A/N: So, entering into what I am hoping is a very fun and active phase of year 4. A lot is going to happen. Events with the Potters and their pack, the Second Task and as requested, I will start to explain more of why the ICW is so powerful. Right now, thinking year 4 will end between CH30-35.
Chapter 23
February 4, 1995
Lobo House, Hogwarts, England
Daphne looked up as there was some soft laughter from the table on the far side of the room that had the Potter Pack. Harry was rubbing furiously at his hair while his mate smirked, turning back to her work. The other three were laughing at Harry. "Finite," the boy said aggravated. He grabbed a quill from his hair that was mangled and snapped in half. "That was my last good quill," he said angrily at Hermione.
"I warned you to stop making fun of Bonnie," she told him evenly, starting to write again.
He glared at her and then Bonnie, who stuck her tongue out. She had heard the soft whispers and Harry teasing her about Longbottom. "I know where you sleep," he warned his wife.
She shrugged. "I do too, what's your point?"
The others chuckled to see the disgruntled boy huff. His wand snapped to his hand and he tried to repair his quill. Problem was, once a quill broke, it was almost impossible to repair. They all watched him try for a few minutes before he got frustrated and cast a blue flame that consumed the quill in a flash. "That was wicked. Where did you learn to do that," Bonnie asked.
Daphne scrunched her brow. Seeing the quill go up in flames she realized he hadn't said anything and she wasn't sure if he had used his wand to cancel the transfiguration. Matter of fact, she didn't know you could cancel a transfiguration without transfiguring it back. How skilled were they for being muggle born or raised?
Daphne pursed her lips. Perhaps Granger had found those spells first and second year.
Harry huffed again. "The same person that transfigured my quill into a cockroach."
"I'll teach it to you later, Bonnie. Does grumpy boy want a new quill," Hermione asked innocently.
"Harry, she did warn you," Annabel said with a smile as she scratched away on her own paper.
"I didn't think she would actually do it," he said before sighing. "Bonnie, I wasn't trying to give you that hard of a time. Can I please have a new quill," he said turning to Hermione. She reached into a bag at her side and gave him a new one. Harry's eyes widened. "That is one of your nice eagle quills," he told her.
"That's why I know you won't break it and will stop pestering Bonnie. Besides, its Annabel you really need to watch out for. I saw you talking to your brother's friend Wayne. He was blushing a lot whenever you caught him looking at you," the brunette said. Annabell turned a nice shade of red.
Harry resolutely looked down at his paper. "I'm not taking that bait. Besides, I trust Annabel."
Bonnie scoffed. "And you don't trust me?"
"Nope," he said popping the p. The girl looked offended.
"Don't worry, Bonnie, I think it's that he doesn't trust Longbottom." The small boy Jason was looking at her with a mischievous smile.
"Neville is a perfect gentleman," Bonnie said in a high pitch voice.
Jason tried to keep a serious face and sounded solemn. "You're right, Harry, I trust Longbottom."
"Shut it you," she said threateningly. Jason smiled again and leaned back to keep from being hit.
She was brought back to her group when Blaise sneered at his paper and said quietly. "Will they be quiet? The under years would never bother you like that in Slytherin."
Daphne frowned to think on that. In Slytherin House, a display like they were witnessing would have only happened behind closed doors and with people that they trusted above all others. Slytherin House was held together by power, ambition, tradition and knowing your station. Most of the House was Pure or Old Blood. Those not in those circles were cast to the outskirts and had to connive and wheedle their way into any inner circle.
"I kind of like it," Tracey said to them. "I don't like being so stuffy all the time. I miss what it was like before coming to Hogwarts."
Daphne gave her longtime friend a sad smile. That felt like a lifetime ago now. A time before the responsibility of their future had started to press on them and before they became the beasts they were now. At fifteen, all three of them were starting to feel the pressure of their family to start looking for a future spouse. That was a prospect that was now cut off at its knees to know what they were.
After talking with Professor Lupin and the lady he had brought to them, she wasn't sure if finding a spouse would be good or bad. She saw the way the Potters were. If she were to find her mate, what would that mean for any betrothal or marriage? Would she even be able to enter into a betrothal if there was a potential mate for her out there?
More disturbing was that her younger sister would now be required to take a line continuation contract now that she would be ineligible. Well, not ineligible, but what self-respecting Pure or Old Blood would want her now? She was damaged goods. She was one of the worst beasts that people feared in their world. Daphne also loved Astoria and wanted her to have a husband that she would not have to share or be second fiddle to a first wife.
