A/N: This chapter back tracks a little on the day Voldemort returns. It will be essential to the future story.
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 36
Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, England
May 6, 1995
Lucius stood at a ceiling high window in his study. The last few days had been some of the worst he could ever remember.
If he ever saw Karkaroff or Krum again, he would gut them and listen to them squeal like the pigs they were. They would suffer. Their families would suffer. He would gut them all. Heal them, and then gut them again. He would do it over and over again until their magic gave out and they could no longer heal.
He didn't care if they were just out of their womb or about ready for death to claim them. They would suffer. He would rip any child he needed out its mother's womb and make them all suffer. Any one even remotely related to the bastards would suffer.
"Lucius, the DMLE is moving in on Dumbledore. I am unsure if I will be able to avoid them," his only friend he could ever remember having said to him.
"I will gut them, Severus," he said to the man. "Even if Draco is returned alive, I will gut them."
"You aren't listening, Lucius," Severus said in an annoyed tone. "The Aurors found the supplies that Dumbledore had me prepare. Supplies are missing and those girls used some of them. If I am arrested, I will not be able to help you if the Dark Lord returns."
Lucius snarled and clutched his arm. He knew what that burning meant. It meant the Dark Lord was growing in power. He just didn't know if Draco being taken was part of this or not. He also needed to know where the last two horcruxes were.
Severus had been able to confirm that Dumbledore found one and destroyed it. That meant the prat Potter, Dumbledore and now him could account for five. A ring. A cup. A diadem. A diary. A necklace. He had been able to get from Regulus that there were seven total. They had another that was suspected to be gone based on Dumbledore's ramblings to his most trusted advisor. He just wished he knew what it was. Could six of them truly be gone? Without proof, he had to assume there where two more.
Lucius suspected he knew where one of them may be, but Potter had cut him off from retrieving it by denying Draco the Lordship of House Black.
Now, though, if he couldn't get Draco back in one piece, everything would be for naught. His family line would die and all he had done to save it from his insane former Master would be wasted.
"Are you listening," Severus said angrily.
"Yes, I am listening," he whirled on the man. He didn't even try to keep his own anger out of his voice. "I have heard you. If you go to the DMLE, that would be better. It would give you an excuse to not return right away and possibly get out from the thumb of Dumbledore."
Severus snarled. "The only reason I have not gone to Azkaban all these years is because of Dumbledore. If the Dark Lord returns, I won't put it past Bones to go around the Minister and round up everyone that is suspected. The wolfs can tell when someone is imperished when they do an act against their will."
Lucius snarled this time. Those damn mutts again. Potter was supposed to die last June. The boy was proving to be far luckier than he ever imagined. First surviving the attack that turned his bitch into a mutt. Then surviving the bitch and the wolves that were supposed to attack Hogsmeade.
He was not part of the attack on the boy and his mutts in February. If he had been, it would not have failed.
At every corner, Potter or his allies had denied him his desires this year. Including an army of beasts that would see him take control of the Wizarding, and possibly, Muggle underworld. Then he could look at more.
"What do you mean the beasts can tell," he asked the man.
"Potter knew something was wrong with the girls that attacked him. He ordered his elf to only stun them. The same smell was reported after Poppy changed the location of Harry's portkey."
Lucius stared at the man. The imperious curse was supposed to be impossible to detect. He had made parents cut up their own children and the Wizengamot couldn't determine if they had been controlled or not. It was also how he and Narcissa had escaped Azkaban. She wasn't a servant of the bastard, but she wasn't innocent either.
"That isn't possible," he almost whispered. He had agents in the Ministry and elsewhere that were still under his control. If the Ministry found out about this and used it, he may have to clear up some loose ends very quickly.
"It is. Lucius, Dumbledore thinks that it's the Dark Lord that took Draco and Potter. The DMLE can't locate him and I can only guess they are behind a fidelius since scrying does not work."
Lucius swallowed. Scrying was a very old magic that only worked between bonded pairs. "Did they try it on Pansy? I wasn't informed of this."
"The DMLE is not telling us much, from what Dumbledore's spies can find. If we are to save Draco, me going to Azkaban will not help," Snape told him.
Lucius stood there, looking at Severus.
"Dumbledore is a snake. He always finds ways to get out of the trouble he starts. What good would it do for you to remain here except raise suspicions that another known Death Eater has disappeared?"
Severus frowned. "There is something off about Dumbledore. Potter has some type of control over the man that is preventing him from acting. If I go back, I don't see that I won't be arrested."
