Stiles rushes in before him, and Derek represses an eye roll when Stiles crows triumphantly while they weren't even racing. No, Stiles, we were not racing.
Harry chuckles fondly, but Derek can still smell a little anger burning inside Harry. It was clear that he was furious when Stiles had thrown himself without a thought in the middle of a fight with a hunter and werewolf.
Derek was already a little used to the loyalness that Stiles emitted, but Harry still had a lot to learn. Stiles was never going to back down from a fight. The best you could do was roll with it and have his back. Something Derek fully intended to do.
When Derek saw Stiles freeze for a moment, he thought it was because of the hunter that was now tied to a chair, seeming unconscious. But then a red-haired girl stepped out of the kitchen with Hermione.
''Lydia?'' Stiles squeaked before turning red and scraping his throat. Derek had forgotten that Stiles had a crush on the girl. He didn't know if that was gone completely. But if Derek could believe the looks Stiles kept giving Harry, it would not be surprising if the crush was going away quickly.
''Stiles, I hoped to get a couple of explanations tonight, but then Harry literally popped in with a kidnapped man. So, I really hope you all have an explanation.'' Lydia said with a sharp voice. Making Stiles and Harry flinch.
Harry self-consciously rubbed the back of his neck, and Stiles did what Stiles did best. He started to ramble. Hermione was just watching with a mischievous look in her eyes. She was watching between Harry, Stiles, and Derek. When she saw Derek watching her, she gave him a quick wink.
''Lydia, uh, well, you see, we wanted to ease you into all this, but yeah. Do you know all those stories about mythical creatures and like they are kind of sort of real? And the man, yeah, he, uh, needs to answer some questions, so we asked him to come back with us. And-he, well,-''
Hermione started to giggle, and Lydia's mouth quirked up a little. Stiles turned three different shades of red.
''You're messing with me.'' He deadpanned.
''Duh, you did deserve it, though,'' Lydia said with a sharp look. Stiles flinched and remained silent. Derek was curious about what she meant, but it looked like they would first talk in private.
''Hermione already got me up to speed, and I really, really, really need to process this all, so for now, I'm just going to ignore the kidnapped man. Stiles, we are going to talk tomorrow, agreed?''
Everybody in the room could hear that that wasn't an option for Stiles, so he just nodded.
''Thank you for the story and tea Hermione, I'm going to go home now. I will see you tomorrow at school. I'm very curious about math tomorrow.'' She said with a wink and a wave. Then she was out the door.
Stiles scraped his throat.
''So, can we just ignore my mortification and go on with the questioning of the hunter? Pretty please?'' Stiles said while looking at everybody one by one.
Derek snorted but nodded in agreement.
''I will revive him, and then we can start.''
''Scott and Allison are coming, by the way. They have seen some creature, and they don't know what it was. Maybe you have more of an idea.'' Derek added before Harry would revive the hunter from unconscious.
Hermione and Harry nodded, and Harry waved his hand over the hunter. The hunter jerked in his chair and tried immediately to get out of the ropes that bound him to the chair. Derek stepped forward automatically, Harry let him but stayed by his side, and Stiles stood in between the door and the hunter. Hermione stood at the kitchen entrance.
Derek felt pride well in him. These people were not even part of his pack yet, but they all fell into the right places as if they had practiced it.
''Who send you after my beta?'' Derek started.
''You will die! You worthless mutt!'' The hunter said with venom. Derek took a deep breath. He wasn't even really irritated by the hunter. He knew that he needed to keep calm.
''Who send you?''
''You know I'm not going to tell you anything!''
''Who?'' Derek tried again, making his eyes flare bright red. The man gulped, and Derek could hear his heartbeat stutter for a moment.
''You should have burned with your mutt family!'' The hunter sneered. Making Derek take a small step back from shock. He hadn't expected that insult.
Before Derek could do anything, the hunter started screaming in pain. Derek was watching in shock. He hadn't lifted a finger at the hunter. Hermione was also watching with shock. When Derek turned around, he saw that Stiles and Harry's eyes had darkened with rage. They seemed as if they were in a trance and not at all seeing what was happening. They weren't even blinking, and both their arms were crossed over their chests. Their eyes just started turning darker and darker.
''Stiles? Harry?'' Derek asked carefully. He almost wasn't heard over the screams of the hunter.