"I don't like it. There is a place and time for activities like that. There is also a place for people like that," he said angrily. Blaise was not pleased with his situation and was showing it. He hadn't talked like that before, but he was angry and it was the only way he had to vent. "And why are we doing homework on a Saturday night?"
"Blaise," she admonished him. He glared at her before casting his eyes down. The Potter pack may not have been exactly welcoming to them, but they hadn't been that bad either. She would have to admit they had not been open either. "We are in a different place now, with different rules. I am not going to upset the Potters until it is needed, and only if it is needed," she said in a low whisper.
Hermione hadn't been wrong. The wolf heard a lot. More than she ever knew possible. It had been a hard realization that they had probably heard almost everything they had said about them when Daphne thought she was being quiet and circumspect in the halls. Her Parents had told her not to upset Potter. They had business dealings together where Potter was the controlling partner. The fact that Professor Lupin had only started to talk to them about it now was a shock, but she had been ordered not to upset them.
If only her parents understood the beast in her and how hard it was some days not to challenge them. She kept her cool around the Potters, not always when they weren't around.
As loath as she was to admit, Daphne and her friends needed them. The clout of Potter had kept some of the nastier Slytherins off their back, and most feared to approach them when they sat with the Lobos at meals and left them alone in the halls. They had been offered to change their schedules to match the Potters, which they had not accepted yet. So far, the groups they associated with had treated them with respect and didn't bother them. She wondered how much the Potters were part of that.
Blaise looked back up at her. Since the change, she had found it so disorientating to realize she could smell his emotions and almost thoughts at times. It was not as strong from Tracey or the others. She also found it odd that she found herself looking at him and appreciating his muscular build. She had never had those feelings for him before and didn't want them now. He liked Tracey.
"I don't like having to rely on them. We should be in control of things, instead we are treated as some minor houses that need to conform to what people think of us," he told her. "Zabini is not an inconsequential House."
"Blaise, the Potters are higher than all of our houses in the Peerage," Tracey said matter of fact. "I also think our peerage rank or clout doesn't matter as much now that we are werewolves."
She frowned to look at her best mate. Tracey didn't look the same girl she had that night at the Weird Sister concert. She had lost weight, her hair wasn't as shiny, her eyes showed she wasn't sleeping well, and she noticed Tracey wasn't using her left hand as much. She knew a bit of damage had happened to her arm, but Daphne was suspecting it was more than had been said.
"He is a half-blood that has a mudblood wench. None of the others are of any house that is recognized, and I don't need his protection out in the school," Blaise said angrily, his voice rising.
"Blaise, that is enough," Daphne told him, putting a harsh demand in her voice and glaring at him harder. He held her glare, defiant for a moment before turning his head and growling. She was not going to do anything to rock the boat right now. It didn't matter that she still felt like challenging both the Potters, but they were in the Potters' territory right now and she knew that even with the training she and Blaise had, she had no illusion that the Potters and their Pack would wipe the floor with them. It still sent goose pimples up her arm to think of the raw power they both had projected at her house. "I will tell you this again. For now, the Potters are our best line of defense until we can figure out if we have any allies left. So far, you know as well as I, that Slytherin has cast us out. Most of the purebloods I used to talk with in Ravenclaw have done the same. We have only us for now. I do not plan to see either of you harmed," the thought of Blaise especially pulled at her heart.
"And what of you," Tracey asked.
"What of me," she asked her friend.
"Who is keeping you safe," she asked.
"I am," Blaise said with no hesitation. She looked at him for a moment. There was no questioning his words. Why was there a flutter in her gut? She didn't like Blaise that way.
Tracey looked less concerned now. "Daphne, should we take up Professor Lupin's offer to join Lobo House? Being a Slytherin is going to get us nowhere."
Daphne let out an internal sigh. Tracey was right, it did them no good. "We can talk to Professor Lupin tomorrow."
"I also think we should take up the same class schedule. Professor Snape hasn't been too kind to us and I would prefer Professor Lupin to Moody. That man is not right," Tracey spoke up again.
Blaise looked at her and she saw the same thing going through his placid face. For the long term, Tracey was right. Snape had been down right as nasty to them as he had any Gryffindor. She felt the only reason they hadn't lost points so far was because they still belonged to Slytherin. If they took the same schedule, they would be traveling with the Potter's to their classes and taking the same Professors. For the safety of Tracey and Blaise, she had to agree. She could see Blaise did not, but she felt his disagreement was more a principle thing than for a thought-out reason.
