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 42
July 10, 1995
Blyihl House, Devonshire, England
Hermione was keeping pace with Harry, who was running slower today than normal. He was trying to make sure that the others with them didn't fall to far behind. They were inside the wards of fields and trees around Blyihl House, and should be safe, but they were not taking any chances.
He seemed to finally be fully recovered from the poisoning and potion that had nearly killed him.
Harry smelt healthy, and it was a smell she found extremely attractive. She knew she was starting to go into heat, but wasn't there yet. She had not had her period this month, the full moon was in two days, and about ten days later she was sure she would not be able to get enough of her raven hair boy.
Until then, she was following her Alpha. He wanted them all to work out and train. Something she agreed with and put her whole effort in. Their group they had spent much of the year working out with was staying with them.
Bonnie, Jason, Neville, Luna, Susan and Hannahh wear easily keeping pace. Annabel was getting there, not having done the heavy routine the rest of them had last year.
Ron had stopped in the spring after his falling out with Harry. They were on better terms, but the boy had not apologized and Harry was not forgiving him without one. He was puffing some, as were the other Weasleys. She had a feeling Ginny was only because she had been hurt about two weeks ago.
Diggory had moved in, but was not running with them. Angelina was here most days. Today was not one of her days though.
They were also going a little slower because of Theresa. Even with the slower pace, Harry was carrying her on his back. She usually made it halfway or more on the three-mile run. Her mum had told them not to push the eight-year-old, so they weren't.
Harry was pushing himself on the workouts he did outside of this group. He didn't like Luna was hurting, and by extension Bonnie and Neville. They could all smell how Bonnie felt. The attraction to her from the other two was apparent. Unlike Harry and her, they had time to decide what they might want to do. It was Annabel that they probably had to worry about first. She would be fifteen in a few months, so it was a good bet she might have her first heat by February.
Hermione loved Harry. She loved being Mrs. Potter and would never give him up, but somedays she wished they had the time to have their relationship at a slower pace. As she was approaching her heat this time, there was a feeling her wolf was trying to push her into having a child. She was not ready for that. Her sixteenth birthday wasn't until September, but she felt the yearning.
O.W.L's were this coming year, and she needed to concentrate on them. Not a child. Not yet.
Well, she would concentrate as much as she could between her pack, Harry, Voldemort and the other wolves. Remus had talked with them and it looked like a new array was being built. Indications were somewhere towards Manchester. It was a vague calculation that left hundreds of square miles of space to hide in.
The adults were telling them to concentrate on their OWL's though. She was going to try.
"I'm going to let you down, Terry," Harry said. He stopped and the others kept going.
"I'm tired," the girl said.
"You can make it. It's about a quarter mile left," he told her.
"Will you stay with me," she asked. George and Fred passed them. They were the last ones through.
"Yes. Come on," he said. She took his hand and he pushed her to a jog.
By the time they made it back to the patio, it was split into two groups. Neville was racing Bonnie for pushups. Luna, Susan, Hannah, and Ginny were with them. The others were on their backs.
"Will you go with Hermione," Harry asked, handing her off.
"Can I sit now," she asked.
"Stretch with me first," she told her adopted sister.
Theresa moped, but copied her. Harry went around, pulling everyone else up. Those that could keep going, he pushed to Neville. Those obviously done he pushed through their stretches.
When they were all done, she walked with Harry back to their room. Breakfast would be out soon and it was another hour-and-a-half before their lessons with Sirius and Remus.
Harry dropped and finished the workout when they got in the door. She fell in besides him and when done, pulled him into the shower. They had enough time for her to claim her wolf and wash.
It was a bit of a rushed breakfast with Susan, Hannah and the twins. Everyone else had eaten and then gotten ready.
She rose her eyebrow to see Fred talking with Susan. Their other redheaded friend was blushing at something. Hannah was chuckling while George was trying to slip something onto his brother's plate.
"I was wondering if you two would eat," George said to them.
"You try and slip anything onto my plate or in my cup I will spar you first," she told the redhead.
George looked offended. "Why would I do that," he asked innocently.
"Yes. Harry makes a cute canary though," Hannah said with a smirk.
"See, someone agrees with me," George said.
"I was spitting out feathers for an hour afterwards," Harry said, helping her into a chair before he sat. He had been very mindful of her like that lately.