Lucius didn't say anything as plots and reasons ran through his head. "Severus, I want you to go back. I have a spy that says he knows how Black escaped."
Severus looked murderous. "I will kill Black. Potter will be placed in pieces next to the man."
Severus wanted his old nemesis gone. The Potter brat was now on Severus' list because of saving Black and becoming a werewolf. Severus hated the things as much as he hated Black. How he held his cool around the beasts in their dealings the past year or more he had not figured yet.
"You will get your chance, Severus. Listen. You are an Animagus. It appears the Dementors cannot tell who you are if you turn into your animal and they never attack animals. You can escape if you do go there," Lucius told him.
Severus looked at him. "How do you know this?"
Lucius walked over to the mantle of his large fireplace. He took a cover off a glass jar. "Let's say you and Black are not the only unregistered Animagus and this one had been snooping around."
Severus moved over to the jar. "Who?"
"That Skeeter bitch that has been writing bad things about my son all year. My first two sessions with her have proven quite fruitful," he said with a half-smile.
Severus stared at the jar for a few. "How do we know her information is accurate?"
Lucius' smile broadened. "She knows the consequences of being wrong. Don't beetles usually have six legs?"
Severus looked and smirked. "I only count five."
"Yes. You are correct. I would hate for it to become four." The water beetle backed away and tried to hide below some leaves. "Now, you must return. You can escape if you need."
Severus snarled. He took in a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. The Dark Lord was coming back. The pain in his arm had spiked. It was not the dull burn he remembered when the wanker had been fully alive, but it was close.
"It is getting closer," Severus said.
"Go."
Severus nodded and stalked out of his study. Lucius covered the jar and walked over to his desk. "Garret, lock down the House once Severus is gone. I only want Barty Crouch Jr. allowed into the house."
An elf moved out from behind a curtain. "Yes, Master." A moment later, the elf snapped his fingers.
Now, he was only to wait.
Lucius had sent for the man first thing this morning. He didn't want Barty to go back to the Dark Lord. Barty knew too many secrets of what he was doing and what he was capable of.
The fact the man hadn't arrived yet was starting to worry him.
Lucius waited in his study for a few hours. He refused to join Narcissa for dinner or to take one when the elf offered. Instead, he had stared at the bottle of scotch on his desk on and off. He could not be drunk if a confrontation occurred, but he so wanted the amber liquid.
He had taken to pacing as it grew dark out before he felt the wards around his house let the man in. A moment later, Barty walked into his office. The dark hair man in his mid-thirties looked half-crazed with his large eyes and crooked smile. There where blood splatters on his cloak and his hands looked stained with the stuff. "You are late."
Barty licked his lips before giving him a smile. "I was having some fun helping the hags. I lost track of the time. But Lucius, can you feel it? Lucius," the man said with joy. "Lucius. Our Master! The Dark Lord grows stronger. All our hard work over the last months make him grow stronger."
Lucius eyed the half-insane man as he licked his lips again. "Yes, Barty. He grows stronger. Will you return to his side if he calls us?"
The man licked his lips. "Of course. If the Dark Lord calls it is my duty to go to him."
Lucius sighed. He knew this was coming, but Barty Crouch Jr. had been an invaluable resource over the last year. It had been a lucky stroke that he had gone to Crouch's house that day to talk about politics. Barty Sr. wanted his old position back in the DMLE. He thought the tri-wizarding tournament the way to get there.
Lucius was supporting him. That was until Draco wound up in the Tournament. Last he had seen, Barty Sr. was looking worse for wear. He had lost almost all his supporters and the death of that half-veela bitch had the ICW breathing down his neck. The trial against Black was in two weeks. It was a good thing he had cut his ties with the man, but not before he found that Barty Jr. had been locked in the house. Finding the man had made all his early plans successful beyond his wildest dreams.
Now, Barty Jr. could be a liability.
"I see," Lucius said.
His wand was out of his pocket. Barty Jr. was known as an exceptional duelist, if a little sadistic. The man didn't disappoint. His wand was up and he deflected the cutting curse. Barty's mouth turned into a scowl.
"What is this," the man asked.
Lucius cast a few more cutting and other spells. Barty was quick and deflected them before Lucius was forced to cast his own shield. "The Dark Lord thinks it's better for dead men to remain dead. He doesn't want anyone knowing of his return," Lucius lied smoothly.
They both hissed as the tattoos on their arms burned. They were being summoned. He could tell the spot was almost a hundred miles away. That was the way it worked. The scar burned. You knew where to go. Using the Mark, one could apparate through just about any ward, including a Fidelius. That was how so many Houses fell in the first war. If just one of them could make it in, then they all could.