"We can talk to Professor Lupin about that too. If we are to become Lobos, mind as well be one for now," she told them.
Blaise frowned before nodding his head. "Potter is looking this way," he said in a low whisper.
She turned to see Hermione staring at them while Harry was leaning over Jason and talking about a transfiguration theory. She didn't miss that Harry cast eyes at them either between pauses. She had her mask up. They wouldn't see how much she was cursing herself and Blaise for being caught talking like this. Next time they would take one of the alcoves. She wished Slytherin house had had alcoves like that. Pull a curtain and silencing and non-smell charms blocked out all sound and scent to the common room.
After a moment, Hermione went back to her work and Harry stopped casting weary glances at them.
-oOo-
February 8, 1995
Hogwarts, Scotland
Harry opened the door and looked around before making sure Hermione entered the classroom first. It was already half-full with whom they recognized as prefects. Cedric was sitting on one side of the room and nodded to them. He put a hand to the small of Hermione's back and guided her that way as she looked around the room.
Walking over, he noticed Angelina holding Cedric's hand as she talked to a few other prefects, or those that used to be Prefects. Only about half the ones from Ravenclaw and Slytherin were here yet. "What's going on," he asked. Angelina had gotten up to hug Hermione. He hadn't realized they were that close until his former teammate said, "Thank you for that advice." He would have to ask Hermione about it later.
Cedric shrugged. "Not sure. We were all told to meet in here after dinner. How are you two doing?"
Harry took the seat next him and was surprised when Hermione came over and sat on his lap. She didn't usually do that in public. She smelt agitated and when he tried to catch her eye, she was just staring across the room. "Alright. We were supposed to meet some friends in the library before we were invited here."
"Yeah, Angie and I were supposed to go into Hogsmeade tonight for a dinner at the Three Broomsticks, but had to hang here instead," he told Harry. Harry couldn't wait until he was seventeen and could go into Hogsmeade whenever he liked.
"Glad to see things going so well between you two," Hermione said with a smile.
Angelina stopped talking to the girl next to her and turned to them. "Yeah. Never have thanked you for getting us together."
Harry raised an eyebrow, but neither of them seemed ready to say what influence they had had on it. "I'll tell you later," Hermione whispered into his ear. How many other secrets did his Wife have tonight?
"You ready for the task," Hermione asked.
Cedric gave her an easy smile. "Yeah." He didn't miss that he squeezed Angelina's hand hard. "Now that I know what is coming, it should be a little easier."
A few more students filed in and just after the bell stopped tolling the half-hour, Professor McGonagall and the other Head-of-Houses filed in. She looked around the room and nodded. "Where are Bulstrode, Irving and Reading?"
"Bulstrode was detained by Professor Snape when we were leaving the hall," a sixth-year Slytherin said.
Before she could ask about the other two, a seventh year Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff came in. "You're late. One more time and you will lose those badges," she said in a no-nonsense tone.
"Now, I would like to kick off this meeting of Hogwarts' Prefects. Mr. Diggory and Ms. Belledona, I expect you to take up the lead as is expected of Head Boy and Head Girl next week," she told them.
"Professor, I am not Head Boy anymore," Cedric said sitting up.
"I expect you to be after tonight." She took a parchment out of her hand as the room began to mutter. "Be quiet. The Governors voted today on a change to the Hogwarts Charter and Rules. Lobo House is now an official House of Hogwarts whenever a Lycanthrope is in attendance."
There was a stunned silence that she continued into. "Depending on how many are in attendance, it will have at least one recognized Prefect when four or more are in attendance. Potter and Potter, up here."
Hermione, who hadn't gotten off his lap, to stunned at the rapidity of this, stood up and he joined her. "Here," McGonagall said with a smile. "You are recognized as full prefects..."
"They are only fourth year," an angry voice said.
"You're going to make them prefect," a sixth-year Slytherin said standing up.
"Sit down, Ms. Wendell! This is the only warning. The Governors have confirmed the rights of all those capable of possessing a wand to have the rights to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. If you have a protest, you may leave it with myself or Headmaster Dumbledore and they will be presented to the Governors. If you wish to protest or insult those that are accepted into this hall, you will lose that badge and face what punishment befits your rule breaking."