Harry sat so he could see the Goblins. After they were done, all the wards would be reset and the house put under the fidelius again. She felt just as apprehensive as Harry to have all these others here, but the Goblins were known for their honor and would not say anything.
"Fred," Susan suddenly exclaimed and he laughed as something scurried up her arm. She screamed and grabbed for the thing. She wasn't fast enough as it scurried around her shoulder. Her hair turned a vibrant blue before it scurried over her other shoulder.
Most of them started to laugh as Fred backed away. It jumped off Susan to Hannah, who screamed. Susan reached out, grabbed it before it could crawl into Hannah's hair and smashed it against the table.
"Oi, that was our only prototype," George cried out.
Susan shuttered before punching Fred on the shoulder. "You bloody berk," she cried out and got up.
"Sue, I wasn't trying to upset you," Fred said getting up and rubbing his shoulder.
Hannah chuckled as he chased after her. "He'll be paying for that one for a while."
George laughed. "It was worth it though," he said moving to Susan's seat and touching the small spider like thing. He winced. "This does not look salvageable."
Harry was still chuckling. "Do you still need some galleons," he asked.
"Harry," she admonished him.
"What? That is bloody brilliant," he said. She knew he liked their antics.
"We could use an investor," George said. He cast a silent spell. The thing twitched and then spat back a puff of orange smoke. George blinked and Hannah and Harry laughed to see the now orange face of George.
"Not sure I like my returns looking at that," Harry said.
She smiled. He did so little laughing and joking lately. Maybe this was worth it.
Hannah gave George a cloth napkin. "Either way, it's brilliant. I like pink or lavender though."
George laughed. "I'll keep that in mind."
It felt more like friends the way they were talking. It was unmistakable that Fred liked Susan. Or that Susan felt the same. She could smell it. When Prim tried to take their plates, she gently said, "Prim, we can do this. If you want to clean up the serving table," she said gently.
"Yes, Mistress," the small elf said. Both of the elves kept trying to wait on Harry and her all the time. She wouldn't have that.
They finished eating, went to grab their books and then to the dining hall. During the day it was changed into a classroom. After sitting down, Ron sat next to Harry. He had done that a few times lately.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he looked at them. "Listen, I'm a berk, alright."
"No argument here," Harry said.
"Thank you for helping Ginny and letting us stay," he said.
Hermione blinked. Ron rarely thanked anyone and almost never without prompting. "We are allies. It is the proper thing to do," Harry told him. She could tell he still wasn't forgiving Ron. His pack was his family and Ron had crossed the line of offending them.
Ron sighed. "Yeah, Allies," he said.
She didn't want to get involved. Personally, she was still livid with Ron for his comments, not bothering to see if Harry was even still alive after his encounter with Voldemort and just his general quiet around them, but she knew Harry still missed Ron some days. It almost hurt to reach out to Ron, but if there was any chance of getting any type of relationship back for Harry, she had to try.
"Ron, if you apologize, we may be able to work something out," she said.
Ron looked at her and winced. "Yeah." He then sighed. "I didn't get it. I know what you are now, but I didn't realize how much your pack is your family or what an Alpha really is. Seeing you the last two weeks, I think I understand now. You're like Bill, the Head of your house."
"It's more than that," Harry told him.
"I'm sorry, alright. I didn't know! I didn't know what you went through or what happened with You-Know-Who. Bill only told me last night," he said.
"You could have asked," Harry responded in a cool tone.
Hermione understood. He may miss Ron somedays, but the boy had done things unforgivable to him. She was happy and sad at the same time.
"I know, but you looked ready to kill me half the time," Ron said.
"Ron, as I said, my pack is my family. I am their Alpha. If you want to show you are sorry, you can start treating them all like they are my family. As for us, I don't know if I will ever trust you again like I once did."
Ron's face dropped. "Yeah. Yeah. I understand," Ron told him.
They sat in silence for a few as others talked around them waiting for their teachers, who were now a few minutes late.
"After lunch, you want to go flying," Harry asked Ron.
Ron perked up. "Yeah."
Harry wasn't forgiving Ron. For that she was grateful, but Harry needed some time to blow off some steam too.
Remus came in ten minutes late. "Excuse me for being late. Now, I want everyone to open Timor's Primer on Advanced Defensive Spells," the man said, moving to the instructors table and opening his own copy. "We will be going over the theory behind the Protego spell and its variants before going to the practical. After lunch will be the sparring lessons before dueling practice for those that want it."
