Will you come to France? You already speak excellent French."
"Pierre, mon ami, I can not. I am meant to be here," the girl said. Harry tried hard to tune them out when he heard them kiss.
"I will come back," he told her. Harry could smell them over their own bodies. There was an attraction there between them, but it was not that of mates. "I need to get to class soon."
"What if we meet in the Astronomy tower? You can usually see the thestrals flying over the forest at sunset," the girl said.
"Harry, how many are we doing today," Ron said blowing out air with each pushup.
"Forty," he said, already at forty. He was doing a hundred twice a day now. Hermione and the other Lobos powered through it. They were trying to keep pace with their Alpha, Bonnie and Jason often falling off around fifty or sixty, Hermione doing just as many as he was. Her muscles were wirier than his. Neville, he matched Harry's pace and count. Their friend had changed this year.
Harry finished and turned to do sit-ups. He was not prepared to see a set of sky blue eyes framed by blonde hair. The large orbs were looking at him upside down and cocked to the side. "Whoa," he said, not having heard or smelled her come up to him. Her smell was just as strong now as it had been when they came into the courtyard.
"Hello, Harry Potter," the girl said in her far-off voice.
"Ginny isn't with us, Luna," Ron told her.
"Oh, I am not looking for Ginevra. I am looking for Harry Potter."
Harry moved to a sitting position. "Ah, hi," he said to her. "Who are you?" What he found strange was how her eyes never strayed from his own. Most times when he met people this close up, they kept looking at his scar.
"Luna Lovegood. She's one of Ginny's friends," Ron said.
Hermione moved next to him and Luna regarded her. "Hello, Hermione Potter. I am not here to steal your wolf," she said with a wistful smile. "As fine of a specimen he is, he is too in love with you to do that."
Bonnie snorted. "I like her," she said with a smirk at Hermione who huffed.
"Did you want something," he asked her, unsure what was going on.
"Oh, yes. I would really like to find a crumpled-horn snorcack, but they do not live around here."
He looked at her with a raised brow. "Ah, sure." It sounded like a question.
"Luna, I think he wanted to know if you wanted something from him today," Ron said. "She can be a little barmy at times."
She looked at the redhead. Her voice was not as airy and definitely offended. "I am not barmy, Ronald. And, yes, I wanted to talk to Harry and his pack."
"All of us," Bonnie asked.
"You are part of our pack," Jason snarked.
"Shut it, you," she snapped back.
Luna gave a smile to them. "I see you found your family finally," she said quietly to him. Harry blinked and Hermione put a hand on his arm. Luna looked him straight in the eyes. "I know you were lonely for a long time. I know what lonely feels like."
Harry had a sense that the girl knew far more than she was supposed too. It was sort of like looking at Trelawney when she had gone into the Prophesy trance last year, but Luna was lucid and aware of what she was doing. "Thanks," he said.
Everyone around him had stopped. The last of the group had joined them and were on the ground or starting their exercises. "Pierre has been lonely too. I am afraid he thinks we are more than we are. I was hoping you could help me talk to him."
They were quiet for a few. "Luna, what did you want to talk to him about?" Hermione had asked gently.
"As you heard, he is going back to France. He would like to claim me as his mate. I know I am not. I also know I cannot leave England. It is my home and where I am needed," she told Hermione.
"Why us?"
She cocked her head to the side. "You are an Alpha, my two Potters. Pierre respects you."
He snorted, not being able to keep it in. "Luna, I don't know what Pierre has told you, but he has hardly spoken to us since October. I don't know he would listen to me."
She gave him an encouraging smile. "He respects you and your mate. Pierre wants what you two have. He is also incredibly shy and never wanted to bother you. Can you meet us in the Astronomy Tower at seven tonight?"
"Ah, sure," he told her.
-oOo-
January 9, 1995
Bliyhl House, Devonshire, England
Sirius was eating the stew as fast as he could. He had been under deep cover for the last week and had eaten only scraps and half meals as he chased his quarry. Peter had gone to ground months ago and nothing had been seen, heard or smelt of him since November. The man was good at hiding, but Sirius hadn't known he was that good. It was as though he had found a bunker that never required him to leave.