"Next, the Potters were the eldest students in their House at the start of the year and have shown a great response to the responsibility asked of them. They are not recognized as full Prefects due to the number of students in the House. Go take a seat," she told them. This time, but to his disappointment, Hermione sat next to him.
"Lobo House is to have all the same privileges as all the other houses. If they possess enough students, they can field a Quidditch Team next year and will not be excluded from any future events that include all of Hogwarts." She gave a significant look towards Cedric. "Are the rest of you willing to take up the mantles bestowed to you at the beginning of the year?"
Cedric stood up, looking very much like a leader and Head Boy of the school. Belladona stood up behind him. "Will the punishments that were prescribed by the Headmaster at the start of the year be fully enforced?"
"They should have all along. For now on, all reports, detention recommendations or point deductions shall go through me, not your Head-of-House." Harry noticed that Snape looked rather sour at that announcement. The man deserved it. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a Hogwarts patch and a Head Boy badge. "Will you take this back?"
All the former prefects looked to him. "Yes, Deputy Headmistress."
She nodded and took a bag out of another pocket. "You can hand these out. Now, to our other business. From this point on, I will brook no Prefect or student treating any other House or student differently or in any manner that does not enforce the rules equally. I shall be reviewing all reports and point deductions before enacting them. This is the only verbal warning. Should I find there being any sign of discrimination, you will be given one written warning. After that, you will be stripped of your badge."
As the meeting was wrapping up, McGonagall asked them to stay a few minutes with Diggory and Angelina. Snape took the opportunity to leave, but the other Heads stayed. "You can remain seated," she told them. After a moment, she dropped her task master mask and looked at the four of them kindly.
"Let me start by saying, thank you for acting like a true Hogwarts student and for keeping your Houses in line," she looked to all of them. "These last few weeks have been some of the quietest I can remember."
"Professor, that really wasn't anything we did," Cedric started.
"Quiet. This is what I have been telling you," Angelina told him.
"You are quite right, Ms. Johnson," Professor Sprout spoke up. "Mr. Diggory, you have proven our decision right to make you Head Boy."
"And you, Ms. Johnson. I know it hasn't been easy keeping your fellow Gryffindors in line at times," Professor Vector said.
Angelina looked abashed. Not the usual state for the normally boisterous girl. "Thank you, Professor. It wasn't just me though."
"Perhaps not, but the two of you did a fine job of seeing it done. Thank you," Professor McGonagall said. "And as for you, Mr. and Mrs. Potter. You have done no less of a fine job with your lot. I most appreciate it that you decided not to take out your frustration on others and that you took in your latest additions so easily. Starting next week, I expect you both to take up the full responsibilities of being a prefect. Mr. Diggory and Ms. Belladona will walk you through all that, including patrols."
"Thank you, Professor," he said, feeling flustered at her praise. "Professor, I am not comfortable with Hermione patrolling with all the other Prefects."
"What about you," Hermione asked. "I have seen and heard a lot of people waiting for you to be alone."
"He will not be alone," Cedric said. "Deputy Headmistress, do I have permission to only pair them with a select few or together?"
She looked at them for a moment. "I do not usually agree with that, but in this situation, I find it best. I will defer to your judgement on the matter, Mr. Diggory."
"Thank you, ma'am."
-oOo-
February 9, 1995
Hogwarts, England
The weather had been particularly nasty the past week, so they had been inside. This morning Harry woke early to see a clear sky as it lightened outside. Well, lightened for a wolf. At six, he dragged a disgruntled Hermione out of bed. For some reason she didn't want to get up, even if it was their normal time. She was cute when disgruntled, even cuter with her wild hair framing her face and her orange half-kneazle clutched to her chest. They both looked at him like they would like to push him off the tower.
"Come on, luv. This is the first time in a week that we can go outside," he told her.
"Harry, I love you, but I really didn't want to get up," she said through a yawn. He tossed her his Lobo jumper he had been wearing for the last half hour. She eagerly grabbed his warmed-up jumper. Crookshanks let out an indignant mreow as she put him into the warm spot she vacated and put his jumper on.
"Your welcome," he said with a smirk as he got a new jumper on and reached for his winter jacket. There was a good two inches of snow on the grounds. Probably meaning it might be a little icy too.
Hermione stuck her tongue out at him. "It's mine now." She moved to her dresser in their room and took out a sports bra and some other clothes.
"I'm interested to see how you are going to put those on if you aren't going to take my jumper off."
She smiled at him. "Are you telling me you just want to see me undressed?"
"I won't say no, but I do want to go for a run." Thursday mornings was one of their long runs.