"You lie," the man spat throwing his sleeve up. "Our Master calls."
Lucius wouldn't let the man touch his Mark with a wand. He was not confident his own wards would keep the man here. He whipped his wand. Barty dove, just missing the bone dissolving curse.
Lucius pressed the attack savagely. His office started to explode as spells bounced off a retreating Barty on the floor. The man was good. Getting off spells between breaths or over flourished wand movements as Lucius tried to get the man.
Barty swung his wand wide. Nasty looking barbed ropes shot out low. He just managed to jump on a plush chair to miss them. They stripped the wood and cut through one of the legs with ease. He jumped to the couch across from him. It was the opening he had been waiting for. "Avada kedavra," he spat out.
Barty's eyes grew wide as the spell raced towards him. On the back hand, Barty managed to point his wand at him. More ropes shot out before the green light hit the man in the face and he slammed into the floor.
Lucius tried to block it as he landed on the couch, but the ropes struck across his mid-section. He felt them bite into his skin as they ripped through his robes like a knife in butter. The ropes disappeared as the man hit the floor.
Lucius fell onto the couch. He put a hand to his stomach and felt the sticky blood and large gash.
"Oh, bollocks," he said looking down. He was bleeding profusely and thought he saw some of his intestines. "Bollocks," he said before coughing. He tasted the blood that came up.
"Narcissa," he called out.
The door to the study burst open. "Garret just came to get me... Lucius!" She rushed over to him. "Oh, Merlin. Merlin! Lucius! You need a Healer. Garret!"
He grabbed the hem of her robes. "No. Get me to Zarra's."
Her eyes went wide. Zarra was a hedgewitch from Africa. She was known to treat those of the less than savory sort. She was the one people went to when it was dire and they couldn't go to St. Mungo's. It was also the only place that neutrality was observed in the Underworld. No one would dare betray him there. Not even to the Dark Lord. If they did, Zarra had some powerful backers that most feared. "He's back, Narcissa. Get me to Zarra."
-oOo-
Hogwarts, Scotland
Lobo House, Scotland
Hermione was laying on the large window cushion. Her head was in Annabel's lap as Annabel ran her hand through her hair. She had curled up with her Pack after coming back from Dumbledore's office.
She was supposed to be the Alpha's mate. She wasn't supposed to break down like this. It was her and Harry's job to take care of their Pack.
It was her Pack taking care of her right now.
Bonnie sat at her feet, a book in her hand but looking out the window onto the darkening grounds. The sun would set soon behind the grey clouds and it would be dark. There was a foreboding feeling about the setting sun.
Jason sat on the floor. He was twirling his wand.
She stared out the window. She needed Harry.
"Tonks and Sirius will find him," Bonnie said in a worried voice.
She moved to get up and Annabel held her hair down. "Hermione, just let us take care of you for once," Annabel said gently.
"I should take care of you," she said in a small voice.
"You and Harry do," Bonnie responded.
"You think Remus will teach me how to do the blasting hex," Jason asked.
"You should wait another year or two," Hermione told him. "It takes a stronger core than you have right now. I don't want you hurting yourself."
"But Remus started to teach Bonnie," he complained.
"I'm a year and a half older than you," Bonnie told him. "You don't turn twelve for another month."
Jason huffed. "I won't lose my Alpha," Jason said with emotion.
Hermione tried to stifle her sudden sob. She couldn't lose Harry.
Bonnie hit him off the back of his head. "Harry is coming back."
Annabel moved over her, as though trying to shield her, as she started to cry again. It felt like something had been ripped out of her. She felt him, but it was so weak, and he felt like he was in pain. Why she couldn't tell where he was eating at her.
"Harry will come back," Annabel told her. She heard the girls own tears on her voice.
It was a real pain in her gut to not have Harry around. She felt so weak for just breaking down like this. She should be stronger. She was an Alpha. Instead, she cried into Annabel's lap.
The fact she was forced to stay at Hogwarts while others were out looking made it worse. After her reaction towards the Headmaster this morning, it may be better for her not to be out there. She was not a beast but it took over in that instance.
She cried until it felt like she didn't have any more tears.
She must have fallen asleep because when she woke it was fully dark out and many of the lamps ahd been turned low or off in the Common Area. She moved uncomfortably. Something felt off. Annabel was still cradling her in her lap and Bonnie looked to be sleeping against the wall.
Jason stood near them. "Something is wrong," he told her.