Thus, he was following Fenrir.
He had taken a swig of butterbeer when the people he needed to talk to finally showed in the dining room. Remus, Tonks, Dan and Alexandra came into the room. It was very late, close to midnight, when he had trooped into the entry way. "You look like something the dog dragged in," Tonks said in greeting.
"Ha," he said at her joke. "You look like you fell into a cotton candy machine."
She smiled and wagged her eyebrows at him. "I don't hear any complaints about the color of my hair from those that matter."
He gave Remus a smile. "Should I ask which hair?"
Remus gave him a sour look. "A gentleman never kisses and tells."
"I do, and I can tell you he kisses pretty good and he doesn't like hair in areas," she told him.
Dan made a face. "If you don't mind, I would like to hear this report. I need to get up early in the morning."
Alexandra just looked unimpressed. Sirius shrugged his shoulders. "It isn't good, I can tell you that. It took me two days to finally track some of his pack into the mountains about thirty miles south of Hogsmeade. Then another four to find where they were going. I was only just able to get a peak in a large series of caves. Almost got caught."
Remus pursed his lips. "That is awful close to the school and village. What did you see?"
"It was a large cave network with lots of sun lamps. Those aren't cheap. They were using them to grow plants. I recognized wolfsbane, tentaculars, mandrakes, wiggintrees and a dozen common flowers. Must have been a dozen or more plants I didn't recognize. It was a greenhouse that was outputting half as much as the Greengrasses," he told them before taking another spoonful.
He rubbed his eyes. He needed to sleep for a week. He finished chewing before speaking. "I've never seen so many werewolves in one spot and controlled by one Alpha. It didn't seem natural."
He missed the look Alexandra and Remus shared. "What do you mean?"
"I counted and smelled more than thirty werewolves. It was Fenrir's pack, Remus," he said looking at his friend. "It wasn't just werewolves either. They had guard trolls and hags."
"How many hags," Alexandra said suddenly.
He rubbed his eyes again. "I don't know. Four, maybe five."
"Sirius, this is very important. Was it four or five hags?" He looked at the tense Remus.
"I'm not sure. I was more interested in avoiding the dozen wolves with wands and the half dozen trolls," he told them, not understanding when Alexandra and Remus looked at each other. Dan's lips pursed.
"You don't think a coven has found the old ways," Remus asked Alexandra.
"It is a five or seven count, Remus. Seven is the most powerful but five is the most commanding," Alexandra said. She suddenly stood up and Sirius felt his body go on alert to smell the agitation in them. "I need a wolfscrit."
"A what," he asked.
"Remus, you two aren't making any sense," Tonks said.
Remus rubbed his face. They had not gone over this with the kids yet, but he may have to tomorrow. "Sirius, it is very important. Did you see or smell five hags? There are old links between us and the hags that could be very dangerous if a coven is active in the old ways."
"Remus, you aren't talking about the Hag's call, are you," Dan asked.
"Yes."
"Luv, you still aren't making sense to Sirius and I," Dora said concerned.
He looked at her before explaining to them of the links between Hags and Werewolves and what the Hag's call was. Dora pursed her lips and was quiet for a few before asking, "Do you think we should finally tell my Boss? We can't handle that many if it is what you say," she told Remus putting a hand on his arm.
Remus sighed. "I think we should," Dan said across from him. "Remus, I can't really provide any support. I don't have the ability to use a wand and I don't have my service piece anymore."
"Dan, you could get it back if you want to take up Bone's offer to be a liaison between the Ministry and the muggle government," Remus told him. Dan looked thoughtful. He had found work as a Security Guard at a local company after the WRC approved it. Remus could see the man wasn't totally please.
"I may have to talk to her," he told Remus.
"I don't trust the DMLE," Sirius said to them. He had a good reason not too.
"Then why do you let me in the house?" Tonks crossed her arms.
Sirius shrugged. "Not my house. Not my responsibility. Figured Remus could house train you."
"Oi," she said, her hair turning a dark pink. "I'll let you know I haven't wet the bed since last night."
