Hey, Everyone! I'm alive! And I'm BACK! Sorry about my prolonged absence. I will be updating all of my in-progress works in time. This chapter we have the DA-in-the-Room-of-Requirement montage and the lead-in to the events of the Christmas holidays; and what events they will be!

Chapter 13: Practice, Pranks, and Pre-Holiday Problems

Potter and his delinquent little friends were up to something, Umbridge was sure of it, and she was just as sure that Dumbledore was behind it. And despite her edict to disband all student organizations, their deceit was spreading among the students; whole groups would disappear at the oddest times when there were no classes. The squib Filch, loath as she was to even speak to him, had narrowed the location to a certain corridor on the 7th floor. He would follow one or more, then he would turn the corner to find they had disappeared! Even the loony little blonde from Ravenclaw had skipped her way along and then was gone!

There was no known secret passage near there, and it seemed that the students somehow knew when Umbridge or Filch was nearby. It was…..irritating.

xxXXxx

In the Room of Requirement, Harry was covering disarmers, stunners, knock-backs, stinging hexes, and more. As he taught, he also learned; with all the blocks removed from his magick, he had to learn to control his new and greatly increased level of power.

Duncan also gave Harry and his inner-circle the mithril and kaiju-hide armor that he'd had custom made. Harry was awed that the hide had come from Duncan's father; Belloc himself, when he'd recently shed his skin. It could turn away physical attacks as easily as it could the worst of curses, and could be easily worn under standard wizarding robes.

As the lessons progressed, Harry and Cho Chang grew closer, sometimes to distraction. Hermione's heart ached, but she could see Harry was happy that his crush seemed to be returning his feelings.

Raven Thunderbird, however, felt conflicted. The half-giant was also drawn to the emerald-eyed wizard. As her shamanic training ended during the summer, she'd entered the sweat-lodge with her mother and the tribal elders the night of the Summer Solstice just after she came of age by tribal custom; to seek a vision of her destiny. She saw a flashing bolt of lightning illuminate a pair of piercing emerald eyes, then Hogwarts Castle; the Gryffindor Crest roaring. Following her vision, her family enrolled her in Hogwarts and made arrangements. It wasn't long after she arrived at the castle that she met Harry and realized that her vision had led her to him, but to what purpose?

xxXXxx

This time Filch was sitting in a chair in the corridor eating a ham & cheese sandwich on rough, thick-sliced bread, waiting and watching. It was getting late.

"Mr. Filch", a voice called out. The grouchy caretaker turned to see Duncan approaching. He tossed something red and shiny to him. Filch caught it to find it was another can of Coke. "I've been looking for you. I heard back from my mom's friends in the States about testing you."

As Duncan conversed with Filch, a door formed in the wall around the corner and Ron Weasley emerged. As he watched the corner, Hermione ushered the students out and on their way back to their common rooms.

A few days later, Umbridge began questioning students in her office about "illicit activities". She was, in fact, lacing the tea she served the students during these sessions with veritaserum supplied by Snape. However, Hermione had predicted this and warned all members of the Order of the Dragon to not eat or drink anything given to them by the pink toad.

After hanging a dozen more new 'educational decrees' from Umbridge in the Entrance Hall, Filch went to his usual stake-out spot, and found a heart-shaped box of chocolates and bon-bons on his chair; a note "Keep up the good work! Prof. Umbridge", attached. He smiled as he eagerly dug into the sweets, unaware of Gred and Forge Weasley grinning knowingly at him from around the corner. A short time later, he reported his failure covered with bursting blisters and boils to a very annoyed Umbridge.

Deciding the incompetent squib needed help, Umbridge recruited several pureblood students to form her "Inquisitorial Squad" to find out what was going on by any means. As the son of the influential Lucius Malfoy, she made Draco squad-leader and Theo Nott his deputy. Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bullstrode made up the rest of the squad. However, Draco could not help but brag about his new position of authority in the Slytherin common room. Thus the Greengrass sisters and Tracy Davis were able to warn Harry and the Order.

xxXXxx

The winter holidays were approaching, and the grounds around Hogwarts were blanketed in snow. Duncan was in the Forbidden Forest, on his way to check on Hagrid's full-giant younger half-brother; Grawp. He had promised to look after him while Hagrid was abroad meeting with the clans. They shared the same giantess mother, whom Duncan had a few choice words for if they ever met for abandoning both her sons for 'being too small', to say nothing of leaving her human wizard husband; who had loved her dearly.