Hermione was now watching Harry and Stiles too.
''Harry!'' She screamed. Harry finally blinked and then gasped. He stumbled back a few steps until he grabbed a chair to keep upright. It had an immediate effect on Stiles, who groaned and slumped to the floor.
The hunter was unconscious in his seat, but Derek paid him no mind. He saw Hermione bolt for Harry, and Derek went to Stiles's side.
''Stiles? Stiles? Are you okay?'' He asked worriedly, his hands moving all over Stiles's head, shoulders, and arms, checking if Stiles was okay.
Stiles only groaned again and clasped his hands over his ears. He had his eyes closed and was still breathing harshly.
''What the fuck happened?'' Stiles croaked out.
''I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Stiles,'' Harry said from behind him. His voice was thick with emotion. Derek turned around enough to see Harry sitting on the floor, looking with a look of utter despair on his face.
''Harry, what happened?'' Derek asked softly but with an edge. Trying to reign in his anger, he just knew that if he let his anger go now, it could destroy the starting bonds of his 'almost' pack.
''I got so angry when he said that shit. I-I didn't even know that this could happen, but my magic lashed out and wanted to hurt the arsehole. Only the curse it used- it needs a wand. When my magic couldn't point a wand, he used Stiles magic to amplify mine.'' Harry said with desperation.
''I'm sorry, Stiles, I really didn't-I really didn't want to use you like that.'' Harry apologized again. Derek felt Stiles squeeze his arm, he hadn't felt Stiles place a hand on his arm, but he did notice that he was still holding Stiles as if he was afraid to lose him if he let go. He unclasped his hands slowly.
Stiles opened his eyes and squeezed them shut again, groaning in pain. Derek felt like an idiot and started draining some of his pain. It felt like one hell of a headache, but Stiles was going to be fine.
''Not your fault dude, I wanted to hurt the asshole too. So your magic probably joined mine in this joyride,'' Stiles finally said. Harry didn't seem reassured, but Hermione seemed to be comforting him as much as possible.
A groan came from the chair with the hunter, making Stiles, Harry, and Hermione jump. Derek already heard the heartbeat of the hunter speed up, so he knew that the hunter was waking up.
Derek stood up and helped Stiles stand too. He had his eyes open again and gave Derek a nod as if to say that he could handle it. Derek glared back at the hunter, who was now looking ready to piss himself.
'' Argent ! Argent sent me! He wants to kill all the wolves because his daughter was killed by one! Keep those freaks away from me!'' He screamed out in a panic. Watching with horror between Harry and Stiles.
Harry had gone rigid, and his face had gone blank. Derek didn't know why that was, but it made his wolf whine. Stiles had seen it too and put an arm around Harry without a second thought. Harry practically melted in the embrace.
Hermione, however, seemed ready to kill the hunter. She was gripping her wand so tight that her fingers had turn white.
And to make matters worse, the door opened and let in Allison and Scott, who both took in the scene in front of them, a crying hunter bound on a chair, two wizards who were barely standing, a witch who seemed to contemplate murder, and an Alpha werewolf who was a little lost.
''Argent sent you to kill Isaac?'' Derek asked with an even tone, needing to let Allison know what was at stake here.
Allison made a noise in the back of her throat, which was between a protest and a whine. But Scott stopped her from saying anything by squeezing her hand.
''Yes! Yes! Gerard, Gerard Argent sent me! I work for him! He wants to kill all the werewolves!'' The hunter cried out again. Then the hunter began whimpering in his seat.
''Oh, shut up,'' Hermione said with venom, with a flick of her wand. The noise cut off, Derek could see the hunter still crying, but all the noise was cut off.
''I think I need to sit down,'' Stiles said suddenly he was swaying on his feet, and Harry and Hermione quickly helped him to the couch.
''What happened?!'' Scott asked with wide eyes.
''A hunter tried to kill Isaac, who is in protective custody because his father was killed. Because of the full moon, we went to check if he was alright. We were just in time to stop this piece of shit from killing him. We wanted to question him, and we did, but he wasn't cooperating. Then-'' Derek tried to explain.
''-Then he said that Derek should have burned with his family. Harry and Stiles both lashed out with their magic. We don't know exactly how it happened. But after-'' Hermione interrupted Derek when he fell silent for a moment.