Not one of them would miss the sparring lessons. She was happy to use her hands as much as her wand.
-oOo-
London, England
He walked around the room, looking at the boards of strings, papers, photos, reports and dozens of other objects. Anders had seen this twice now, but each time, he marveled at what Amelia and the Unspeakables had been able to work out.
It was Amelia and Shacklebolt in here today. Scrimgeor was on a forced break after killing a werewolf in a raid. The woman was unarmed and unchanged. For now, Shacklebolt was Acting-Head Auror. Anders planned to sign off on the appointment permanently once the investigation concluded.
Scrimgeor was too good a person to lose though, so he had worked out an offer to transfer the man to the Unspeakables. Croaker could use an experienced man in the field and maybe going undercover would give the man what he needed. Anders did share Amelia's concerns.
"What is this," he asked walking to a new board.
Shackelbolt spoke up. "A new lead on Malfoy."
"Why isn't there anything in here on You-Know-Who?"
"That is in the next conference room. The people meeting us today are not involved in that investigation," she said.
"But they are involved in your secret society," he asked.
"I will not mix those two right now," she responded.
Anders nodded. He had asked to meet with the leaders, but had not been granted that yet. As Minister, he should not condone secret groups like this, but the more he learned about the true inner working of the Ministry, the more he supported it. Being a voting member of the Wizengamot was far different from being Minister.
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in," Amelia said.
He was studying the new board still. There were movements going on in the underworld he didn't like.
"Good Morning, Director and Minister," a man said. Anders had not met Le Brun yet, but he had heard good things about the man. Anders turned.
"Good Morning. It is Commander Le Brun," he said walking to the man and shaking hands.
"Yes, sir."
Sirius Black and the werewolf and Muggle Liaison Officer, Dan Granger, had walked in with the man. He had expected to see Remus Lupin. "Are we waiting on anyone," he asked.
Croaker stirred. "I think this is all that is here today."
Anders found it disconcerting that the man seemed to know more than either him or Amelia at times.
"Remus is unable to make it today, but you have representation from both our packs," Dan told him walking up and holding out a hand. "Daniel Granger, Minister Greengrass."
"A pleasure. I hope your daughter and son-in-law are doing well," he said, knowing everything that had happened.
"Yes. Harry is fully recovered now and his pack is recovering from last month," he said.
Anders looked at the man. "What happened last month," the man asked.
Dan looked to Amelia quickly before saying, "Some of the deaths on June twenty-eighth affected members of our group and Harry's pack."
"I am so sorry. I did not know. I have been to every funeral," the man said.
"I know. Thank you, Minister," the man said.
Anders nodded and turned to the room. He knew the proper protocol, but didn't want to sit. He had done that in more meetings than he ever had in the last few weeks and needed to move. Knowing most of the people in here, he didn't feel the need to be so stodgy.
"Amelia, what is the update?"
"Three raids with two of them successful. It seems we found some of the new groups the wolves are working with. They have a new leader that is trying to bring a few of the underworld Kingpins together. I am not just talking magical's either. Whoever is leading them is working with the muggles and we have found a few breaches, here and on the Continent," she said.
He turned to look at the new board. "That's what this is for? You suspect Lucius Malfoy? Isn't he one of You-Know-Who's? Last time the werewolves sided with him."
Croaker spoke up. "We have rumors he is on the run and that Lucius and his whole family have a bounty on their heads. The same rumors say the wolves are upset with You-Know-Who and would rather kill the man."
Anders turned and rose an eyebrow. "Is that possible to go against You-Know-Who that way?"
"We don't know, but our sources have said Malfoy is on the run."
That would mean the man was on the run from the Ministry and the insane Wanker. "What of all the attacks?"
"There is an eclipse in October. Last time it took them eight months to build the array. They have have less than six now I would approximate its only about forty percent done with just about four months to go," Croaker said.
"Where?"
"Somewhere north and west of Manchester."
Anders regarded the hooded figure. "Take off the damned hood. Where Croaker?"
The man pushed it back. "We are uncertain. It could be anywhere in a fifty by fifty mile area," he said. "We are trying to find it, but we just don't know."
"Would it help if I release Scrimgeour and four others to you today," he asked.
