A/N: 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 40
June 24, 1995
Blyihl House, Devonshire, England
Remus shot out of bed as the patronus ran into their room. "Burrow under attack," the voice of Arthur Weasley called out. Dora was out of bed and already getting her knickers on and pulling a shirt over her head without a bra.
She flicked her wand and a silvery wolf popped out. "The Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole. Under Attack!"
Her wolf took off. He had his pants on and hastily moved to his boots. It was less than a minute later they ran into the hall, Dora slipping into her Auror's cloak as she rushed down the hall. Sirius was out with the ICW tonight. Dan threw his door open, only his pants on and Harry and Hermione were already in the hall in boxers and a shirt over her knickers.
"What happened," Dan asked. Jane came up behind him in a light bed coat.
"Attack at the Burrow," Remus said. "Stay here. Protect the pack," he said to Harry.
Alexandra came out of her room at the end of the hall. "I am coming with you."
Remus didn't question her. "I will stay."
Remus called out. "Prim! Dobby!"
They both cracked to his side. "Sir," Prim asked. "Mr. Remus?" Dobby.
"Lock down Blyihl House and the grounds. Only our allies are allowed."
"Help," someone called from downstairs.
Bonnie bolted and Harry and Hermione were just behind. Remus saw them. Harry jumped over the railing before Remus could say anything. He ran with everyone else. Bonnie was at the bottom of the stairs and Hermione just behind her as Luna sat next to her father. Dora nodded at him and was out the door. Luna and her father both looked bloodied. Xeno was shaking and a pool of blood was already collecting below him.
"Dawn, get my bag on my chest," Alexandra order and rushed down the stairs. Remus followed. "Go help your mate. Take anyone back here that is hurt."
He nodded and walked out the door as Luna was grabbed by Bonnie and Luna started to cry. Running to the edge of the property, he turned and ended up on the edge of the Burrow's lawn. There was a huge explosion. He looked to see a gigantic red firework dragon diving towards the ground.
"Friend, not foe," he said aloud. It was the password that allowed him to pass all the wards Bill had been building on the Burrow over the last month. He heard the caterwauling charm screaming into the night. He was about to run off when Dora and four others apparated near him.
They nodded at each other. "Auror approval. Iota. Pax. Five."
As they approached the house, Arthur pointed towards a low hill and the orchard. "They went that way," he called as they knelt by a body. By the size of it, he knew it was Charlie.
Remus smelled two packs, blood and the disturbing smell of burnt flesh.
"Smith, Tonks, Heatherhoc," Auror Green pointed towards the orchard.
He ran towards the Weasleys. Dora could handle herself.
One of the twins ran out. "Ginny and George have been hit. Mum needs you. Bloody hell, what happened to Charlie!"
Remus took a rope length out of his pocket. "Arthur, take this. Alexandra is already taking care of the the Lovegoods."
They had a cloth at Charlie's neck. "Damned berk jumped me from behind," Charlie said angrily.
"It was Greyback," Bill said.
"Bill, go help your mother. How do I activate this," Arthur asked.
"Bill, will the wards allow them to portkey away?"
Bill held up his wand for a second. "It will allow them to leave."
Remus touched the rope. "It will go off in fifteen seconds."
Arthur nodded. He followed Bill into the house as the Aurors checked around the house. "Bill," Molly called. Fred rushed up the stairs before them. Molly was on the floor. Ginny looked pale with a cross bolt in her chest.
"I have stabilized her, but she needs to get to St. Mungo's," Molly said in a barely contained panic.
Ginny groaned. George was sitting on her bed, holding a cloth to his upper arm. Ron was just standing on the stairs, looking lost. He took out another length of rope. He had two more of the portkeys he had made specifically to get someone directly into Blyihl House.
"Here, Molly. You, Ginny and George. We'll get the others to Blyihl House soon," he told her.
She looked to Bill, who nodded. "It will be alright, Ginny," she told her daughter. A moment later, the three of them left.
Bill turned to his brother. "Collect all the emergency bags. Fred, I want you to take mum's clock. Five minutes in the sitting room," he barked at them.
Fred moved right away, crouching down and taking a small rucksack from under Ginny's bed. "Guess George can say he's all cut up over this," Fred said.