She smirked and playfully tugged on the hem of the jumper. "So, I shouldn't take this off to convince you to go back to bed? I hear there are other things you can do besides running." This was so unfair of her, especially to see her half-lidded eyes and the way she bit her lower lip.
Harry had to dig deep to resist her. "The others should be up by now and Dobby has coffee waiting for you," he told her a little gruffly, giving her a quick peck on the lips before walking towards the door. If he had kissed her than he wouldn't have left. He cracked it enough to let the smell waft into their room. He didn't like the stuff, but the brunette did.
She sniffed and a smile came across her face. "Ok, I guess I can forgive you today."
He chuckled, grabbed his trainers and quickly left the room. Bonnie was looking at him through narrow eyes. "Why are we going running today? We could have slept in until six-thirty."
He smiled at Bonnie. "I don't know about you, but I haven't been out of the castle in a few days. Give me your shoes so I can cast the non-slip charms on them," he told her.
Annabel looked at them. "Will you go running with me later?"
"Of course, Annabel," he told her. She was following Remus' workout schedule, but she wasn't to the level they were and didn't really want to be. Harry could respect that. She did like it though when they would go running with her.
His darling wife came out, went to the pot Dobby left out and didn't say a word to anyone until half her cup was gone. "I love that elf," she said with her eyes closed.
It was a little past six-thirty by the time they made it into the crisp air. It had rained for four days before turning to a mix and snow yesterday. It was a good thing he had found that non-slip charm as the grounds were icy and slick. They set off at an easy pace to run down towards Hagrid's Hut and then skirt the forest to the quidditch pitch.
It was so nice to be in the fresh air. The smell of other people was very light on the grounds. The smells of the Forest were that of animals and other creatures. It was a draw to him, but he didn't care to go in there again anytime soon. He hadn't really had a positive experience in the Forbidden Forest yet.
Running by Hagrid's, they waved and yelled 'hello'. Fang took off after them and he cast the same non-slip charm on his paws. He barked at them happily as he kept pace with them. After a few minutes Fang turned back.
A little past Hagrid's, the wind changed and they smelt the school. From this distance, it wasn't bad. They were staying as a group today. He didn't want anyone to get hurt and for them not to be close. Even with all the charms they had, he was still cautious. They were his Pack.
"Jason and Bonnie, you want to go flying this weekend? I can let you borrow my Firebolt," he told them. Remus had gotten Bonnie and Jason new Cleansweep Elevens when they had gotten tired of the school brooms. They had gotten permission from the Deputy Headmistress, who was loosening that restriction for those that were given an all clear from Madame Hooch.
"Of course. Do you even have to ask," Jason told him. Hermione looked over her shoulder as they came close to the Forbidden Forest behind the quidditch pitch when he saw something. It was a deeper shadow in the shadows under the trees move in a way that made the hair on the back of his neck stood on end.
"DOWN!" He yelled pushing Jason down and jumping over him. "PROTEGO MAXIMA!" He yelled it before his wand was in hand and finished as he firmly grasped it. It was the latest spell Remus had been teaching them in their Sunday morning sessions.
A solid looking bluish shield spread before them. It had gone up in time to deflect several crossbow bolts before a flurry of spells came towards them. "Forvectus," Hermione said firmly as he felt his shield failing. A thick stone wall a good four feet high sprung out of the ground before him. He dropped as she was already twirling her wand as bits shattered. She didn't say anything as she cast, a few spells hitting the wall.
"Get over here," he ordered to the others. Bonnie was looking at him wide-eyed and Jason was already scuttling next to him. "Bonnie," he forced a command into his voice and she moved. "I want you to cast sparks as high and as bright as you can. Expecto Patronum!"
His giant wolf came to life as Hermione slid down to him. She was still casting her wand at the wall as more spells and bolts hit it. "Tell Remus we are under attack behind the pitch." His massive wolf took off at a run faster than any of them could.
"That was a patronus" he heard someone yell.
"Just keep blasting them," someone else replied. Harry growled. He couldn't smell them because of the wind.
There was a reddish-purple light and a large section of the ground next to the wall blew up close to Bonnie. She screamed and moved in closer to them. He could see a scrape on her cheek. "Harry, what do we do," she asked in a panic.
"All of you just cast anything you can over the wall in a moment," he told them.
"Hermione, if I cast a shield, can you send some bombarda or something off," he asked her, knowing he had the stronger shield.