She felt it. It was what had woken her. Something was happening with Harry. It was like there was another presence trying to latch onto her bond. She growled at the sensation and pushed herself up. She stumbled away from the window. Bonnie and Annabel woke.
Someone stirred on a couch nearby. "Potter, what's wrong," Daphne asked.
She looked at the girl and curled her lip up. Daphne looked a little apprehensive. "Hags," she got out before stumbling into a high back chair.
"Don't let her go," Bonnie said getting up. "Remus said we are to stay here."
Daphne stood and Blaise was quickly at her side. "Go get Tracey and Pansy," she told him. Blaise nodded and moved towards the stairs. "Potter, what can I do?"
She shook her head. She felt the push on Harry. Her pack moved to be with her. She tried to reach out to him. This was the strongest sensation she had from him in days. If her strength could keep those foul things away from him, she would give it all to him.
She focused on the bond. Feeling his pain. Feeling him struggling, then, suddenly, she could feel him. All of him. She cried out in relief, falling to her knees. "Hermione," Bonnie called out concerned.
"He's alive. I can feel him. Get Remus," she told them. "Help me get to Remus."
She felt weak. Extremely weak.
"Out of the way," Daphne said to her pack. "Keep that wand out, Green. Call your elf." She helped Hermione get up. "Annabel. Jason. Get your wands out."
She looked at Daphne. "Daphne. I feel him." Her voice was glad but so afraid. He didn't feel right.
"I get it, Hermione. Call your damned elves. Get your Pack to Professor Lupin." Daphne ordering her brought the wolf up. She glared at the girl. "Now is not the time to go all wolf on me. You protect my Pack. I protect yours."
After a moment, she nodded. Daphne was still supporting her as she called out, "Dobby."
A few seconds later Dobby appeared. "Mistress called," the elf said sulkily.
"Dobby, can you feel Harry? Can you get to him?"
Dobby looked at her for a moment before nodding. The elf looked relieved. "Dobby feel Master Harry."
She let out a happy, sobbing laugh. "Go get him and bring him back. If Malloy is with him, get him too."
Dobby dug his foot into floor. "Master Harry is too far away to bring back."
"Just get to him and take him to a safe place. Send back a message where you are." Dobby nodded and she leaned heavily into Daphne. She felt so weak. "Help me to Remus."
"Call your other elf," Daphne told her.
She shook her head, feeling very faint. "She is protecting my parents."
-oOo-
Blyihl House, Devonshire, England
Dan had his gun out on the table on a cloth. His P226 sidearm was in parts as he cleaned and oiled it. He was happy to have this again. He was a werewolf, but he felt so vulnerable when not in his changed form. He may be more resistance to spells and physical damage, but he didn't like relying on his hands alone to protect his family. The wizarding world was so much more wild and dangerous.
Jane came into the room. "Thought you might like a beer," she said holding a bottle to him.
He gave her a sad smile. "Theresa had a hard time going down tonight?"
His beautiful bride sighed as she sat down with her own beer. "I think she knows something is going on and she is reacting to us."
Dan frowned. He didn't like his elder daughter and her Pack at Hogwarts. His son was missing and they were in danger. He was sure Hermione was not in a good state. She was strong, but he doubted that he wouldn't go crazy looking for Jane if the same thing happened.
If he hadn't been sent home, he would still be out there. As it was, it was only years of training that kept him from going back into the Station.
He took a drink before starting to put his gun back together. "Jane, I would like you to get a Firearms Permit and learn to shoot. I know you don't like them, but I think we should be ready to protect our family."
Jane frowned. "Dan, I don't want to have one of those."
He looked at her. Since going back to Law Enforcement to work as a liaison for Bones and Scrimgeour for the Muggle Regional Offices around Devonshire and the surrounding counties he felt as though he could help protect those he loved. It had allowed him to be involved in the search for Harry as well. Prim had been indispensable at getting him around quickly to the local stations and HQ.
"I know, luv, but I really worry about you and Theresa when I am not here," he told her.
"What about Alexandra? She is here most of the day and she is a witch."
He finished putting the gun together and pulled back the barrel to make sure the action worked properly. "She is. I have no doubt she will protect you to the best of her ability, but what happens if more than two or three other wizards were to show? Or others of my kind. You having a gun, or at least knowing how to use mine, could be invaluable in a fight."
He put his gun down and hand on the table. She reached out her hand over his. "Dan, is it that bad? Tell me you have a lead?"
Looking at her, he went through what he could say to her. "There are no leads. No sightings of the man thought to be behind it. We don't have cars, credit cards or anything else we might be able to track or look for. All the others involved are accounted for. Bones told me to come home and sleep for the night."