While small for a full-blooded giant, it was hard to believe that someone as large as Grawp had the mind of a child. Apparently when Hagrid had found him among the Northern Clan, Grawp had been bullied most of his life by his larger peers and ignored by the adults, so Hagrid took him with the intent to raise and care for him as best he could, including giving him an education he'd been denied. It was slow-going, but Hagrid was a man of infinite care and patience.

Duncan was still some distance away from his destination when he sensed them; their scents, the faint sounds of movement in the forest around him. They smelled similar to Remus Lupin, but without the taint of wolfsbane. 'Werewolves', he thought to himself.

"You might as well show yourselves", Duncan called out calmly. "I know you're there, and I've been meaning to meet with you and your Alpha soon anyway."

A dozen men and women appeared out of the surrounding woods, all wearing an odd assortment of animal furs/hides combined with well-worn muggle-clothes or wizarding robes.

"I would speak with your Alpha", Duncan said firmly. "And before the full-moon rises and makes things….difficult."

"Entering the Forbidden Forest alone is one thing", a voice sneered from among the trees. "But to do so on a night of the full moon? You are either very brave, or very foolish."

"I represent the Global Federation of Magical Creatures", Duncan stated. "I've come to tell you and all the intelligent creatures in the area that wizards no longer dictate your lives, and to ask if you will defend the school if it's attacked."

"Is that so?", the voice sneered sarcastically as the owner stepped into view. He was tall, powerfully built, savagely feral face, black & grey hair slicked back, amber eyes glowing, and dressed in the black robes of a Death Eater. "Well, you die tonight by command of the Dark Lord. Your presence and mission here has become a nuisance."

"Fenrir Greyback!", Duncan snarled in recognition, having seen the 'Wanted' posters of the notorious rogue werewolf. "Where is the real Alpha?"

"He refused to join the Dark Lord's great cause, so I tore his throat out", Greyback smirked. "I command the Highland Pack now. Keep him from escaping", he ordered as he turned to leave. "Tear him apart once you all change. Then rejoin those watching Hogwarts."

"STOP!", Duncan shouted. "I challenge your Alpha!"

The pack members all looked at each other in shock. This GFMC rep knew his stuff! They had thought that only wolves that were raised on the old ways knew that obscure part of Lycan Law!

"You must be joking!", Fenrir laughed. "You are not of this pack. You're not even a werewolf. Just prey. You cannot…."

"He can", the eldest wolf stated, as he motioned the others to stand-down. They obeyed the pack Beta. "By ancient Lycan Law, as handed down by Romulus and Remus, anyone can challenge an Alpha."

"*Grrrrrr!* Fine then! Let's get this farce over with! Cryoscythe!", the rogue wolf snarled, a firing an ice-blue spell in a wide sweep of his wand. Duncan ducked under the barrage of sharp icicles and charged toward his opponent. Greyback sent stunners; that the American slapped aside like insects. He caught Duncan in a binding spell; Duncan flexed his muscles and snapped the conjured ropes with ease and kept coming!

Greyback transfigured two nearby boulders into wolves to attack Duncan. The half-kaiju almost laughed as the conjured canines broke a few teeth latching onto his forearms. They would be easy enough to deal wi….

"FIENDFYRE!"

Duncan saw a massive wave of flames rushing toward him shaped like a massive serpent, jaws open to devour him! The transfigured wolves were just a distraction!

Greyback laughed maniacally as he saw Duncan engulfed in the Fiendfyre. The arrogant American would be ash in moments! In all the world, only his master and Dumbledore might have shield charms that could withstand the unholy flames. The Dark Lord will be pleased.

As the flames began to subside, he heard gasps from the pack members around him. He looked to see a smirking Duncan striding unscathed through the deadliest magical fire known to wizardkind!

"IMPOSSIBLE! ACK!", Fenrir snarled, a faint edge of fear in his voice as Duncan grabbed him by the throat. He punched Greyback in the gut with his other hand and forced him to his knees. The most vicious werewolf in Britain tried in vain to pry Duncan's hand from his neck. How was this possible?! This American never pulled his wand nor cast a single spell, and yet had completely overpowered him! He can't be merely human! He's far too strong! Wait…he doesn't smell completely human! His scent is almost…dragon-like? What the hell is he?!

"Yield or die", Duncan offered in an even voice, his eyes flashing with emerald fire. "Even a mad-dog like you deserves that choice."

Somehow, the lack of emotion in that statement was more frightening than the Dark Lord enraged. Then Greyback saw the full moon breaking over the treeline behind Duncan, and he began to laugh and let the change take hold. Grey and silver fur spread across his body, his bones and musculature stretched and warped, reshaping and bulking up his body, his head and skull becoming snouted and fanged like a monstrous wolf! Duncan arched an eyebrow as the neck he was gripping got thicker and furry.