''After the magic, he confessed that your grandfather sent him.'' Derek finished softly. He really was done with Argents. He didn't trust them, but the look of utter defeat on Allison's face did soothe him in some twisted way. She couldn't fake that kind of misery. Knowing that your whole family is trigger crazy.
Allison nodded to herself before looking at Harry and Stiles, who both looked exhausted. They were heavily leaning on each other and had their eyes barely open. Derek again fought his own thoughts, wanting to join them, wanting to comfort them. But he hadn't earned that right.
''Hermione, could you unmute the hunter?''
''Sure, but why?''
''I want to ask some questions for myself,'' Allison replied with steel in her voice. She then turned to Derek.
''If that's okay with you, Alpha Hale.'' Derek's eyebrows rose to his hairline with the recognition of his title. He nodded at Hermione, and she unmuted the hunter, who was still wailing. As soon as the sound was back, Harry and Stiles flinched and started blinking heavily. Derek did not think that they looked cute.
Not at all.
Just, maybe a little.
''Shut up! Did my father and mother know about this? Or did only Gerard send you?''
''They all knew! They all knew! They are going to start training you soon! You shouldn't fraternize with the enemy!'' The hunter screamed.
''When are they going to start training me?''
''I don't know! Soon, that's all I know, I swear! Please, please get me away from those freaks!''
Derek saw Harry flinch again and curl into himself as if the word freak hurt him. Derek growled at the hunter, and the hunter whined again.
''Hermione, could you make him forget?'' Derek asked when Allison seemed done asking questions. She was talking softly with Scott a little further away.
''I want to, but I don't know if it will be registered as a criminal offense against muggles. Wandless magic wouldn't be registered, but I can't cast a wandless obliviation.'' Hermione said while biting her thumbnail. It was clear that only Harry could do this without being registered.
''Mione, there is a pepper-up potion on my side table, then I will be fine to do it.'' Harry slurred sleepily.
Hermione brightened a little at that. She walked past the couch and planted a kiss on Harry's head before walking towards Harry's bedroom.
She was back within seconds and gave Harry a small vial with green liquid. He uncorked it and drank half, then he offered Stiles the other half.
Just five minutes later, they were both wide awake and ready for another day. It was as if Stiles had gotten three espressos. Something Derek hoped to never see again. Especially not at one in the morning.
But he was secretly glad that they both were okay now.
''How long is this potion going to work?'' Derek asked Hermione warily when Stiles ran outside to run a couple of rounds around the house to get rid of his power. His own words, not Derek's. When they heard a squeal, they looked out of the window to see Stiles zip through the treetops on a broom.
''To be honest, I've never seen anyone react to a pepper-up potion like this. But, it should be working out within an hour.'' Hermione replied with a frown.
''Maybe it's his ADHD?'' Scott said while watching his friend fly through the air with an awed look on his face. Allison was watching with wide eyes, clearly not expecting this change of events. Well, to be honest, nobody expected this.
''Okay, the hunter is done. Where should I put him?'' Harry asked from the other side of the room. Everybody startled a little because they had been so focused on Stiles.
''Put him?'' Scott asked with a frown.
''Yeah, he can't wake up here, then there will be questions, so where should I apparate him to? He will not remember anything from us this evening, only that a deputy stopped him, and he escaped without killing the werewolf.'' Harry stated.
''Good job, Harry. Allison, Do you have any ideas? Maybe outside your parent's house? There is where Gerard is staying, right?'' Derek asked. Allison seemed surprised to be spoken to by Derek.
Allison bit her lip but nodded in agreement.
''Yes, it will be the best place. When he wakes up, he can just walk up the driveway and give a report.''
''Great, I'll deal with him, and then come back to pluck my boyfriend out of the air,'' Harry said while nodding, then he apparated away with the hunter.
Derek was frozen to the floor. Boyfriend? As in Harry and Stiles? How had he missed this? He heard Scott and Allison walking outside to watch Stiles again, but Derek couldn't move.
It was as if his stomach had twisted in an awful way and didn't uncurl, and he couldn't understand why?! Okay, so Harry and Stiles were together, that wasn't a big deal, but, like, since when?