Ron cringed at his brother. "Ron, move," Bill snapped at him.
Ron started and ran up the stairs. "Remus, how many others," Bill asked.
"I don't know. We only got Arthur's patronus and Luna and Xeno had shown up as I was leaving. Xeno looked to be badly hurt."
"Bloody Hell," Bill said running his hand through his long hair. "How the hell did they get past the wards? Do you have another portkey," he asked.
Remus took one out of his pocket and touched it. "Ten minutes," he told Bill.
Bill took it and nodded. "Let me get these two away and then we can figure out what else is going on."
Remus nodded before sending a patronus off to Sirius and Dawn.
He walked outside and Dora was marching three wolves up in manacles. Green was looking at one of the two bodies on the ground. "We found these," Smith said tossing three white stones at him.
Remus caught them and looked at them. "What are they," he asked.
"Not sure, but they were at the edge of the field where these three were," he told Remus.
"Captain, permission to portkey these three to London," Dora asked.
"Heatherhoc, meet them there. I want a Reversal Squad here and the bodies gone soon. There were three other attacks," Green said walking towards him.
"You recognize these," Remus asked Green.
"No. They look Goblin made though. That is gobbledygook."
Remus frowned. "You mind if Bill looks at them before you take them?"
"That is fine. He's still under retainer of Black Squad anyways," Greene said looking around. "How many were hurt," Greene asked.
"Charlie was bitten, but none of them were turned. Ginny has a bolt in her chest," he said. "George looked to have just a cut. Who else was attacked?"
"The Lovegoods, Diggorys and Cresswells again," he said. "I don't know if there are other injuries or casualties. Can you tell which packs were here?"
"Greyback and another I recognize but don't know who the Alpha is."
Greene nodded and Remus handed the stones to the Auror Captain. Remus sniffed as he looked at the wolves around him. "Dora, how many are there," he asked.
"These three. Boss, how many bodies?"
"Two. Did Bill say how many?"
"He asked me how many." He sniffed again and looked towards the house and lifted his wand. He caught the movement almost too late. His wand flicked as a green light leapt from a lower roof. His spell went past the killing curse and he thought he had just breathed his last breath when Greene pushed him out of the way. The man fell limp next to him and the night was full of spell fire as a few more Killing curses came.
He shot off some stunning and cutting curses as he ran towards the house. Jumping, he made it to the first roof as chunks of the house started to rip off above him. "Hold your fire," Dora bellowed.
Remus took the opportunity to jump up. The woman was still focused towards the Aurors. He disarmed her and then put her in a body bind.
The wolf in him wanted to cut her to shreds. Greene was dead. He growled at her and her eyes looked daggers at him. Flicking his wand, he moved to her side. "Who sent you," he asked.
"Remus, Greene is down. Are you alright," Dora yelled up. The other Aurors and Bill were moving around.
The lady was able to move her head and spat at him. "Go to hell, bloody tit," she told him.
Remus forced his wolf down. He was not that man. "Who is your Alpha," he demanded.
She laughed. "I have no Alpha," she told him.
He understood. She was an unaffiliated wolf under the control of the Hags. Remus pulled a little closer. "If you tell me, it may be the difference between the Veil and a dementor's kiss."
She laughed. "Anything is better than my masters."
Remus understood.
-oOo-
June 25, 1995
Blyihl House, Devonshire, England
Harry was still pacing the length of the room. Ron was snoring on a couch while Fred and George talked with each other in a corner. Hermione was trying to read, but kept looking at Harry every time he passed her.
Annabel was curled up in a chair, her arm tracing patterns in the fabric while Jason looked out a window.
Bonnie was paying more attention to the blonde girl in her lap. Luna's head was bandaged and her right arm in a sling. She had wandered into the room towards dawn and sat next to her. Bonnie pulled her down and Luna just rested her head in her lap, not saying a word.
It was noticeably quiet.
Mr. Lovegood had been seriously hurt. It was unknown if he would make it or not. There had been no word on Ginny Weasley. Word had come in not too long ago that Mr. and Mrs. Diggory didn't make it and Cedric was at St. Mungo's.
A tired looked Sirius came into the room. "What is going on," Harry asked.