"Ten would be best," Croaker said.
"I have Scrimgeour and four others you can hand pick. Just leave Black Squad together."
Croaker nodded.
"The ICW can provide a squad, if you need," Le Brun spoke up.
"Done. If the ICW needs any funds for this, we will find them. You have your ten, Croaker. What else is needed to stop either the wolves or You-Know-Who? Preferably both."
"Minister, my Director has asked for a Liaison to be present or available to be present in Stockholm within an hour of notification. We have a team that is working of a similar case and is now thinking they may be related," Le Brun said.
Anders nodded. "Amelia, find three. I want someone to always be present, another available and the third off, but on call."
"Can you give me a few days? Do you want them to be DMLE employees?"
His head turned to her as he was walking. "Why would you not use a DMLE employee?"
"I have only one Werewolf in my employ and he is needed here. I would like to see if we can provide someone else on the registry. Having one of the wolves may be invaluable," she said.
A few nodded their heads. "I can see the appeal," he admitted. "If you have one or two that are trustworthy enough and willing to travel, I will sign off on the approval over the Travel Board."
She nodded and made some notes.
"I would like to find a way to plant some moles," Shacklebolt said.
There were a few frowns. "That could be dangerous," Sirius spoke up. "Are you thinking a wolf or someone else?"
"I was thinking if the Muggles are involved, that might be a good way to implant someone without the werewolves or their backers being aware," he said.
He looked to Amelia and then Le Brun.
"I like the idea. I will push it to my Director," Le Brun said.
"Let me talk with Black Squad and a few others," she said. "We don't usually work undercover like that but Black Squad could. I am not sure our Laws support it for any other Auror Squad."
"Look into it and we will meet again in three days. Are there other issues besides the werewolves and the crime families?"
"There is word the giants are moving and vampires are having a Coven meet in two weeks," Amelia said. "We don't think it related to the wolves. Pretty sure it is our other issue."
"Will this help to stop the werewolves? I don't want to go to another funeral or start panic about those following the Reform Law," he told him. He didn't want Daphne or others to be pulled into this. Protecting his daughter and his son-in-law were very important to him, especially since their family business was being left in the hands of his wife and partner right now. Both were very proficient in what they could do, but they didn't know the import and exports like he did, which made up more than 60% of their business.
"Like I said, I don't think the giants and vampires are related to this issue."
"What of the reports of the goblins," Le Brun asked.
They all turned to him. Amelia, Sirius and Dan didn't look surprised. Everyone else did.
"What about the Goblins," Anders asked.
"They are unsettled with the laws around the werewolves and other regulations passed in the last few years and there is a new caucus in the ICW pushing for changes that could affect them," the man said.
"Who is the new head of Goblin Relations," Ander asked.
"An under-Head by the name of Spencer. She's only been in there for about six years, but the Goblins trust her as much as they do any witch," Amelia said.
"I want a briefing on this by tomorrow morning, today preferably. We can't have a Goblin Rebellion on our hands at the same time."
He noticed Amelia smirk. "Sure, Boss," she said.
Croaker raised an eyebrow at her. Anders had a feeling this was not usual for her. He internally raged at her. He could tell he had been played again by her. He thought he had been an expert politician, but he was starting to realize the games Bones, Fudge and Dumbledore had been playing was at a true expert level. He was but a pawn still.
"You already have a report, don't you," he asked.
"I can send Under-Head Spencer up at your earliest convenience."
He eyed the woman before turning to the Unspeakable.
"Croaker, find me that damned array and shut it down," he said gruffly.
"Sure, Boss," the man said with a smile.
Sirius let out a small laugh.
He would find a way to eventually get ahead of Croaker and Amelia. Right now, it was more important to stop all this.
-oOo-
July 12, 1995
Yaxley Castle, England
The fields and forest around the old keep were mired in fog this morning. It was an overcast day and threatened rain. A whimper broke the silence as an old woman lay curled up on the cold stones of the parapet.
The man looked out over the fields. He felt the desire from Nagini to go and hunt, but he couldn't let her go out. Not now that he knew at least three of his horcruxes were destroyed.
Lucius Malfoy and his family would suffer. They would suffer for as long as he could make them before their hearts finally gave out. The man had callously used his soul to take revenge on a man he knew was an old school enemy. The book had been used on a lowly Weasel.