Derek's thoughts came to a sudden stop when he jerked away from the hand that touched his arm. He looked into Hermione's warm brown eyes, she looked at him with sympathy, but that didn't make sense, right? Why would she look at him with sympathy? There was nothing wrong, right?
''I need a run.'' He said gruffly before running out of the back door, missing the surprised yells from Allison and Scott. Stiles didn't even saw him leave, still high on his pepper-up potion.
And Derek, Derek just needed to run. From what, he wasn't even sure himself.
Hermione frowned at the retreating back of Derek. ''Boys.'' She muttered angrily. She had thought that Ron and Harry had been bad with emotions, but her soon-to-be Alpha sure as hell was a quick third place.
She was tired, and she was not going to meddle. She was not. Those thickheaded boys needed to figure things out for themselves. She thought back at the rest of the night. Lydia had taken everything surprisingly well, but maybe it wasn't that hard when Scott and Stiles hadn't really been silent through the school talking about werewolves and stuff. She really needed to make sure that they would be more subtle.
She scrunched up her nose. Subtle was not something that Stiles and Scott were. She let out a sigh and jumped when the fire roared to life next to her.
''Granger, still up?'' Draco Malfoy's voice sounded through the fire.
''Malfoy, you're calling me at this time of night and then ask me if I'm still up? I'm answering, right?'' Hermione said a little sharply. She felt guilty immediately. She was just tired. She hadn't thought that if they left Britain that so much would happen in their new home. It was a little frustrating.
''Open up the floo,'' Draco then said, no room for argument in his tone.
''Why?'' She said, but she was already pulling out her wand.
''Just do it.''
She let out a frustrated sigh and opened up the floo, the call ended, and just a couple of seconds later, Draco Malfoy stepped out. He closed the floo after him so nobody else could come through. When he turned around, he smiled at her, and she felt her stomach swoop a little. It was utterly ridiculous.
But since that first letter he had send her with apologies, they had talked a lot, and even if he still was a prick from time to time, Draco seemed to change, change his own world view what had been taught by his father.
Hermione admired that he was trying, and the talks they shared were always challenging but honest. They were growing closer, and Hermione didn't really know how to react to that.
''Hi, so, what happened? Because to be honest, Granger, I rather like it when you aren't snapping at me.'' He said with a smirk. Hermione pouted but let out a small groan.
''I just told a girl about the supernatural and magical world, then Harry popped in with an unconscious man, he appeared to be a Hunter who tried to kill one of the members of my soon to be pack, then Harry's magic lashed out in a way that I've never seen, Stiles magic reacted almost as if in synch, also again, something I've never seen or read about, then we got a hyperactive wizard because of a simple pepper-up potion, and I have a sulking Alpha who doesn't talk about his feelings.'' She ranted, a little bit panting at the end. It felt good to let it all out now.
''Didn't you two move here to get some peace and quiet?'' Draco drawled out.
''Yes, but do you think there is going to be any peace and quiet around Harry Potter?'' She said with a raised eyebrow.
They looked at each other, and both started laughing. Hermione felt a little tiredness waning and smiled genuinely at Draco.
''Thank you, Draco, I needed to vent,''
''You can always call me.''
''Thank you, but as you said, I could call you. Why did you want to floo over? And why did you call in the first place?''
He seemed to blush a little at the question.
''I just wanted to give you an update about the Black property in Sweden. It is in pristine condition. And to give you an update about the latest gossip they cocked up in the press about the boy-who-lived.''
They heard a groan coming from the entrance of the living room, and Harry walked in.
''The words 'press' and 'boy-who-lived' still give me the need to barf. Hello, Malfoy, nice to see you on this side of the pond. What are you doing here at half-past one in the morning?'' Harry said, clearly also tired because he wasn't even glaring at Malfoy. Maybe he was finally warming up to him.
''Potter, I wanted to update you about your property and the press. But I saw that something was bothering Granger, so I thought I should come over for a moment.''
''How chivalrous,'' Harry said sarcastically while rolling his eyes. Not so much warming up to Malfoy then.
There was a crash outside, and they walked over to the window to see Scott lying on the floor groaning and laughing while Stiles was still zipping over him, cackling with glee.
''You were not exaggerating about hyperactive,'' Draco said while he tried to hold his laughter.
''Don't insult my boyfriend, Malfoy. You will not like the consequences.'' Harry said, but he was smiling fondly at Stiles outside. He then walked out and summoned a broom to get Stiles down.