She smelt the stale blood on him and he looked dirty and tired. "It's not good, pup. Where is Theresa," he asked.
"With my mum," Hermione said.
Sirius nodded and looked around to see who was in the room. "Sirius, just tell us," Harry ordered.
"Let me take a seat," he said flopping down in his muddied blue ICW Auror robes. She looked at him as Luna hid her face in Bonnie's lap. Sirius scrubbed his face. "Seven houses and a jail were attacked last night. It looks like a mix of werewolves and Death-eaters. It looks like dumb coincidence they happened at the same time."
She furrowed her eyes. "We only heard of three," Hermione said.
"Which ones?"
Hermione rattled quickly, "The Weasley's, Diggory's, Lovegoods. Alexandra and Healer Tonks are still with Ginny and Mr. Lovegood."
Sirius blinked and seemed to notice Luna for the first time. "Are you alright," he asked Luna.
Luna just shook her head.
"Who else," Harry asked after a moment.
"Dirk Cresswell, of the Goblin Liaison office. He's dead, but his wife and kids are alright. Finnigan," he said and Hermione gasp, putting a hand to her mouth. Harry stopped pacing and turned towards Sirius.
"Seamus Finnigan," he asked.
Sirius looked at him. "Not sure their names. Some scrapes and bruises, but they got away."
Hermione slumped in her chair and Harry moved to her.
"You said seven," Annabel spoke up.
Sirius let out a deep sigh. "Harry, not sure if I should be sorry our not. All the Dursleys are dead. They also killed a muggle, Nash, I think it was."
Her Alpha suddenly smelt sad, angry and guilty.
"The last three were Death Eaters. Don't ask me what they did to them," Sirius said.
Hermione looked rather fierce as she said, "They were animals."
"I need to go for a walk," Harry said.
Hermione got up and hugged him. "I'm coming with you."
Harry nodded. They were about to walk out when Luna started to cry. Bonnie felt her just fall apart in her lap. "Luna," she asked, suddenly feeling panicked.
Luna curled into her and wrapped her good arm around her leg.
Annabel got up. The smell of distress came off Luna in pungent waves. Annabel knelt down and took Bonnie's hand. "Luna, what's wrong?"
She just shook her head. Bonnie tried to sooth her and calm her down for a few minutes before Alexandra walked into the room. One look told her that Luna's father hadn't made it and her blonde friend knew it.
Bonnie leaned over Luna as she cried. She swore she felt Luna's heart breaking.
-oOo-
London, England
Amelia sat across from the new Minister of Magic. They had thrust him into this spot thinking it was the only way to unite both of their factions. Last night had done some of that, but not in the way either of them wanted. They both had vested interests in the werewolves and seeing these attacks stopped.
The current Heads and Under-Heads were in the Ministers office and two squads of Aurors were outside the room.
"How did this happen again," Minister Greengrass looked to her.
"The beasts bought some stuff from the goblins that allowed them to break wards. Very illegal. Then they murdered..."
"Thank you, Rufus," she said, quieting the man. "I can see where you are going with this, Minister. The Goblins have already been contacted and they were legal sales under current treaties. Our laws have changed since the treaties were signed, so it is incumbent on the wizard to adhere to them."
They could not afford a rebellion on top of what else was going on.
"They ripped those people up," Scrimgeour said.
"Hem, hem," a particularly foul woman said. She had hoped to see the woman thrown out of the Ministry, but she still had enough connections to land as an Under-Head of Magical Records.
"Yes, Dolores," Anders asked.
"There is legislation on your desk that would make a Capital offense to help any creature outside the law," the pink clothed woman said.
"There is also legislation that would allow anyone to kill a lycanthrope or other creature for doing anything," the Minister said coolly. "We need options that will not bring the ICW down on us. We need to ensure those that survived last night get the care they need and we need to find the Merlin be damned sons of Morgana that are behind this."
"I have four funerals to attend," he started.
"Five," she interjected.
He snapped his head to her. "Xenopholius Lovegood died not long ago," she said. Two potential houses they needed to gain absolute majority next year were now gone. Cedric had been severely wounded, but should recover. He would not be able to replace his father as a possible Lower House for two years and the Lovegoods were lost now, unless Luna was to take a Line Continuance Contract.