"You get me closer and I'll do what I can," she told him with determination. Neither of them would see their pack hurt.
"Right. One, two, PROTEGO MAXIMA!"
He whipped around the wall, a few spells hitting the wall before they focused on him. As they stopped, Bonnie started to fling stinging and other hexes over the wall. "Bombarda!," Hermione called out a few times, sending a half dozen blasting hexes into the trees before he pushed her back and dropped his shield. Some of those spells were powerful and he felt his shield weakening. There were a few screams as her spells had blasted trees and the ground.
"My arm! My Arm," someone yelled out.
"Where the bloody hell did they learn that," another said. He just barely heard it through the din, but the spell fire had lessened.
"Again," he commanded.
He whipped around the wall again, this time running a few meters from it. Hermione repeated the process. There was a small ditch not far away that had been made by a spell. He moved them to it before dropping them down and dropping his shield. "This is taking too long," someone yelled.
"We have to get the Potters," a new voice commanded. "They are separated. Focus on them."
Harry didn't wait. Flicking his wand in a circle over his head, he yelled out, "Flamcynthum!" A large ball of the blue bell flame shot out of his wand and lobbed to the edge of the woods. He willed it to spread as far as it could and the blue flames exploded out and made a wall of flames that instantly burned through the ice and snow and tried to light the wet kindle beneath.
"Merlin," someone cried out.
Hermione didn't wait, sending in a stream of spells. He cast a few more of the bluebell flames, some stunners and blasting hexes as fast as he could. Hermione was better at chaining them, but his were stronger.
"Aurors! Back to the Hole!"
"What about Crestwell and Daniels?"
"Kill them," someone said harshly. Harry felt the command in the voice. It wasn't an Alpha, but it sounded harder than a Beta.
"NO!" someone cried out before they heard the unmistakable gurgling of someone choking on their own blood. Harry's stomach roiled but he had to make sure his pack was good. He cast another shield. They let the flames burn uncontrolled as they made it back to the others. Jason was clutching his wand tight, looking around wild eyed as Bonnie held her wand arm. He was impressed when she cast an imobulous as them before realizing who it was.
A moment later, two Aurors were rushing to their side, followed closely by Remus and Dumbledore. "What happened," the first Auror said coming up to them, his wand ready to point towards the wood or them.
"Someone attacked us from the woods," Hermione told him. "Bonnie, where did it get you?"
The Aurors moved past them and Remus was soon at their side. Harry was scanning the woods, making sure nothing else was coming for them. He watched the Aurors start to put out his flames. "Are you all alright," he asked dropping behind Hermione's wall.
"Remus, they tried to kill us," Harry said at him. "I know we hurt a few. They killed at least one that was hurt."
Dumbledore had caught up to them by now. "What did you do, Mr. Potter?" The man was looking at him with a hard eye. "You killed a man?"
"If I did, they were trying to kill us first," Harry said angrily at Dumbledore. His magic swelled in protest. Dumbledore looked at him, his wand hand twitched a little.
"Albus, they have just been attacked and I think we should get them to the Hospital Wing," Remus said stepping between them.
Harry could smell blood. He knew it was more than just Bonnie bleeding. He turned to see a rip in Hermione's robes. "Hermione, your shoulder," he said moving towards her.
"It's impossible they would be attacked on the Grounds like this," Dumbledore said looking at the woods. He moved towards the Forest with his wand in his hand.
"Don't touch that," Remus snapped at Jason who had been reaching for one of the bolts. "We don't know if there is anything on it and that tip looks like silver."
Two more Aurors were now rushing towards them, followed by a huffing Professor McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey. "What is going on! Your patronus shows up in the middle of the Great Hall, saying your under attack! What in Merlin's name," McGonagall said pulling up to them and looking around.
The flames had been extinguished and Dumbledore and the Aurors were looking through the woods. A dozen trees and the forest floor showed signs of damage. Hermione's wall was half chipped away. There was a large hole of blasted dirt and stone to one side of the wall. Harry took it all in as he removed Hermione's robes and saw a long gash on her shoulder blade. Her shirt was already soaked through with blood. "Harry, can we take care of it later. It doesn't really hurt."
"Hermione, you have a large gash. Madame Pomfrey," Harry called to get her attention.
"What do we have here. Please move, Mr. Potter. Remus, can you look at Ms. Green and bandage her arm. Oh, dear," she said looking at Hermione. She lifted Hermione's shirt and Harry felt his stomach clench to see a ragged cut across her shoulder blade that was turning green around the wound. Hermione, having the fabric pulled off her, suddenly swayed on the spot.
