Chapter 9: Wounds cannot just be licked

It took me a minute go gather myself up and enter. I told these kids to be prepared, to never let their guard down, to not let emotions guide them. Yet I failed each lesson.

I let my guard down, we were attacked.

I wasn't prepared, I left my gun in my office.

I let my anger guide me, and Viccy was taken, Mouse was hurt.

I was hurt. Cuts, bruises, and out of breath from the running through the woods, but emotionally I was tore up. I couldn't believe how bad I had failed.

My grip tightened on my staff. I had to find Victoire. I had to save Mouse.

I just didn't know how to do either.

Suddenly, the gargoyle in front of me stood up and moved aside, without me saying the passcode. Grasshopper stood in the doorway, looking like she was going to win a wet robe contest with how much she had been sweating from exertion from spell casting and all the running uphill.

"Headmistress says to stop dragging your feet and come inside." She spoke softly.

"Those words?" I asked, attempting for some lighthearted humor.

She shook her head as she stepped aside, letting me through the stone arch. "Not exactly, the words she used were a little more heated."

"Of course they were." I muttered under my breath as I looked around me.

Everyone who had been outside with me were there, except for Viccy, of course. Mouse lay on a raised table, unconscious, the Headmistress and another man standing around him. I eyed him warily.

"Dresden," the Headmistress started, "this is Professor Longbottom of Herbology. I have summoned him for his assistance in this matter."

The man smiled awkwardly at me, though he didn't wave. "Hello, nice to meet you. You can just call me Neville."

I nodded slowly. "Hi, Neville." I looked back at Minerva. "What's going on? Is he going to be ok?"

"I don't know, Mister Dresden." She looked up at me over the rims of her glasses, her normally present hat had been taken off, allowing her messy gray hair to almost glimmer in the soft light. "His wounds are not healing as they should."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

She rolled her head in irritation. "Magic can be used, if done properly, to assist in the closing of wounds. Your Fu Dogs' own magic should be capable of doing such a thing on his own. However, neither is occurring. Professor Longbottom here has brought in some herbs that we can use as a poultice to at least stop the bleeding."

I stared in shock, not that I wasn't already in shock from everything that occurred that night. Mouse wasn't healing. And he was injured, badly. I felt that pit in my stomach grow like the heart of the Grinch, only I felt worse instead of the love of Christmas.

Slowly I walked up and scratched at his ears, they flicked towards me briefly before again relaxing. "Oh I'm so sorry, boy, this is all my fault." I whispered.

No one else said a word while Minerva and Neville worked on Mouse, shaving away large tufts of fur to wrap bandages around heavy wounds, trying to cast spells to at least tie together larger cuts. Neville even broke out a sewing kit and hand stitched the severe injuries.

I stood by his head, my hand by his ear, fingers dug into his fur, the entire time as he whimpered in pain. I needed to find that werewolf, to figure out why the silver didn't kill him. Didn't end the curse.

It should have all ended there, in that moment, just like with MacFinn.

But it didn't.

Fenrir ran away, and took a small girl with him. I girl that I was to protect.

I jumped as I felt a hand touch my shoulder. "Easy now." Came Grasshoppers' soft voice. "There's nothing positive we can do by standing around sulking."

"She's right." Potter whispered on an exhale.

"Why is the woman always right?" Ron asked.

"Because you married Hermione, Ron." Neville answered, wiping his hands down on a rag.

Ron just nodded and didn't say anything.

"Seriously, though, she is right. We need to focus on what to do to get Viccy back." Potter continued. Over by the bookshelves I saw Teddys' head pop up from where he was comforting Molly Weasley.

"What happened?" Ron asked after a moment. "I saw you fling something at him and he basically just laughed."

I shook my head as I slowly, painfully, took a step back from Mouse. "I don't know. That trick with my amulet worked on the last Loup Garou I came across. This time, even though I had a clear shot, nothing."