She squeezed his hand. "Then let's go to bed. It's getting late and you look tired. It won't do you any good if you are too tired to look for him."
He sat back in his chair, taking her hand and bringing it to his mouth. "I don't know if I can. Our daughter and her Pack need their Alpha and we need our son back."
Jane's eyes watered. "Can we see Hermione tomorrow? She probably needs us."
He kissed the back of her hand again. "I'll ask Alexandra to get hold of Remus."
She nodded.
They both started as there was a sudden crash of something in the entry hall. He let her hand go and grabbed the clip and gun. A boy cried out as though in pain. "Help!" It was the voice of the other House elf that came to them.
"Where are we," a boy asked.
He put the clip in his gun and chambered a bullet as they rushed to the door. She was first and flung the door open. "Jane," he ordered grabbing her arm. He smelt the boy and saw the black mass of fur. "Get away from him."
"Potter needs help," a blond boy told him. The boy looks beaten, with blood and cuts all over him. He was holding his right leg, that was at an odd angle, and his muscles seemed to randomly spasm or cause his limbs to shake.
The black fury mass on the floor was breathing heavily.
Alexandra rushed to the top of the stairs. She took it all in before focusing on Harry. "Dear, Merlin. They did it. Prim!"
The elf stepped into the foyer from the other side. "Yes, Miss?"
"Get Andromeda Tonks here now. Dan, get that boy away from Harry," she ordered marching down the stairs. Dan was the Alpha, but this was Alexandra's expertise. He didn't question his Beta.
"No. Potter needs help," the boy said fiercely, raising his wand. "Who are you?"
"Put that wand down, boy, before I disarm you," Alexandra told him. "Get him out of here. Prim, go!"
Prim looked at the black werewolf before nodding and snapping away. "Dobby, tell Remus he is here."
Dobby snapped away.
"Jane, help me move him to the drawing room," he told his wife. "I am Mr. Granger and this is my wife," he told the boy. Some recognition lit in his eyes. They tried to help the boy stand. Moving him, the boy's eyes rolled back in his head and he passed out. Alexandra used her wand to levitate Harry and she moved him up the stairs.
-oOo-
Yaxley Keep, location unknown
Voldemort was seething. He was looking at the hole in the wall and the half mangled top to the old dueling and games pit. The power he had felt from the black beast was stronger than any of his Death Eaters around him. It was stronger than any two or three. It was not on par to his power, but he had dramatically underestimated who was probably his greatest enemy.
He had doubted himself that he had misinterpreted the prophesy after finding out what he had about Lucius. Now he knew he was wrong.
This night was to be a triumphant return. The last heir of his most despised fallen Death Eater was to be sacrificed to see Voldemort rise and to bring the only other threat he knew of that could bring his power down under his control.
Instead, Potter had shown that he was a force to be reckoned with and had undermined his authority.
To make matters worse, when he had gone to take his anger out on the Hags for failing, it had turned into a fight. He knew they had some of their servants here, but Karkaroff had not told him that two packs of the wretched creatures were with them. Fifteen unturned werewolves, two of them fully trained witches, several more with wands and most with knives or swords, had given him a fight he had not expected.
Bulstrode and Yaxley were to have gone after Potter and Malfoy. Yaxley had returned at the height of the fight to tell him they had escaped. No one had found Bulstrode yet.
Looking around, he counted twelve bodies of the beasts, three hags and two of his Death Eaters in the courtyard. Three more were hurt and were being seen too. Fifteen Death Eaters had shown tonight, besides the three already here. He was down at least two. Two others he knew to be out there did not show. Then there were the two fallen Death Eaters he would have to deal with. He knew Malfoy would never return. Rumors had circulated about Barty Crouch Junior. He had thought the man one of his largest supports. Crouch had spent many years in Azkaban with silent rumors he had escaped.
Then there was Snape. The man had been one of his most trusted associates and spy. He was putting faith in him that he was playing Dumbledore. Faith was not something he usually did and hated himself for it, but information from Snape had been invaluable in destroying many families last time.
"My Lord," a hand reached up towards him. He looked down to see Karkaroff. The man was bloodied and had a missing leg. The blood soaked into the gravel at their feet.
"You have failed me for the last time," Voldemort hissed. "Nagini. Kill." He hissed it out in parsletongue.
The man's eyes grew wide as the snake unfurled itself from his feet and moved to the man. Karkaroff screamed as his pet bit him before ripping into his throat. The man made a satisfying gurgling sound before Nagini struck again.