''Boyfriend? Interesting twist.'' Draco said to Hermione with raised eyebrows.
Hermione slapped him on the shoulder without real force and a smile.
''Don't gossip. It doesn't suit you.''
''You have clearly mistaken me for Weasley. Gossip suits me perfectly well.'' He said with a sniff and raised chin, making Hermione laugh. His eyes softened when he looked at her.
''Gran-''
The backdoor opened with a bang, and an angry-looking Alpha wolf stalked in the living room, red eyes flaring.
''Who are you?'' Derek demanded from a frozen Draco.
''Derek, this is Draco Malfoy; I've told you about him, remember?'' Hermione said calmly. Derek took a deep breath before some tension loosened in his shoulders.
''I'm sorry, I didn't recognize your scent. I'm Derek Hale.''
''No worries.'' Draco squeaked before he roughly coughs. Hermione bites her lip to keep herself from laughing. Of course, Draco would be intimidated by Derek.
The others spilled into the living room. Stiles seemed a lot more calmer, thank Godric.
Hermione quickly introduced everyone to Draco.
''Hermione, we are going to discuss pack business,'' Derek says pointedly, and of course, Draco can't be there. He hasn't earned Derek's trust, and Hermione seriously doubts that Draco wants to be in the pack.
''Right, Draco, you said that you needed to tell us about the press back in Britain?'' Hermione quickly says. Draco seems to understand that he isn't welcome to the other part of the discussion that is going to follow.
''Yes, Potter, they think you're in Indonesia now. Maybe pop up over there to make sure you're seen. It should keep them off your backs for a while. Further, one of the reporters spilled... Not with the Prophet or Witch weekly, but in one of the busiest pubs in Diagon Alley, so it's more mouth to mouth, it-it's not good. The most recent talk is that you're a womanizer who ran off with Weasel's fiancé while leaving another Weasley pregnant.''
''We never even had sex!''
''We weren't engaged! We broke up months ago!''
Hermione and Harry both start to shout, making Draco cringe a little.
''I know! Molly, Ron, and Ginny all lay it on pretty thickly. They will try to ruin your reputation. Arthur, George, Bill, and Charlie all protest. And Percy doesn't try to say anything about it.'' Draco explains.
Harry sits down on a chair heavily, putting his head in his hands, Stiles is next to him within seconds, and Derek is on his other side, also looking worried.
''Ron was your best mate, right?'' Stiles asks carefully, and Harry nods without looking up.
''What an ass.''
Harry snorts before looking back at Draco.
''What do you advise? Should I do anything about it?''
Draco seems surprised but pleased by being asked for advice.
''You should let them see that you're not together with Hermione, and you have the best way to do that. You let them see you're gay. You can even do it in Indonesia.'' Draco states, then he looks at Stiles and at Derek, who are both looking worriedly at Harry.
Harry seems thoughtful before he starts nodding.
''It could work, so I need to be seen in Indonesia with my boyfriend?''
''Yes, and if Hermione is with you, they can see how she is with it. So they also can't call you a cheating bastard.''
''Smart. Okay, then we do that.'' Harry says with a nod.
''Just one more thing. I don't think you shouldn't take your real boyfriend.'' Draco says carefully. Flinching when three glares are thrown at him.
''Think about it, Harry. Your boyfriend is still underage. He can't do magic over there. He will still have a trace. You should be able to defend yourself, and the other one should be able to defend himself too. There are still Death Eaters on the loose.''
''So what do you suggest?'' Harry says with a restrained voice. Clearly not liking this twist.
''Take the Alpha. You will make the people see that you're gay and that you support werewolves. It will go a long way all over the world.'' Draco says matter of factly, and when he puts it like that, Hermione really sees the plus side of the situation. The press, political, and maybe the emotional side with Derek, Harry, and Stiles. She is impressed with Draco's plan.
''It could work.'' She says carefully.
''I can't ask Derek to play my boyfriend!'' Harry replies with wide eyes.
Stiles, however, looks calculating.
''If you can't, I will ask him,'' Stiles says simply.
All heads snap to him when he speaks.
''Derek can protect Harry. Harry can protect Derek. It's a win-win. Harry, you would only worry about me if I would go with you. Derek, can you do this? I know that you're not gay or anything, but could you play Harry's boyfriend?''