Remus had been drinking some butterbeer out of a bottle and spat it out. Sirius laughed. Alexandra came back into the room. "Remus, we need to know if it's a coven. There is a potion that can be made from some of those ingredients that the coven's use to help control werewolves. Sirius, are you certain of how many hags were there?"
He rubbed the back of his neck. "No. As I said, there was a lot of security there. I only got to peek in for a few minutes before I thought a troll caught my scent."
"I vote we tell the DMLE," Remus said.
Alexandra glared at him. "I am not letting the Ministry get their hands on one of these. I will kill you myself, Remus, if you suggest it."
Tonks stood up, her wand in hand and pointing at Alexandra's chest. "Over my dead body," she said in a very dangerous tone.
Alexandra's eyes hardened and took on a golden sheen for a moment. "Unless you mean to use that, don't you ever point that wand at me again, girl," the elder wolf said in a low deadpan voice.
Remus gently pushed his mate's wand down. "Dora, Alexandra is one of my oldest friends, next to Sirius. Please know she would not do anything like that without good reason. Alexandra," he said with a harder tone. "You threaten my mate again and we will have words."
They glared at each other for a moment. Sirius saw Dan shift out of the corner of his eye. The man had a heavy crystal vase in his hand. Sirius had never really dealt with different packs before, but until now they had gotten along. "Remus, you will stand down before this gets out of hand," Dan warned.
Sirius slipped his own wand out under the table. Remus took in a deep breath. "I have no intentions of anyone outside of this room or our packs to know about the wolfscrits. Why you would even think that offends me, Alexandra. But I do think we need to inform Bones of what we have found, where they are and what that potion is and can do."
"My mother should know too. She has been working on modifying the wolfbane potion with what she had found in the Potters. Bones has agreed to release some stores of hagsbestian silver to her."
Alexandra sucked in a sharp breath. Her eyes had gone wide. "That is cursed silver that should never be used on a wolf."
"Harry and Hermione still have it in their systems," Remus said to her. "Are they in danger?"
The greying hair woman looked shocked and sat in the chair. "How are they still alive," she asked. "You know what silver does to us. That stuff is worse."
Sirius knew silver wasn't good for a wolf, but he didn't really know why. "Remus, what is she talking about," Tonks asked, sitting back down and putting her wand away.
"It blocks the infection that is lycanthrope. That means we lose any protection: spell resistance, faster healing, physical hardiness, strength. Hagbestian silver cleanses the infection in the area it penetrates. If in the blood stream it blocks the effects of the infection. It is a sure way to kill a wolf because the body will go into shock or suffer the trauma it has taken at the sudden loss of something so vital," she told them.
"If a coven is involved, and hagbestian silver is moving around, they are refreshing their numbers, maybe even expanding."
Remus frowned. "Dora, did you say that a muggle girl was missing after the attacks in Tettenhall."
"Two, actually," she said. "That isn't widespread knowledge. The Ministry isn't that interested in reporting on the muggles."
"Fools," Alexandra said. "Remus, you know as I do how they make hagbestian silver."
"The sacrifice of a virgin," Sirius said.
"The consummation and consumption of a virgin," she corrected him. "That cursed substance is made from the blood and spunk of virgins. If they are forced together, it makes a variant that can be used to control our kind. If made from the consummation of two in love, it can purify the foulness in the infection. Either way, the girl that is consummated will be taken by the coven. If her virgin sacrifice is used to make the substance, then she will become a hag. Do you know how a hag is made?"
"How," Dan asked when the room remained silent.
"The deflowered virgin is offered to the old gods. This is done in one of two ways. They kill one of their own, letting all her blood. It is purified of the silver they consume as part of their religion to make hagbestian silver. The girl is then forced to drink the purified blood so the dark soul of the now drained hag inhabits the body of the deflowered virgin. She is no longer pure. The second way is to offer her virgin blood and the spunk of the one that deflowered her to the old gods. They will consume the souls of both and give the girl the powers and appetite of the hag." She sounded disgusted.
"Oh, shite," Sirius said sitting back in his chair.