Dumbledore was the next person who would suffer. No one else would have been able to get past his traps at his grandfather's old house. He heard the man may have been cursed though, so at best the man had a year or so to live. His wayward servant had returned with the news.
Severus had proven his worth tenfold. The information the man had led to several deaths and the finding of Harry Potter's relatives. To bad the woman had been too horse looking to have any fun with, but she had screamed for hours before he released her.
The walrus man had not liked to see his wife tortured the way she was. Voldemort smiled to remember the way the man broke. That was when he took his wrath out on the man for losing his nephew.
Others found the son.
They all turned out to be useless. He couldn't even use a blood trace to find Potter. That meant one of two things, either he had somehow disowned his Aunt and Uncle, or they weren't his true relatives.
Voldemort knew the blood magic, probably better than the cursed goblins, and they had shown nothing. This meant Lily Potter was not a sister to Petunia, such simpering names. The sister wasn't even a half-sister.
What did this mean then?
He was brought out of his ruminations when the woman whimpered as Nagini slithered around her. "You don't want to eat this one," he told his familiar.
Hungery. So hungry, Nagini hissed.
"Don't. No more," the woman said pitifully.
Voldemort snarled. He did like to take his pleasure in others, but this new body didn't allow him. Something had gone wrong in the ceremony and he had been denied his full body. That was part of the reason this woman was here.
"You have not told me what I want to hear," he said, crouching down. "Did you not work for Wizarding Child Services in 1968?"
The elderly woman clutched her hands to her chest. "I told you, there were so many children, I don't remember them all."
"How many redheaded bitches could there be," the man demanded angrily.
Voldemort had messed up using Draco's blood. He knew Potter was now his true enemy. He knew that before, but he would not risk the blood of those beasts in him. He needed this information, as well as the bloody Prophesy that had set this all off.
Voldemort needed the werewolves and goblins. He didn't have enough followers and the Ministry was already moving in on him. He needed time to rebuild his most loyal, or to free those he could from Azkaban. Unfortunately, the new Minister was not as enamored with Dementors and had already made a move to change security at Azkaban.
He wasn't sure how that would work into his plans.
That was a concern for later. Right now, he needed to find the true parents of Lily Potter.
"Legilimens," he said with anger.
The woman's mind was already addling in her age and found sections damaged beyond any recognizable thought. He had been doing this on and off for hours now. Each time he tore into her mind, he ripped at every shred he could. She flinched as though in physical pain as he rampaged through her head. Much more of this and she would be a vegetable.
He screamed in annoyance. The secret wasn't here.
He pulled out and she just stared at nothing. This last time had finally broken her mind. He took in a few angry breaths.
He needed inside people in the Ministry. Three of his most important Death Eaters he had to infiltrate the Ministry were on the run or captured and two other dead or missing.
Standing up, he kicked the woman and she rolled off the side, falling thirty feet to the gravel courtyard. The still half mangled dueling pit and huge whole in the wall was a reminder of his miscalculation.
It was also a reminded his resources were dwindled. He couldn't access two of his horcuxes. Turning Nagini into a horcrux had done something to change him. He felt it, as though he wasn't whole. He had never felt that with the others.
Fear rippled through him that he would not be able to make anymore. He didn't trust the cup with the goblins now, and he had no way of getting into Hogwarts.
"My Lord," a trembling voice came.
He stood up, pushing his shoulders back and schooling himself to show no emotion. "Yes, Yaxley," he said in a cold voice.
"Lord Crabbe has returned with Lord Parkinson. They have news," the man said.
"They better have. That half-breed had nothing," he said. "If they don't, I will not be pleased."
"Yes, my Lord," Yaxley said and hurried away.
He had four big issues. He needed to know what was in the Prophesy. He needed to know where Lily Potter came from. There was no one on the Potter side that would be close enough to make a blood trace. Many houses had married into the Potters over the last five generations, but no living relative the other way.
He needed Potter's blood, but the damned thing was a werewolf now.
Next he needed money. The coffers his other Death Eaters could offer were knuts compared to Malfoy and Bulstrode.
Lastly, he needed a way into the Ministry. He had learned his lesson from last time. He needed to control the Ministry and he needed Dumbledore dead and his Death Eaters inside to do it.
He spat down at the woman and the pool of blood around her.
"Useless. They are all useless," he muttered to Nagini, who hissed back.