The shocked expression of Derek is something to cherish. Forever. Hermione is almost glowing with mirth. But she keeps her calm.
''Uh, yeah? I can-I can do that.'' He doesn't seem sure of that at all.
Hermione claps her hands, and everybody snaps out of the weird trance they were in with this whole discussion.
''Now, over to pack business. Draco, thank you for telling us this. I will close the floo behind you.''
Draco smiles at her and nods. He leaves in a flurry of green flames. Scott, and Allison who hadn't seen this yet, gasp in shock.
''So, please, show us your memories of the big monster you have seen so we all can go to bed,'' Hermione says, feeling tired all over again.
''How can we show you?'' Allison asks with curiosity.
Harry hurries over to the cabinet where they have a Pensieve.
Hermione walks over to Scott and Allison in the meantime, explaining that they need to think back at the moment. When they both have their eyes screwed shut in concentration, Hermione softly pushes her wand against their heads—extracting the memories carefully.
She then puts them in the Pensieve and asks everybody to stand in a circle around it.
''So, just touch the water, and we will see the memory as if we are there. But we can move in it. So we can even go up close to the creature.''
Everybody gives a nod in understanding, and they dive in. In Scott's memory, they see him bound in a basement, trying frantically to get loose when they hear Allison's yell of surprise. Scott struggles with the chains until they break, and he rushes upstairs. He pushes Allison behind him to guard her, and they see something move in the shadows. A creature comes into the light and is upside down attached to the ceiling. Hermione freezes the frame when the creature is out of the shadows, and she walks up so they can take a good look at it.
''I can understand him,'' Harry says with a disgusted look on his face.
''Understand? So it's a snake-like reptile?'' Stiles muses. While watching the creature with great interest. Harry nods in response.
''What does it say?'' Derek asks while he is glaring at the creature.
''Master wants the girl. He keeps repeating those words.'' Harry says with an apologetic look at Allison, who seems scared out of her mind. Hermione can't really blame her.
''Well, that's creepy. Sorry, Allison. Can we do anything extra to keep her safe? Because I doubt that Melissa or Chris or any of the Argents really, are going to agree to Scott as a shadow guard.'' Stiles deadpans when he sees Scott almost curling around Allison as protection—still glaring at the creature.
''The hunter was talking about training, right? Maybe you should do that. Train with your hunter family. We will try to keep you safe, but trying to keep yourself safe is something everybody should learn.'' Hermione says softly.
Derek growls, but he also sees the logic in what Hermione said.
''Derek, I will not hunt you or your pack. I wouldn't want to hurt anyone who doesn't deserve it.'' Allison says resolutely.
''I just hope that you aren't going to share your family views. I've lost enough because of that.'' Derek states harshly.
Stiles puts a hand on Derek's arm, and he deflates immediately. Really, that those boys don't see what kind of influence they have on each other is beyond Hermione.
''Okay. We will find out what kind of creature we are dealing with, but first. Let's go to sleep—just a moment.''
She quickly erects a couple of walls in the current bedrooms, so everybody has a bed, to themselves she insists when looking between Scott and Allison. Then she transfigures a couple of beds and blankets from a couple of knickknacks. She sends everybody to bed like the mother hen she is. Only stopping Harry for a moment.
She just opens her arms, and he dives in for a comforting hug. They both need it after this evening and all the information they got.
''It will be okay,'' Harry murmurs in her hair.
''I know,''
And she does know. She just wants her best friend to be okay and happy. He deserves that.
''I hate PE,'' Harry states while watching the climbing wall warily. He loves Quidditch, but climbing a wall? No, thank you.
''Harry, you will be fine,'' Scott says with his puppy dog smile before climbing up with Allison. It's a little pathetic to see that a werewolf is easily outmatched by a girl.
''They are disgustingly adorable,'' Stiles grumbles next to him.
''Agreed,'' Harry says with a smile while looking at Stiles. He bites his lip when he locks his gaze on Stiles's mouth. He just wants to kiss the guy so badly. Stiles mouth curls into a smirk, and Harry knows he has just been caught, but he doesn't care much.
''Potter! Erica! Your turn!''
Harry snaps out of his fixation on Stiles's mouth with a blush. Then he hurries to get climbing.