With a surge of strength, Greyback knocked Duncan away from him. The werewolf howled, echoed by the now transformed pack, then he stalked toward the half-blood, growling with malevolence.

"Ok, now this is getting interesting", Duncan grinned. "Well? What are you waiting for? C'mon, you mangy mutt!"

With a snarling roar at the insult, Greyback charged and leapt at Duncan; claws and fangs ready to rend and tear. Duncan sidestepped the claw-swipe, then delivered a backhanded fist to the side of the wolf's snout, getting a yelp of pain from Fenrir and a few broken fangs! The werewolf tumbled over in a heap from the impact.

As Fenrir shook his head to clear it, Duncan grabbed him by one leg and his bushy tail, and threw him bodily into a large tree on the other side of the clearing! The tree cracked at the point of impact and fell, forcing some of the pack to dodge the falling tree. Greyback struggled to regain his feet. He glared hatred at Duncan.

"Yield or die", Duncan repeated. "I won't ask again."

Greyback growled, then lowered his gaze in submission.

"Crawl back to Voldemort, and never come back", Duncan scoffed dismissively, then turned to look for the pack Beta.

Even before the pack wolves barked a warning, Duncan heard the low growl from behind him. Time seemed to slow as he turned to see Greyback in mid-air sailing toward him, claws and remaining fangs bared…..

'I have him now!', Greyback thought, then his eyes widened as the boy breathed a huge blast of flames like a dragon! He managed to roll to his right and avoid incineration, but he still caught some flames to his face and left shoulder.

Yowling in agony from his burning face and shoulder, Fenrir Greyback, the most feared werewolf in Europe, ran away as fast as his transformed legs could carry him!

Duncan turned to see the pack kneeling in submission before him, acknowledging him as their Alpha. "Stand up", he told them gently. "I am not your Alpha. I merely freed you from an unworthy pretender who would have led you to your own destruction. You(pointing to the elder pack Beta), lead them well. You are the Alpha now. Meet me at the Hog's Head at noon on the second Saturday in January. So we can talk."

The newly appointed Alpha nodded with a soft growl.

xxXXxx

Back at the castle, Harry was stuck in detention with Snape after dinner. He wasn't surprised. The greasy git had to find some way to make him miserable before the holiday break, so during the last Potions class he was even more vile than usual; making up the flimsiest excuse to give Harry detention. His task was to clean cauldrons. Harry had just 'scourgified' his second one….

"Are you incapable of following even the most simple instructions, Potter?", Snape sneered. "You will clean those cauldrons by hand! What purpose does a punishment serve if you can make it easier with magick?"

Harry looked up to glare at the Potions Master, and when their eyes met he sensed something. It was like someone was rifling through his worst memories of his abuse from the Dursleys!

"GET THE HELL OUT OF MY MIND, YOU GREASY GIT!", Harry yelled, mentally slamming the door on the intrusion. Snape was shocked as he was actually physically knocked back a few feet by the force of the expulsion! Since when was Potter an occlumens?! Snape had been savoring the memories of Harry's torture at the hands of his 'relatives' since his first year, and he'd wanted to fill his 'spank-bank' for the holidays. Snape had deliberately had every book on Legilimency and Occlumency moved to the most restricted section of the library – and away from inquiring young minds – for the express purpose of having the freedom to raid the minds of the students!

"And I'll be sure to inform Madam Pince and Professor McGonagall of that!", Harry barked, as if he'd heard what Snape was thinking!

"WHAT?! How dare you…AH!", Snape began to snarl, grabbing Harry by the collar, when the memory of his greatest humiliation at the hands of James Potter shot to the forefront of his mind like a bullet. Now he knew for sure. Potter was both an Occlumens and a Legilimens, and he had seen that memory. But how?

"Professor", Harry started in a regretful tone, "I-I didn't mean to…"

"Get. Out", Snape hissed.

xxXXxx

(The next morning, Malfoy Manor)

Voldemort was pleased this morning. Several of the artifacts he sought had been located, and he would send his Death Eaters to retrieve them over the holidays. He had the manticore Doom Claw tracking Rubeus Hagrid on the continent as the oaf searches for the Crown of King Eric between meeting clans of giants. The monster's orders were clear: watch and follow the half-giant until he acquires the Crown, then kill him and bring the Crown to the Dark Lord.