"My Lord," two men in masks said from his left. He turned to see Nott and MacNair carrying a hag between them. "The leader," Nott said.
She was a particularly ugly thing with auburn hair. It looked up at him with malevolent eyes. "The gods will see you dead," she said before spitting a brown slush onto his robes. Voldemort snarled at her.
"Your gods can't do anything to me, urmașii zeilor," he spat back. "Your deal was to deliver Harry Potter, as a wolf and under my control. What went wrong?"
She spat again, this time on the ground. "The gods rejected him."
Voldemort raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean rejected him?"
She met his gaze. "The gods rejected him. He is protected and claimed by another."
His lips curled up. Could the mudblood wench that foiled him the first time have foiled him again? Dumbledore was wrong about love. It was some other ancient magic the bitch had used. Love was never as strong as him.
He could not let his servants know there was a way to defy him though. He didn't trust some of them not to try to depose him given the chance. The hag looked at him for a moment before a wicked smile spread on her face.
She started to cackle. "You know. Don't you?"
He didn't hesitate to point his wand. "Avada Kedavra!"
She was still laughing as her body slumped.
"Are the rest of them dead," he asked his Death Eaters.
Nott bowed his head. "We are not sure if one escaped. Yaxley and Selwyn went outside the walls to look for Potter and Malfoy and they found Bulstrode." The man took out a wand.
Voldemort glared at the man. He was struggling to keep his rage down. He could not loose anymore of the idiots until he had replacements. Voldemort could do many things, but he couldn't be in all the places he needed to be at once.
Internally, he raged at loosing his servants. Four. Four Death Eaters dead by two underaged wizards that he was going to par broil alive when he caught them. Worse was that they knew he had returned. His original plans needed to change.
Many plans may need to change once he checked on his remaining horcruxes. "Nagini, come." He flicked his wand and floated the now heavy and distended snake over his head. He marched off towards the main hall. Yaxley would be kind enough to lend him his family home.
-oOo-
May 10, 1995
Blyihl House, Devonshire, England
Harry blinked a few times in the pale light that was filtering into whatever room he was in. It seemed like early morning light. He took in a deep breath and smelt many things. There was the smell of fresh linens. They had probably been hung outside with the smell of grass, flowers and trees on them. He smelled rather clean, which was a surprise. All he had smelled was stale piss on himself last he remembered.
More importantly was the smell of his pack. Bonnie, Jason, Annabel, Tonks and Remus were here. Their smells were not as strong as the ones that were in the room with him.
He could smell his godfather. The man smelled as though he hadn't had a shower in days. There were also the smells of Dawn Green. It seemed their smells were intermingled. He found that interesting until his wolf homed in on the most important person in his world.
"Herr..." he tried. His mouth was dry and soar as he tried to talk.
He couldn't see anything without his glasses, but he felt the warm body laying over the covers. Looking towards her, everything was just lumps if it was more than a foot or two from his face. It was one of the few times he wished he was his wolf. His wolf didn't need glasses. He could make the lump that must be his Hermione. He tried to lift an arm and found it trapped below the blankets. His wolf needed to touch her.
"Herr..." he croaked out again.
The Hermione lump shifted, as though asleep.
He tried to move and felt so weak. He didn't like it. He didn't like it at all. "Hermi..." he was able to get out this time.
The lump shifted again. "Harry," she whimpered in her sleep.
"Hermione," he finally managed to croak out.
She shifted again, this time rolling over. He looked towards her. She usually slept pressed into his side. Today, she was curled up more towards his feet. The fact she was on top of the covers concerned him, but he wasn't sure why.
"Sirius, what time is it," she asked blearily.
He heard a snore from his godfather in response.
"Hermio..." His mouth was so dry.
She shifted and looked up at him. "Harry? Harry," she said concerned and excited.
He tried to move and growled weakly at being stuck under the covers. She moved up to him, her face finally coming into focus. "Harry! Oh, Harry," she said with tears coming to her eyes. He didn't have to say anything as she took his face in his hands and gave him a very gentle kiss on his lips. "Alexandra wasn't sure if you would come out of that. Oh, thank Merlin. Sirius! Harry's awake! Sirius! Go get Alexandra!"
The man mumbled and then there were a few bangs. Harry could only assume he had fallen or knocked something over.
"What?" Sirius asked blearily.
Hermione moved off him. "Go get Alexandra! Oh, this is too slow. Prim," she called out.
"He's up," Sirius said sounding relieved. "Thank Merlin. Sure, I'll go get her."