When he is halfway up, he hears a soft whimpering. He looks to his left and sees Erica struggling.
''Hey, are you okay?''
''I-I can't,'' She says with a trembling voice.
''Of course, you can. You know you can.'' Harry says with conviction. He smiles a little at her, and he feels his magic wrapping around the girl. He didn't do anything, but it seems as if his magic is comforting her. He takes a deep breath and looks up, determined.
She starts climbing, and Harry also goes on until they both have reached the top.
''See, you can do anything you set your mind to.'' He says with a smile. She smiles shyly back, and they both descend with kicking off the wall.
He knows that she has already spoken to Derek, and Harry's stomach had flipped when Derek had explained that he wanted to give Erica the bite so she wouldn't suffer from her disease anymore. When Erica is also a beta, Harry, Hermione, and Stiles finally can join the pack. Harry doesn't know why he feels so excited by the prospect, but he can't help but feel like his family is growing.
''You're coming to talk to Derek later, right?'' Harry whispers before they reach the floor. She looks at him with wide eyes before nodding.
''I hope you are going to accept his offer. He will be a good Alpha.'' Harry says with conviction.
''It sounds a little like a cult, don't you think?'' She says with a hint of a smile. Harry bursts out laughing.
''Potter! I don't pay you to laugh!''
''You don't pay me anything, coach!''
''Oh, no, I'm getting paid, don't waste my time!''
Harry and Erica both laugh softly until they reach the floor. Erica walks away with a new flair of confidence that Harry only can admire. He walks towards Stiles and throws his arm around his shoulders before kissing him on his cheek. Stiles ducks his head, blushing, but he seems pleased that Harry did that in front of everybody.
Isaac and Scott will accommodate Erica to Derek, and soon she will be one of the wolves.
''Hey, I have a surprise for you later,'' Stiles says with a glint in his eyes.
''Oh? And am I going to like this surprise?''
''You better. It will be our first official date.'' Stiles teases with a waggle of his eyebrows. The idea feels Harry with warmth.
After school, Stiles drives them to the ice skate rink. Hermione and Lydia had invited themselves along, but Harry didn't really mind. Hermione and Lydia were skating by themselves when Harry and Stiles were just a bit goofing around.
Harry couldn't remember when he had done something this fun. He was skating with Stiles and racing him with a lot of laughing. Stiles made him forget the war and what he had gone through most of the time, and it felt good to let that part of him loose.
They were just getting ready to leave when Lydia started to panic and scream.
''Lydia! Lydia! What's wrong?'' Hermione asked frantically when the girl seemed to be scratching at the surface of the ice as if something was underneath.
''Someone, someone is there!'' She said with wide eyes.
Harry looked down but didn't see anything. He looked at Hermione, and she nodded at him.
''Lydia, If you're okay with it, I want to try something. To see what you saw. Okay?'' Lydia nods frantically, clearly afraid of what she is seeing.
Harry readies himself and uses Legilimens to enter Lydia's head. Harry almost immediately wishes that he wasn't. He sees her memories about what she just has seen, but it's more, more of the same face keeps returning. And Harry feels an intense feeling of death surrounding the man.
He knows for sure that this man is dead, but because of the tether the man seems to have with Lydia, Harry doesn't know for how long he will stay that way.
When Harry wants to exit her mind, he feels compelled to turn around to listen in to a conversation that Lydia must have heard years ago when she was just a small girl. Hush voices whisper about a woman, a grandmother that is put away in something called Eichen House.
Because of the voices she kept hearing. Harry doesn't know why, but he thinks that this is important information and files it away for another day.
Erica walks in the next day as a phoenix, reborn from its ashes. The whole male population of the school is practically drooling with the way she sways in. When she spots Harry and Stiles, she bounces over and kisses them both on the cheek.
''Hi guys, how do I look?'' She says while she twirls for them. Harry chuckles at Hogwarts. This was not something that anyone would do, but everybody walked in those bloody robes, so nobody probably felt the need.
''Looking good, Erica,'' Stiles says with a smile.
Erica beams at them before she sees Isaac and Scott and bounds over to them, crushing them in a hug and scenting them thoroughly, but they both don't seem bothered by this at all.
''I think I need to build a bigger house or expand or something.'' Harry muses.
''Why?'' Stiles asks, confused.