"I wonder if it's anything to do with how close he is to Fenris of legend?" Minerva thought aloud.

I watched her for a moment, she never stopped tending to Mouse, didn't even look up. "You think that because he's closer to a literal wolf god that he's not just able to pass the curse but Hells Bells is noticeably stronger than a normal Loup Garou?"

"I'm afraid so, Mister Dresden." She muttered, barely audible.

"Stars and stones." I spun in a slow circle, running my fingers through my own hair. "How are we going to take out a demi-god?"

No one came forth with any ideas. Finally I looked for a chair and sat down, closing my eyes and making myself focus. I took a deep breath and concentrated.

I think I made the whole room jump when I stood up and spun around, knocking the chair over. "Padawan!"

Molly rushed towards me, worried but excited at the same time. "Uh, yea?"

"I'm going to send you with a note and request to Vadderung." I bolted up to the Headmistresses desk and started rummaging about for pen and paper.

"Uuhhh, to THAT Vadderung?" She asked, slowly following me up the dais.

"Yup." I responded curtly, plopping down the paper and only finding quills. "Don't any of you use pens?" I asked. Potter jogged forward, pulling one from a pocket and handing it to me. "Thank you."

"Welcome." He muttered as he stood back, watching me as one would a madman.

"Sooooo," Grasshopper continued, "whyyyyy am I going to Vadderung?"

I paused from my writing, pointing with the pen. "Think about it. Tyr is the one who chained up Fenris to begin with. Tyr is Odins' son. Odin goes by Vadderung in this day and age. If anyone would have the information on how to deal with this insane werewolf demi-god, it's him."

"And you think," Potter said aloud, "that he would want to continue his sons work?"

I nodded and continued writing. "Exactly, even if he doesn't want to do it in honor of Tyr maybe he'll consider me owing him a favor reason enough."

Molly, Minerva, and Potter stared at me in open shock. Each understood what I had just said. I was willing to offer up a favor, due whenever Vadderung so desired, in exchange for at minimum information on how to stop one man, let alone kill him. To real wizards, favors were almost like golden currency. The only other item as powerful was a name, and I assumed Vadderung already had mine through his Kringle mantle.

Finally, I rolled the paper up and handed it to Molly. "Take the Ways back to Chicago, I'm sure Potter can help you with that."

"You're not coming?" She asked.

I shook my head. "No. I need to see if I can get a tracking spell together to get Viccy back." I walked back around the desk, noting Minerva looking rather sour that I messed up her perfect organization. "Once in Chicago either seek out Miss Gard with Marcone, or her sister over by Lauras'. Use anything you can with the Accords to keep yourself safe with both of them, but either one of them can lead you to Vadderung."

She was breathing heavily in fear, but she nodded. "On it, boss."

"Good." I walked over to where the two children were and knelt down by them. "Molly?" I asked softly.

She looked up at me, big eyes wet from tears. "Y-yes?"

"I need you to do something for me. You're in the same year and house as Viccy, so you'll have access to her items." I waited for Molly to nod before I continued. "I need you to get something of Viccys', either some hair or something she cherished. Anything with a physical or strong emotional attachment."

"I-I think I can do that."

Ron knelt down next to me. "I'll stay with ya. Teddy and I can wait outside the Common Room and bring ya back by Commander Dresden with whatever you find.

The small girl nodded and stood with Teddys' help. Ron moved to stand behind them, a hand on a shoulder on each of the kids.

I looked around the room. Minerva and Neville stood besides Mouse, occasionally checking on him. Potter and Grasshopper stood together, closer to the entrance. She was grasping the letter I handed her tightly, as if it was going to fly away at any moment. Then Ron and the children stood next to me, looking somber and terrified.

"Don't worry," I spoke to the whole room, spinning slowly between each grouping, "we will find Viccy. Finding people is one of my specialties. We just need to stay strong and formulate a plan, you've all seen the strength Fenrir has with him, we can't go charging in half blind and full cocked. If we do then none of us our coming out in one piece. Once we are ready to go, the kids stay here."