"Hermione," he cried out and caught her before she fell over.
"Poison," Madame Pomfrey hissed before conjuring a hospital stretcher. "Minerva, Remus. She needs to get to the Hospital now. Potter, get the rest of your pack there now."
Dumbledore walked back up to them. "We need Mr. Potter for a few."
"Albus, you can have them later. You can help right now by making a portkey to the hospital wing. Potter here needs antidotes immediately and I need to make sure the rest are not cut."
The man looked pale for a moment before nodding. "Bed closest to your office. Portus," he said touching the stretcher. "Remus, you too."
Harry lay Hermione down on her stomach and looked at them for what to do. He hadn't used or known what a portkey was. "Grab a side of the stretcher," Dumbledore instructed. "One, two, three."
It was the an extremely unpleasant feeling as he felt a hook behind his navel and they spun for a few seconds before hitting the floor of the Hospital wing where he and Bonnie crashed to the floor on opposite sides of the bed. Madame Pomfrey took a second to steady herself before she started to cast. "Remus, cabinet to the left of my door. Blood Replenisher, the two anti-poison draughts, dittany and a sleeping draught."
He nodded and took off. Harry's heart was thudding in his chest as he stood up. He looked to see Hermione turning pale. "Hermione, no."
"Mr. Potter, get Ms. Green and Mr. Whitman into those beds. Are you hurt," she asked casting something over Hermione's gash and black stuff started to ooze in the gash.
"Here, Poppy," Remus said.
"Remus, check them over. Mr. Potter, if you aren't going to move you are going to help save your wife," she told him siphoning off the black ooze into an empty jar he hadn't noticed before. Hermione was panting and starting to sweat. "When I get this out, you are to drop that Dittany onto this."
"Which is dittany," he asked trying to keep his panic down. He could feel the pain and the fact she seemed to be slipping away. He reached out his magic to help take the pain away and gasped. She started to breathe a little easier.
The black ooze was starting to look like fresh blood. "The purple bottle. Now, Potter while I get the potions into her."
Harry did as told, shakily putting drops onto her gash. She gasped and twitched as the wound bubbled and fizzed like hydrogen peroxide. "Hold her down." The Matron held a vile in her hand and then twitched her wand. The potion disappeared. Hermione started to cry out and move. "Hold her down," she demanded. Harry got on the bed and held Hermione down with a hand on each arm and straddled her back.
"Stay with me," he said desperately as she started to foam at the mouth. Another potion disappeared and she slowly calmed until she was limp below him. Her breathing was shallow and she looked so pale he felt his heart catch in his throat. What was he going to do if she died? The panic in him was driving all adrenaline or other thoughts out of his head. He poured more of his magic into her, boosting her and trying to feel what she needed. After a moment, the Matron gently pushed his arm. "You can sit by her side now, Mr. Potter," she told him sounding tired.
He took a ragged breath. He could feel she wasn't fighting against the poison anymore, but she was weak. "Is she alright," he asked with tears on his voice. He sat in the chair and took her hand in his.
"She will be. She just needs rest," the Matron reassured him. "Remus, did you find any more cuts like this."
"No, but Bonnie has a few scrapes and a rock chip in her arm. I have stopped the bleeding. Jason just seems a bit shell shocked." Remus looked worried and scared. They all did.
"And you, Potter," she asked.
He felt some bruises and such. "I don't think so," he told her, still too shocked to see Hermione on the bed. She had moved back to her shoulder and was healing it so that it didn't look so ragged and deep. After a moment, she pulled the blanket up to hide that Hermione had nothing on above the waist. He didn't remember that happening. "I can't do much more right now. Her magic is too low. Let me look at Ms. Green."
Harry looked at her and nodded.
-oOo-
Hogwarts' Grounds, Scotland
Amelia had been escorted by the Headmaster to the sight. Looking around, she was surprised that the children were still alive. There were craters, gouges and a rock wall that had been half chipped away. Dozens of crossbow bolts scattered the field. The edge of the Forest didn't look much better. There were trees half charred, some of them with large chunks missing or holes clean through trees six feet in diameter.
"What in Merlin happened here," she asked as six Aurors moved around the site. Shacklebolt had joined them.
"A group ambushed the Potters and their pack. I don't know how they survived. We found three dead in the woods and signs of six others. Two of them had their throats cut with silver knives," he told them.