A few around the room looked sad at the information. A few did not.
"Minister, I think you are missing the larger issue," a man in Unspeakable robes said.
"And what is that Croaker?"
"You have two departments that are now missing their Heads. An Auror force that has gained as many as they have lost over the last year and other items that Head Bones, you and I need to talk about," the indescribable man said. When the hoods were up, one could never tell.
Anders sighed. "Under-heads will fill in for now. Post the position internal and in the Prophet. I want candidates on my desk by next Friday."
"Hem, hem," the pink toad said again.
"Yes, Dolores?"
"It is traditional to promote a current Under-Head or other Senior Administrator," she said.
Bones hid her smile as Anders did what they hope he would. She would have to protect him and his family.
"That may be the tradition, but that is not how I will run things. I will put the best qualified person into each position or present them to the Wizengamot for a vote," he told her. "Are there any objections?"
No one spoke up out of the more than twenty people in the room.
"Bones and Croaker, stay. Scrimgeour and Croaker, I want a report of expenses and salaries in two days. The Wizengamot meets again Thursday and I would like to review both before it meets."
"Yes, Minister," Scrimgeour said. The man did not look happy with them. Amelia was starting to think she needed a new Head Auror. He was not letting go of what happened to his Nephew.
When they filed out and the door closed the Minister looked at her. "I am going to haunt you from my grave and yours," he told her angrily.
"You know this was the only way to truly protect your daughter and the others that have put their faith in the Ministry. Only three of the wolves that have submitted to the Registry have broken the laws. You also know what would happen if the ICW were to step in those doors with a Government Review team," she said back levelly.
Anders sat back in his chair. "I am a businessman, not a career politician."
Croaker chuckled and pushed his hood back. "I like this one."
The Minister cast the man a mean look before turning back to her. "What really happened last night? Is this related to the debacle over the last year that has seen my daughter turn into one of those beasts? I will a son-in-law next week who will be the future Lord Greengrass and Daphne isn't even sixteen!"
"What in Merlin is going on!"
She looked at Croaker. "You want to tell him or should I?"
Croaker spread his hands. "I think it best if Remus joined us. I looked at the locations. Three of them would be over nodes required for a new array. Blood was spilled at each."
"Fudder me," she exclaimed.
"What are you talking about," he said.
"The werewolves. Possibly Voldemort, but I think the two are separate issues for the moment," Croaker told Anders. "If I had to say, I would think the werewolves are the more pressing matter."
The man had lost color. "You really mean You-Know-Who has really returned," he said.
Amelia had been trying to nail him down to talk of this for two days now. She didn't blame him with what had been thrown at him, but somethings were more important than reviewing qualifications and budgets. She had had a feeling the man was going to clean up many things around the Ministry, but that could wait a bit.
"Yes. Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter were there that night. Their memories are quite reliable and the hags have found a way to turn a werewolf outside the moon. Cornelius would not listen to us when we tried to talk with him. I am hoping you are more of an open mind. There are other dangers that have been found in the last few months and having the entire Ministry working towards one goal will help."
An hour later, Croaker and her had explained all that had been found with the werewolves, their suspicions of Malfoy, Dumbledore and what little they knew about Voldemort. The man sat in his chair, a decanter of elven brandy before him and a glass that was half full in his hands.
"How many know all this?"
"All of it? About twelve people," she said.
"What do you mean 'about'?"
"I am not sure if Remus has told his Alpha, but the adults of the Potter and Granger packs, us, and two other Unspeakables. There is one more thing we must tell you about, but an oath must be made," Croaker told him.
"There can't be anything worse than decoupling the moon jynx from the werewolves, is there?"
"Yes," the man said.
Ander downed half his glass of brandy before taking out his wand. "I am Minister and you should tell me, but what is your damned oath?"
A few minutes later, he downed the last of the brandy and filled his cup half again before speaking. "Tell me you have a plan."
"We are working on it. Finding such powerful objects is not easy and it would be dangerous if he were to find out," Croaker said, not daring to say You-Know-Who's name.
Anders sighed. "Could one of you tell my Secretary I will need a sober-up potion?"
"You believe us then?" She looked at him.