Young Draco had succeeded in his primary mission of retrieving the basilisk egg. Voldemort now had it secreted away someplace safe with an imperioused wart-hog toad sitting on it. This "deadliest amphibian on the planet" is exceptionally rare, almost extinct. Nearly as large as the egg itself, the brightly colored, bloated toad has a prominent pair tusks protruding from its lower jaw, poisonous barbs on its long tongue, and delicate easy-to-burst blisters covering the colorful skin of its back containing a venom nearly as insidious as a basilisk. However, the toad's poison is slower and can be absorbed through human skin. Thus, even handling the creature was extremely dangerous, though when the baby basilisk hatched, it would have no problem eating the toad that hatched it.

The egg would have eventually hatched on its own, but this was faster and Voldemort had the toad sitting on the egg inside a runic circle he had designed to hopefully make the hatchling's venom even more potent and deadly due to the toad! Then he planned to vastly increase its growth rate by feeding it meals covered with a growth potion.

He was pulled from his musings by a knock. "Enter", he called.

"My Lord! Greyback has returned."

"Well, let him in to tender his report, Lucius", Voldemort huffed impatiently.

"M-m-my Lord, I fear he cannot", Lucuis stammered. "He is unconscious and being treated for multiple injuries and severe burn wounds."

"WHAT?!", The Dark Lord roared, standing from his throne. "What happened?!"

"He apparated in, my Lord, and immediately collapsed. He was battered and bloody, and the left side of his face and his shoulder are badly burned."

"Did he give any clue as to who or what attacked him?!", Voldemort demanded, knowing how formidable Fenrir was under the full moon.

"He gasped out two words before he lost consciousness, my Lord", Malfoy gulped. "Duncan Rosenblatt."

xxXXxx

T'was the week before Christmas,

And all through the school,

The students were packing,

For the holiday Yule….

Harry had just returned to Gryffindor Tower, to Ron & Hermione eager for details of his moments alone with Cho after the rest of them left the Room of Requirement just a little earlier. He confessed to talking briefly about Cedric, then sharing his first kiss with her, and Cho's tears. Hermione, despite her pangs of jealousy, voiced her concerns for the storm of emotions that Cho must be going through; then chided Ron for having 'the emotional range of a teaspoon' when the redhead couldn't understand how anyone could feel so much at the same time.

xxXXxx

(Dec. 18, 11:23 pm)

Harry tossed and turned in his bed, a vision of slithering(?) through dark corridors, tiled walls so black as to be like mirrors…...a snake? It felt similar to the visions he'd had just before 4th year began….visions of Voldemort. Then he saw Arthur Weasley caught by surprise in the dark near aisles of towering shelves, looking terrified to see him just before it seemed from Harry's perspective, Harry himself was striking the Weasley patriarch with his…face? As if he were ….. a snake! A large snake repeatedly striking Arthur!

Harry woke with a start in a cold sweat. Ron and his siblings took him to McGonagall, who in-turn took them to Dumbledore and collected Duncan on the way.

"In the dream were you standing next to the victim?", Dumbledore asked as he paced his office. "Or looking down at the scene?"

"Neither", Harry replied, still shaken. "It was like I…was the snake. Professor, will you please just tell me what's happening?"

"Everhardt", Dumbledore addressed a portrait of an old man wearing a fancy fez hanging nearby, "Arthur is on guard duty tonight. Make sure he's found by the right people."

The man nodded and exited his painting, presumably to go to a matching one somewhere else.

"Sir…?", Harry called, trying to get the headmaster's attention.

"Phineas", Albus turned to another portrait. "Go to your portrait in Grimmauld Place. And tell them that Arthur Weasley has been gravely injured, and his children will be arriving there soon by portkey." The one Black who had once been Headmaster nodded and left his portrait.

"They got him, Albus", Everhardt reported as he returned. "It was close but they think he'll make it. What's more, the Dark Lord failed to acquire it."

"Failed to acquire what?", Duncan asked suspiciously.

"Ah, thank goodness", Albus breathed in relief.

"LOOK AT ME!", Harry shouted, finally losing his patience, making Dumbledore turn to him in surprise. "What's happening to me?!"

"You sent for me, Headmaster?", Snape asked as he entered the tense room.

"Yes, Severus", Albus replied. "I'm afraid we will have to begin Young Harry's occlumency training sooner than expected. Tonight, even."

"Whoa! Hold on!", Duncan growled. "Harry is natural occlumens! All the bindings on his core and abilities were removed before start of term. So why should he let this….. man, who obviously hates him, into his head?"

"Even natural abilities need to be developed and strengthened, Duncan, as even you well know", Albus replied.