''Well, that conjuring beds and blankets and erecting walls with the impromptu sleepover last week did the trick, but I could use some more room, especially if it will become the packhouse. And to be honest, I want that. I don't want Derek to move out.''
''Awh, you're so cute. I can't wait until the binding ceremony tonight. I want some pack hugs.'' Stiles says with a pout. The wolves all look at him with devilish grins making Stiles take a step back.
''On the other hand, totally good with waiting, jup, yes, I'm gonna wait until I actually smell like pack. Because those smiles, creepy as hell dude.''
Harry snickers at his boyfriend's antics and grabs Stiles's hand to drag him down to their next class.
After school, the Camaro is waiting. Isaac, Scott, and Erica climb in the back while Hermione, Harry, and Lydia climb in with Stiles's jeep. Lydia will not participate in the binding ritual because they don't know for sure what she is yet. But when they know, Derek has already promised her a place in his pack.
Hermione and Lydia are becoming friends fast. Their talks about math and biology have Harry's mind spinning. But he doesn't mind. He knows that Hermione never really had a female friend before. Unless you count Ginny and Luna, but Harry knows that it is different.
They arrive at the house and tumble out of the cars. Harry isn't nervous, but he sees that Stiles is.
''Relax, it's over before you know it. And then you can feel the bonds.''
''I know, but now the whole Peter wanting to give me the bite thing seems even more creepy. At first, I thought he wanted to make me a wolf, but I'm almost sure that he knew what I was. So he knew that I would be bound to him. It's a little unsettling.'' Stiles says, and Harry reaches out to touch Stiles's neck in comfort.
''You do want this, right?'' Derek asks carefully, but Harry still sees how much it would pain him if he were rejected now by Stiles.
''Yes! Yes, Sourwolf, I want to be part of your little wolfy pack. No, take backsies! I trust you. I just don't like blood, or pain, or anything like that.'' Derek seems shocked but touched by the statement. He puts a hand on Stiles's shoulder to comfort him.
Harry can hear Isaac cough in his hand and something like wuss under his breath, making Erica giggle. Harry casually throws a tickle hex at Isaac, making him fall on the floor from laughing.
When Derek looks back with a frown, Harry casually shrugs, but he isn't fooled.
''Harry,'' Derek simply says, but Harry can totally see the smile in his eyebrows.
Harry casually waves his hand and Isaac stops laughing and stands up with a scowl. Harry smirks at him, and Stiles stifles a chuckle.
''Right. So shall we begin?'' Derek asks while looking at everybody. They are standing in the backyard of the house. It's already getting dark, but everything in the forest is calm around them.
Everybody nods in agreement, then Derek steps forward to Stiles. A smart choice to do him first.
''Stiles Mieczyslaw Stilinski. Wizard of the Gajos house. Please accept my bite as a member of my pack.''
''I accept, Alpha Hale.'' Stiles says clearly and without a doubt. Derek then reaches out and bites down at Stiles's wrist. It is carefully placed, and Harry does see the wince in Stiles's face, but it relaxes almost instantly. He then gasps. Harry can only imagine that it is the bond that snaps into place. Then the bite heals itself instantly. Only the scar remains. It almost looks like a tattoo, and Stiles is admiring it with a smile on his face.
They still need to do the inheritance test at Gringotts, but Stiles is delaying it, he wants to talk to his dad first, but he is postponing the talk.
Then is Hermione, it goes the same, a little gasp because of the bond, and the bite is healing over. If it's the magic of the bond, their own magic, or something combined, Harry doesn't know.
''Harry James Potter, Master of Death, Wizard of the Potter, and Black house. Please accept my bite as a member of my pack.''
''I accept, Alpha Hale.''
The bite itself doesn't hurt. At least Harry has had worse, way worse than this. But Derek is careful. Harry can see that clearly.
He gasps when he feels a bond snap into place between him and Derek, and soon he feels the others too. Hermione and he have the strongest bond, which is no surprise, but he can also feel a strong bond between himself, Stiles, and Derek. And by some strange reason, he also can feel the bond between Stiles and Derek.
He doesn't feel other bonds between other members of the pack, not between Scott and Stiles or with Hermione and others. Which is weird, but he doesn't care. He can feel the bonds, and he can feel his pack. His new family.