Anders sighed again and leaned forward. "My eldest daughter is a werewolf. Harry Potter and his pack have helped to shield and protect her since going back to Hogwarts and has been trying to convince us since May that the darkest wizard in our lifetime is back. On top of that, you are telling me that all the werewolves..."
"Only those within about two hundred miles of the array center," Croaker interrupted.
She shook her head to see Anders pinch his nose. "And you know where the epicenter is? How many will be able to turn at will?"
"The epicenter is unknown. We need a few more points to get a good idea." The man sounded like an excited researcher.
"You do know those sites involve victims and horrendous crimes," she said rather angrily.
"Of course I do. If we could stop them, it wouldn't be a question. Until we do, I need all the data you can get me," Croaker said.
"Enough," the new Minister called out. "Croaker, get me anything you can as fast as you can. Amelia, you are going to tell me about your activities with Potter and Granger. It sounds as though you are doing things outside the Ministry you should not."
"I have never broken a rule or law," she said rather indignantly.
"Perhaps, but I bet you know most ways to skirt it," he responded.
Of course she did! She was the Head of the DMLE and after Granger, now Potter, had shown her up last year, she had worked to relearn all the loop holes and find new ones.
"Boss," an older Auror with a yellow band caught her as she was leaving the office.
"What is it, Olive," she asked.
"One of the wolves just talked," she said.
Amelia looked at her and they rushed off towards the DMLE.
-oOo-
June 27, 1995
Calderwood Castle, Scotland
An unturned werewolf was in the arena below. The woman looked around nervously, staying close to the wall. Goblins and other wolves were around the top of the walls. The goblins looked pleased at the coming blood sport. The werewolves were mixed. There were as many sadistically cheery faces as there were long.
The Hags wanted to make a statement and who was he to deny them their pleasure?
The one he wanted to see in the ring was on the opposite wall. The brutish, hairy man was looking intently down at the arena. The seventeen around him all looked ready for a fight and none to pleased to see the woman trying to scurry up the twenty-foot-high wall.
Over the ruckus, the clinking of huge chains could be heard. The woman started to scream for help and the goblins leaned over and forced her away from the walls with long halberds. She tried to grab one of them and received a cut on her hand that Malfoy suspected severed a few tendons as she screamed and started to bleed.
Lucius smiled. This is what the old arenas were like. Not the twisted way his old Master liked. Here, many partook and enjoyed it. His master was too secretive, usually wanting them gone before others could enjoy the methods. There were times he had been forced to stop his fun when Aurors showed or the bastard called him.
The large Horntail roared as it stepped into the dimming light of the evening. Sun stones in the wall illuminated the arena so everyone could see. The woman ran for some rocks.
"Is this the way you keep the beasts in control," a rotund man asked next to him.
"This is at the request of one of the covens. She stole something and the hags keep their own in control," Lucius told the man.
Carson Graves was the boss of a rather large ring of smugglers, both muggle and magical. He had worked with the man a few times. Carson chuckled as the woman was forced back into the center and the dragon charged her. Her wolf reflexes saw her jumping away and running.
"I thought you controlled the werewolves. Why would you allow the hags to do this," the man said smiling to see the woman get knocked down by the dragon's tail. She stumbled up before the thing could turn. Werewolves could take much damage.
"There is something to understand, Carson. Werewolves will work with you if you give them what they want. To control them, you need a middleman," he said sweeping his hand, indicating the covens that sat to his right. Five were present tonight.
Carson looked at the women and snarled. "I hate dealing with those things."
Lucius could understand that, but he was playing the long game. "Those hags are very useful. Useful enough that it is worth keeping them happy," he said.
The dragon roared in triumph as it pinned the woman under its foot before ripping her head and one of her shoulders and arms clean off with its mouth. There were cheer and jeers everywhere.
Carson smiled at the bloodshed. "I miss the old arenas."
"The ICW shut the last one down in Madrid about twenty years ago," he said.
"They did. I lost a great deal of galleons in that," the man said with a stiff upper lip.
"What if we could make it back," Lucius asked him.
The dragon finished its snack and roared angrily at the crowd before it lit the darkening sky.