He heard the pop of Prim. "Go get Alexandra," she ordered their elf.
Without a word, the elf was gone. Sirius stumbled over to the bed. "Pup, glad to see you awake." He sounded like he hadn't slept in days and as though he had been very worried.
A moment later, Prim popped in with a flustered Alexandra. "Damned Elf! I was only down the hall. You could have given me a moment to at least get a bed coat on."
"Alexandra, he's awake," Hermione cried out.
"I caught that. Move out of the way," the elder wolf ordered to his mate. She looked cranky for being woken. What concerned him was he was so week, his wolf didn't react to the command. Even now, he was starting to feel dizzy.
Hermione moved back. Alexandra moved towards him. She was in some bedclothes and her hair was in a plait. She started to run her wand over him. After a moment, Hermione's small voice came. "Is he alright?"
Alexandra didn't say anything as she gently pulled the duvet and sheets back. She touched something on his chest and he winced. "Alexandra," Hermione asked, sounding scared.
After a moment, Alexandra sat back, her body seemed to relax. "I think he will recover now. His magic is still incredibly low, there are signs of the poisons still and he has the broken ribs and leg. I won't be able to heal those magically until he recovers more. Maybe in a day or two. He will live, Hermione."
He heard Hermione give out a happy sob as she moved back to his side. With his arm free, he seeked for her hand and she grabbed it. "Hermi..." he said again.
"Prim, can you get some chipped ice from the cold box? He can start having some ice chips every few minutes. Maybe later today we can try some broth. I don't want to give him anymore pain relief for a bit."
"Yes, Miss Alexandra," Prim said before snapping away. Hermione sat on the bed next to him. Her eyes looked moist. She ran her free hand through his hair. "You scared me so much," she said before kissing his forehead. He squeezed her to let her know he was here. How bad was he? Last he remembered was tripping into the leaves in a forest. He had just escaped... where had he escaped from?
Scenes of a castle. A blonde boy looking beat half to death. An insane man that looked more snake than man... he started to fight to get up. Voldemort! He had seen Voldemort! The Hags! They had tried to claim him. "Voldemort," he got out as he struggled to get up.
"Keep him down," Alexandra ordered.
Hermione threw herself over him and he felt the pain in his side that must have the broken ribs. "Shhhhh," she said pulling up to his face so he could see into her eyes. "Shhhhh. We know. We know about V...Voldermort," she forced herself to say. "Shhhh. Harry, calm down. You are safe."
As she talked he saw the truth in her eyes and he stopped struggling. He looked into her deep brown eyes. He needed to talk. He needed to tell her. They had used a potion. He had turned outside the full moon. He had been with Draco.
"Shhhhh. Harry, it will be alright. Draco is safe. He is still at Blyihl House with us. Tracey and Pansy are too. We know Voldemort is back. Draco told us the coven tried to claim you and what happened. You are safe, my wolf. I'm not letting you go like that again," she said before leaning her forehead into his.
After a moment, he relaxed. The pain of her pressing into his side was starting to cause him to breathe heavily.
"Hermione, if you can shift, I think you are on his broken ribs," Alexandra said quietly.
"Oh, I didn't mean to. He just feels so soar all over," she said frightened. He reached for her hand again.
"I know you didn't, Hermione. Sirius, why don't you go tell the others he will be alright. I will help Hermione take care of him for a moment."
"Sure, Alexandra." Sirius reached over and put a hand on his shoulder. "You did good, pup. You did good. Now just get better."
He tried to smile at his godfather.
"Thank you, Prim," Hermione said. He had missed her coming back. "Harry, take a few of these."
He let Hermione feed him ice before he drifted off again.
When he woke, it was to angry voices. There was still light coming into the room, but it wasn't direct sunlight, meaning it was sometime in the afternoon.
"You know who his father is. We can't keep them here," he heard Sirius.
" Draco asked for a truce. Harry and I promised Draco, Pansy and Tracey they would be safe if they didn't harm to our pack. He saved Harry! They are not leaving," he heard his wife.
"He can't stay here."
"Sirius, Blyihl House is my house. Draco Malfoy may be the son of Lucius, but, if not for him, Harry would not have escaped. I agree with Hermione and Dan. He is innocent and we shall protect him if he wants," Remus said.
Sirius made an aggravated sound. "In two hours we're going to have Bones and the ICW in this house. You know they will want to talk with him. Harry too."
"Harry is too weak. No one but myself, Alexandra, and our Pack are allowed in this room," his wife said fiercely. "I will not allow him to go missing or get hurt again."