"Oh comon!" Teddy protested. "We're ready to go with."

"No, you're not." I tried really hard to keep the anger out of my voice, but I knew I wasn't doing that well a job at it. Teddy flinched back as if I had hit him. "You can just defend against dementors, which are nothing like Loup Garou, much less the super charged demi-god version we're about to face. You and Molly will remain here."

He didn't challenge me, instead he looked down, ashamed.

"Potter," Minerva said softly, "once you are done escorting Miss Carpenter through the Ways to Chicago please alert the rest of the Order to reunite here. Have them come to my office promptly upon arrival."

"Yes, Professor." Potter said promptly as he and Molly were turning to leave.

"Potter, one more thing." She called out. "Please send in Professor Hagrid first. We could use his assistance with Mouse."

"Understood." The two of them walked off, Molly giving me a sad smile and a wave goodbye.

As if I wasn't feeling bad enough, without Grasshopper around I just felt that much more lonely. I knew she'd return, but we weren't sure how long it would take.

Ron left next with the two kids tailing behind, each hanging their heads. Molly was trying so hard to hold in tears but they were still leaking down her cheeks. Teddy too was barely holding it together.

I stood there, watching the door.

We all felt defeated. We all WERE defeated.

"Mister Dresden," the Headmistress called, snapping me out of my own thoughts, "until such time as your apprentice returns you have a tracking spell to prepare and classes to teach."

I spun, my anger flaring. "You still expect me to teach?"

She stared me down firmly over the still form of my dog. Neville took a couple steps back. "Yes. I expect you to do your job. To use a map with your spell to get us an exact location. Maybe even ask that spirit you keep in a skull to help you. But until we know how to stop Fenrir we're no good rushing in. You're the teacher here, not me, I shouldn't have to teach this to you." She didn't even try to hide the soft venom in her voice.

I looked down and away from her and Mouse.

Minerva took a deep breath before she spoke again. "Mouse is in good hands, don't worry. Go to your rooms and rest as best you can. Focus on getting the items needed for the spell. Send an owl or Mister with whatever you need me to provide, it will arrive shortly after."

"I don't have an owl." I whispered.

"Then I shall provide one for you." She came over to me and placed her hand on my shoulder. "You should realize as well as I that Fenrir is after more than a little girl. He won't hurt her or he damages a pawn in his game. I am certain we will hear from him soon enough with an offer to exchange."

"What could he possibly want?"

"It seems to me this is a revenge attack, after all, Potter and Weasley are responsible, in part, for his return to Azkaban. I assume that he has a way of controlling those he turns, at least after a time as there have been those free of his control."

"Teddys father?"

"Among others." She removed her hand and walked to the room of portraits, looking around for a moment before going to a particular painting that resembled a flashier Gandalf. "Albus." She simply stated, bringing the man from his slumber. She walked over to a guy who looked like he was on Galaxy Quest and woke him with a quick "Severus."

"Hm? Oh, yes, Minerva?" He responded. The other man remained quiet, but watched her with a sharp gaze.

"I have Potter escorting Miss Carpenter on an errand, then to begin assembling the Order. This will go faster with more than one assisting. Please go to your other portraits, send word to the Order that they are needed here. That Hogwarts is in danger once again."

In a manner that could only be described as both sluggish and with haste the two stood from their relaxed position and walked off into their portraits as if going down a long hallway.

As they left she turned to me. "Still here? Go to your rooms."

After a quick and gentle hug for Mouse I did as I was told. Neville gave me a sad smile as I left and a couple words to help set my mind at ease. They didn't work or I'd have remembered what he said.

I wandered down the halls to my apartment in solace. No Molly to walk alongside gawking at everything like the nerdy geek she is. No Mouse plodding along getting all the attention. Mister was wherever he was.

I'm not sure exactly when I landed at my door, the name "Dresden" engraved into a plaque set in a three sided frame, but eventually I was there.