"What are you proposing, Lucius," the man asked sitting back as a man was tossed over the side. This time he was given a sword. Lucius had a very brief smile on his face. "I think the Ministry is going to be short a few key people in magical games and there will be a need for entertainment."
Lucius noticed when Carson recognized Ludo Bagman. "You can't be serious," the man said shocked. "We can't bring the Ministry down on us like that."
The dragon roared its approval at the challenger.
"Do you know what happens when you upset the goblins?"
Carson rubbed his hands. "What filth aren't you working with?"
"I do what I must. The clan that is allowing me to rent this dragon bought the bounty of Bagman. They have bought the bounty of a few wizards from Gringotts."
Cheers were going around as Bagman attempted to fight the dragon. A few goblins looked upset when the man got a good hit that caused sparks against the dragon's scales.
"Bagman owed too much for me to save him, but I have a few new contacts that can look the other way as we setup a new arena outside of Harrogate. I even have a few in Magical transport that would allow for an untraceable international portkey port."
The man looked at him as Bagman cried out and the dragon roared. The glow of fire lit Carson's chubby face. "How much and what do you need from me?"
"You are excellent at obtaining beasts and entertainment," he said, meaning the downtrodden wizards and muggles that no one would miss. "You get a 12.5% cut for each event."
"And what about you? That seems low," the man sounded greedy and mistrusting.
"Trust me, you will make quiet a profit. The rest is mine. For operating expenses," he said. Lucius was figuring it could be a 40% profit or more, especially with the gambling. To make 27.5% each event would more than cover what he needed for his other plans.
"How often," the man asked.
"Once, maybe twice a month. Don't want to raise to many suspicions," he said.
"And what of your Master," Carson asked.
"I no longer work for the Dark Lord. I will have the appropriate security force, especially if it is held at the full moon."
He looked to hear Bagman scream again. He was crawling, blood smearing on the rocks from his missing leg. The dragon stomped over to the man and speared a claw through his back. There was a gurgling scream as blood came out his mouth.
"If you don't wish this deal, I am sure Gretchen wouldn't mind another snack," he said to watch the thing tear Bagman up.
Carson paled. He hadn't realized that the dozen gaurds he brought with him were at wand point or that Lucious had pulled his own wand from his cane. "I think those two men are some of your sons. How many do you have now?"
He watched as Carson licked his lips. "Four," he said.
Lucious nodded his head. "If you say yes, these two will stay here for the first two events. Just so I know I can trust you," he said in his calm voice he liked so much. The fear it so often elicited when his wand was out was excellent. "I also do not want you communicating with any of my old associates that may have been marked. Each time I do, one of your sons will die. On the third time, I will find someone to replace you. Are we understood?"
The chief of the clan looked to him, waiting to know if Gretchen needed to be returned yet.
Carson licked his lips again. "They will be safe?"
"As long as you stick to our agreement."
Carson nodded. "When is the first event?"
"August 10th."
"How many events do you want?"
"A dozen muggles, four or five witches or wizards. I have a dragon, but a graphorn or other exotic creature, would be nice," Lucius told him. "I expect gamblers from all over Europe."
The man nodded. "Let me know where they need to go."
"Excellent. My secretaries will get hold of you," he said.
Lucius waved his hand and his guards manhandles one of Carson's men to the wall and threw him in. Lucius felt like a little more sport tonight. The werewolves cheered.
This match was much more interesting when the man's wand was thrown in behind him. It was eight minutes before the surprise came. The man had been backed towards the cave. He thought he was winning the way the Horntail kept backing and then advancing.
What he didn't see was the two smaller forms that snuck out of the cave. They were not chained yet, unable to fly, but the little buggers had sharp teeth and a penchant for human flesh as large as their mother.
The man screamed as the first one jumped on his back, digging its claws into him and clamping onto his head with its smaller jaws. It wasn't big enough yet to kill him without chewing on him a few times. The screams were excruciating. Especially as he fell and the second tore into his stomach before he stopped moving. They were much sloppier eaters than their mother.
Carson didn't look to be enjoying himself anymore. "Horntails stick with their mother for a year or two. I have already bought one of the signets," he told him.
Carson licked his lips again. "First shipment will be in about two weeks."
"That is acceptable."
The mother Horntail roared into the night and shot out a spurt of fire.