"Hermione, that is the last thing we want. But this is a Malfoy. The same Malfoys who wanted to send me through the veil and take my House. Lucius and my cousin are not innocent. We know Lucius killed many in the last war and he is still very involved in the underworld." Sirius wasn't backing down.
"Sirius, the Blacks are our House too. I know what happened. I was at your trial. Draco is different," Hermione said.
He wasn't sure he was hallucinating or not. Was Hermione defending Draco?
"Draco shouldn't be moved for another day or two," Alexandra said. "He is still recovering from the Cruciatus. If he had been exposed anymore, I think his mind would have started to addle."
"It's been four days. How long can that take," Sirius said disgruntled.
"Weeks with the amount of damage done to his nerves," Alexandra said with a growl. "I can tell you haven't been subjected to anything like that, but don't tell me you still don't see him twitch or spasm from time to time, Sirius Black."
His godfather made a disgruntled sound. "I don't want him here and I don't want everyone else here this evening. I won't have my godson in danger."
"I won't have my husband in danger, but Draco is staying." His Hermione was fierce when she needed to be.
"We don't have a better place to meet. We know the names that Draco gave us, but there is no telling who else might be out there. I think Harry and Draco escaping interrupted their plans because Bulstrode, Yaxley and Selwyn have not been seen for days, but Nott and MacNair are out in the open."
"Malfoy hasn't been seen for days either, Remus. How do you know that Draco isn't just some tracker hound that will lead them right to us?" Sirius argued.
"He is not," Hermione interjected. "I have seen the change, Sirius. I can smell it. He wants to protect Pansy and Tracey. You saw the memories too. That wasn't some made up fantasy that he went through."
"Remus, the sins of the father are not always the sins of the son. You of all people should know this," Remus said sagely.
Sirius was very disgruntled. "Fine. Fine. You win, alright! Malfoy and his girls can stay! I still don't understand why they were pulled out of Hogwarts too."
"Pansy is his wife. She should be by his side," Hermione defended. "Tracey may belong to Greengrass, but she is going to be Draco's wife also. She belongs here if she wants to be by his side."
"That's enough for now, princess. We all agree they should stay. Remus, Bones has asked me to report back to London. There is a meeting of her Departments and the other Liaisons. Hermione, do you mind if I ask Prim to take me," he heard Mr. Granger.
"As long as she agrees. Just be safe, dad."
"Always."
"Dan, it may be better for Amelia, Croaker and Green to come back with you. I am going to guide the Weasley's here by apparition and Le Brun and Captain Stacey will take a portkey from the Black Wand. I don't want anyone following us," Remus spoke.
"I want to be at the meeting," Hermione told them.
"I think it better for you to be with Harry, Hermione. I promise we will meet with just the Pack soon, but there are items you may be safer not knowing yet. Let us determine if this may work and what is known," Remus said as though it was not the first time he had said as such.
"I agree, Princess. You and Harry are Alphas, but this is more of an adult thing tonight."
There was a moment of silence. He could picture her staring them down. "Remus, I swear you do anything to hide something important from us or lie to Harry like you did, I will gut you myself."
"Hermione, I have sworn to never do that again. Do you doubt my word?"
She huffed. "No. I just can't see him hurt anymore."
"I know, Hermione. Believe me I would never intentionally do that again."
"What about Longbottom? I thought the old bat was attending," Sirius asked, still sounding disgruntled.
"I have added the Longbottoms and Lovegoods to the wards. Hermione has claimed them as Pack," Remus said. Sirius grunted.
"I should leave," her father.
"Go. We have this lot," Remus responded.
"I think I'm going to go too. Le Brun wants a report from what we found around the area Dobby rescued them from," Sirius spoke up.
"If you want, you can bring them back. I can tell Trisha not to expect them. She'll know how to dispose of the portkey."
"I would prefer that," Sirius.
Harry tried to get up to see them. He was still very weak and only managed to shift enough to see the open door to their room. With that, it sounded like they were moving away and Hermione came into the room. "Hermione," he said in a soft voice. His throat didn't hurt, but it didn't want to go any higher.
She shut the doors and came over to him. "I'm sorry for waking you." She kissed his forehead. He moved his hand to find hers. She held it tight. "Get a little more sleep. Alexandra wanted me to get you up in an hour to get some broth into you."
"I love you," he said in his now soft voice. It was a comfort to have her by his side. His mind had heard the conversation but didn't really comprehend it.
He saw a tear fall down her cheek. "I love you too." She gave him a peck on his cheek. He smiled and drifted back to sleep.