"I must—regretfully—agree with Professor Rosenblatt, Headmaster", Snape drawled. "While the mind arts can be learned by those who lack the natural ability, it cannot be rushed. And you know as well as I that those possessing the abilities naturally must develop them at their own pace with…. minimal interference, lest it cause more harm than good."

"Harry needs to be protected", Albus insisted.

"And he will be", Duncan replied. "Dobby!"

"Master Harry's cousin calls Dobby?", the elf asked with a bow when he popped into existence.

"Yes, Dobby. I'm sorry to wake you so late, but we need you to go to Harry's room in Potter Manor and bring his dreamcatcher right away and hang it over his bed in the Gryffindor dorm", Duncan ordered, and Harry breathed knowingly in relief as Dobby nodded and poofed away with a snap of his fingers.

"Duncan, what….?", Dumbledore began to ask.

"A dreamcatcher is a Native American creation, Albus", Duncan explained. "It protects the sleeper from bad dreams while allowing good dreams to pass. The enchantments on Harry's were specifically enhanced to deal with his nightmares."

"Are you certain this 'dreamcatcher' will protect his mind?" Albus asked with concern. "What about during his waking hours?"

"With my natural abilities I'm sure I can protect myself during the day, Professor", Harry assured him. "I've never had a vision like this while I'm awake. I think I just need to learn how to keep my shields up while I sleep. In the meantime, my dreamcatcher will keep me safe. But what is going on?"

"It would appear that there is a connection between the Dark Lord's mind and your own", Snape droned ominously. "Whether he is aware of this connection or not is, as yet, unclear. Pray that he remains ignorant."

"You mean if he knows about it, he'll be able to read my mind if I'm not protected?", Harry asked, guessing at the truth.

"Read it. Control it. Unhinge it", Snape pressed, smiling inwardly at the boy's discomfort. "In the past it was often the Dark Lord's pleasure to invade the minds of his victims; creating visions designed to torture them into madness. Only after extracting the last exquisite ounce of agony and he had them literally begging for death would he finally kill them."

"That's enough!", Duncan growled. "He gets the point, and you're enjoying this a little too much, Snape. Harry, Mom and Sirius can help you develop your resting mental defenses over the holiday break. I wouldn't trust Grease-Mop over here anywhere near your head."

"How dare…!"

"That's enough, Severus!", Dumbledore huffed. "Perhaps Duncan is right. Any assistance Harry might require should be provided by someone he trusts implicitly. Besides, your method of rigid discipline of the mind—while ideal for you—may not be as effective for a more creative thinker like Harry. There is more than one way to organize one's mind and school emotions."

With that, the Headmaster dismissed everyone. Ron and his siblings said their goodbyes and departed through the floo, and everyone else returned to bed. After all, most of the students were departing for the holiday break in the morning.

xxXXxx

(pre-dawn Dec. 19, Malfoy Manor)

The Dark Lord Voldemort paced before his assembled Death Eaters, new recruits as well as the most seasoned and deadly members of his Inner Circle.

"Dispatching multiple teams will enable us to pursue all the currently known relics simultaneously", Voldemort told them. "DoomClaw is already trailing Dumbledore's oaf to acquire the Crown of King Eric. MacNair assures me that he is close to learning the location of the Isle of Drear. Lucius, due to your continued greater usefulness in the halls of the Ministry, and as a reward for the success of your son; you shall remain here to enjoy the holidays."

"Thank you, my Lord. Most gracious of you."

"Yes, isn't it?", Voldemort grinned darkly. "And if your elves inform you of any change in Greyback's condition, you will inform me immediately."

"Of course, my Lord", Lucius grumbled at the reminder of the unconscious werewolf in his hidden cellar.

"The rest of you; GO! And dare not fail me!"

xxXXxx

Author's notes: "Cryoscythe" is a spell I created for this story. I figure J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World would have a spell like that; shooting sharp icicles at your opponent.

The "wart-hog toad" is also my own creation for this story. I did try to see if there was an already existing magical poisonous toad in the HP literature and found none. I did find in my research that a newly hatched basilisk does eat the toad that hatched it. So I figured Voldemort would try to take that a step further, plus make it attain dangerously large size in a short time.

I figured that even a werewolf as powerful as Greyback would need time to recover if he were lucky enough to survive a fight with Duncan. So we're not gonna see him again for a while. Hence, he will NOT be taking part in the "Christmas Scavenger Hunt" for Voldemort.

Long reviews and suggestions are always welcome! Flames will be used to keep the Yule Tides burning!

xxXXxx