Something about the door, however, felt off. But not in a bad way. It was more, familiar yet alien.

Worried it was Mab again, I slid the door open.

Anastasia Luccia was standing inside, warming her hands at a roaring fireplace.

"You know," she started, not even looking up, "I always find castles drafty and cold. I am glad they saw fit to put fireplaces everywhere here."

"Ana-" I caught myself, "Captain. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

She took a slow, sad breath before speaking. "We have been going through Donalds' possessions. As he had no family, he had no one to bequeath his possessions to upon his death. As such, the Council has decided that the Wardens would be allowed to take ownership of that which was left behind."

"I don't understand why that involves a visit."

Finally she looked up to face me as she came over, holding out a small, leather book. "Donalds' journal. Please, you have every right to read it, especially the last entry."

Warily, I took it from her, flipping to the last page. Morgans handwriting was neat and organized, very much like the man himself. I tensed when I noticed the entry was about me.

Insert Microfiction Number Two by Jim Butcher

Everything was too much to take at once. I understood why he harassed me all these years, why he finally decided to trust me in the end.

"I could really use his assistance right now, Captain, as well as yours." I said after what felt like an ungodly long silence.

"I am sorry, Commander, but there have been attacks from the Red Court that are more urgent than anything that could be going on here." She plopped another letter on the table before me. "This also came for you to the Headquarters. It came a few days ago."

I noted the handwriting, it was from Will. The letter was simple, saying that someone named River kept calling my office, saying he urgently needed my assistance. Gave a date and time in October to meet him in Oklahoma.

Great. More things I had to deal with. The meeting time was just over a week away. I'd have to take the Ways back to Chicago, get my Blue Beetle, drive all the way to Oklahoma for some reason instead of Wisconsin North Woods, take care of the problem more than likely to do with Irwin, drive back, and come through the Ways to Scotland once again.

Oh, and I had to try to find a way to save Viccy before I left.

"I truly am sorry, we do know of the threats to the school." Anastasia sat in a chair next to me. She didn't touch me, or try to comfort me in any way.

Our break up was…. Unusual to say the least. She had been under the effects of mind altering magic through Wizard Peabodys' intricate inks and more or less was instructed to spark up a relationship with me to keep her out of HQ. Needless to say when the enchantment broke and all was revealed, that was when our dating life was over.

And that was all just a few weeks ago.

"I have done my duty." She said as she rose. "I will return the journal to HQ, to be kept in our Worry Room for reference."

"Thank you." I whispered, rising as she did out of habit.

She didn't say another word as she left, I didn't watch her go. Everything was overwhelming, and I felt more tired than I had in a long while. At the same time I didn't want to sleep. I wanted to go out, search every leaf for a clue as to where they went.

To bring Viccy home safe.

"Hey Boss, you're looking rough." Bob said as I walked into my bedroom.

"Just a little." I responded before relaying the information as to the events of the day.

"Oh my." He whispered, shock evident in his voice. "Well, as to the tracking spell you'll need two maps, a pane of glass bigger than each, candles, and obviously a piece of her hair or clothing."

I nodded. "Hop in Mister then and relay the information to the Headmistress."

His eyelights brightened in surprise. "You actually want me to talk to another being?" He asked.

"She knows you're here, I don't think she'll be too surprised as long as you don't go starting any orgies on campus." I side-eyed him. "Once you relay the message, come straight back."

"On it, Boss. You should try to rest some, so you can perform the spell."

"Need to wait until the Weasleys and Teddy return with something of Viccys'." I said through a yawn.

"Then let them wake you up by knocking on the door." He rebuked as he floated out of his skull and around the room, looking for my large cat.

I didn't have a response.

After a minute he found Mister hiding under the covers and took possession of him, darting off out of the doors I had left open.

I didn't feel like closing them. I just shrugged off my duster and lay in bed.

Sleep took me despite my best efforts to stay it off.