"How did they get on the grounds? That shouldn't be possible," Dumbledore said looking at the woods, not really paying them attention.
"That is an important point. You are sure the Potters are safe right now? How many were hurt," she asked. She had rushed up here as fast as she could after having arrived in the office and hearing the news first thing.
"Mrs. Potter is recovering from silver, nightshade essence and death-cap draught," Dumbledore said next to them. "A very effective mixture against a werewolf. The crossbow bolts are coated in the potions."
She took in a deep breath. That was one of the best combinations she knew of. "Will she recover fully?"
"Madam Pomfrey assures me she will be well in two or three days. Bonnie Green and Harry where hit with shrapnel from Mrs. Potter's excellent wall and the blasts around us." His voice was calm and he looked too serene at what should have been a death trap for four children under the age of sixteen.
"Have you identified who was killed," she asked him.
"Two are werewolves. We don't have them on any list, but they match two men that went missing about a year back in muggle towns down south," Shacklebolt told them. "The last is a woman I don't recognize. She died from splinters from the trees."
Looking around again, she still couldn't understand how four underage wizards were able to fend off nine adults. Some were definitely trained magic wielders. "Did the muggle werewolves use the crossbows?"
"Looks that way. We found three crossbows. The woman was definitely a witch. Her wand was still in her hand where she fell," Shacklebolt said. Was this why the packs had been so quiet since December? They were after the Potters? "Have there been other attacks?"
Shacklebolt shook his head. "Not sure. We haven't gotten any other calls up here."
"Albus, how did they survive?"
She saw him pop something into his mouth. "Lemon drop," the man offered. She held up a hand. Amelia had no desire for a sweet at the moment. "You should ask Remus. As their Professor, he has been advancing his students faster than I would normally approve, but it appears to have paid off here." He turned to look at the scene.
"Captain, have you been able to get statements from any of the children yet?" It was time for her to stop gawking at the scene and get to work.
"The matron said they need rest and we can talk to whomever is ready after lunch," Shacklebolt said.
"Is that really necessary, Amelia. They went through a rather traumatic experience and should be allowed to heal," Dumbledore said.
She looked at the man, her disdain and anger at him coming back to the forefront and she had to tamp it down. She needed just a little more concrete evidence to finally bring him in. Maybe after the case next month with Lord Black would finally give her the proof she needed. "Yes. It is quite necessary, Albus. Getting all the witness statements is the law, Chief Warlock."
Albus' serene composure didn't faulter as he looked at her with his piercing blue eyes. "You are correct. I didn't mean to suggest otherwise. If you would, when you are done inform me. I would like to see if Pomona or Hagrid can do anything to save those trees. If not, they will need to be removed." With that, the man turned on his heels and walked back towards the school. She waited until he was clear past the pitch before motioning to Shacklebolt.
"Tell me the real story," she ordered her Auror.
Shacklebolt looked around to make sure they were alone. "I have no clue how Potter saved them. I was able to talk to them, but Potter was still distraught over his wife and not able to give me a coherent story. Ms. Green and Mr. Whitman were able too. Potter warned them somehow and threw up a shield. We aren't sure if Mrs. Potter was hit in the initial fray or when they attacked their attacker. It was a trap that someone sprung too early. If they had run another fifty feet they would have been stuck to the ground with a sticking charm and a sleeping ward over it. It would have been cold blooded murder, Bones."
"Does the Headmaster know," she asked.
"I don't think so. He was more interested in the Forest and whether they had killed the three men in there. One of the Potters killed that witch, but from the sounds of it, both of them were casting blasting hexes and other stuff. Bones, those were full strength spells from a fully matured core," he told her.
Looking around, she had already come to the same conclusion. "Could it be the lycanthrope infection?"
He shook his head. "I doubt it. Everything I know is that werewolves develop their magical core in the same way as anyone else. All I know is that "
She nodded. "I have a meeting with the other Heads of the DMLE at noon. Can you wait until about two to talk to them? I would like to lead the questioning. Post two Aurors outside the Hospital wing for the day."
"Sure, Boss," the man told her. "I'll send a message to Tonks. She's already outside the Hospital wing."
She nodded before taking another look around. The gouges, the blasted trees and the cross bolts did not look like a school yard duel as Dumbledore tried to tell her when he met her in McGonagall's Office. This had been a pitched battle that should have cost more lives than it did. The Potters and their pack were meant to die and they survived somehow.
