Disclaimer: All Characters appearing in the Harry Potter books are not mine.There will be more disclaimers for characters added in later, but this is the only one for HP characters.
A/N: Yes, this is a rewrite. It was horrible before. I think it's a bit better now. What do you think?
Bullet With Butterfly Wings
Rain fell in tiny droplets, pounding the streets of London. Drop after drop after drop after drop. Like war drums, never ceasing, never failing, never faltering. Monotonous rhythms weaved on and on, lulling old and young into blissful sleeps and pleasant dream worlds. Green meadows, candy trees, love, happiness, perfection. But wait, what was that? Thunder. Lightning. Nightmares. Pierced the night like the sun.
Running. Always running. Long coated figures dashed to and fro. Their feet were in time with the rain, their hearts, the thunder. Few had hats. Others carried umbrellas. All were drenched, chilled to the bone by an icy wind that whipped through the streets. And to think some had gone out for nothing more than a carton of milk.
A young couple walked swiftly in the downpour, always seeming to stay just within the shadows. Their coats were longer than most. They dragged along the ground and soaked up puddles as the pair passed. They wore large hoods that hid their faces completely, but these did little. Water seeped through the saturated hoods, mixing with the nervous sweat that dripped almost as steadily.
"Only a few more streets?" The shorter one spoke, the voice undoubtedly female.
The taller nodded as they rounded another corner, one glancing behind them at regular intervals. They shuffled toward the downtown area, turning another corner. There was some fool standing out on that corner, just waiting in the rain for something, or someone. They ignored him, going strait to a pub that was a few buildings down.
The pub was small, barely visible if you didn't know it was there. Its shabby, run-down appearance was nothing, though. The food was good and the door out back was well hidden, making this a popular entrance. The young couple stepped in, removing their hoods at once. The taller was male. With light, messy hair and brown eyes, he looked around the room. He was of an average build, though maybe a bit heavy around the middle, and his skin was light. Not as light as the man his eyes settled upon. The other man's dark eyes made him seem even paler than was natural, so pale, that he almost glowed.
Penny gasped, sitting strait up in her bed. Beads of sweat dripped down her face. Something was wrong. She could feel it. She shouldn't wake in the middle of the night because of him. She saw him all the time. It was part of her job. Fear shouldn't even be an option, at least not until he found out, anyways. What if he finds out? We won't be able to run soon. She put a hand to her stomach and lay down. Her other hand slipped beneath her pillow, grasping the wand beneath it tightly. She closed her eyes.
"Something wrong?" the man turned over, placing an arm around his dark-haired wife. She relaxed a little.
"Just a nightmare," she reassured him, "Nothing to worry about. Nightmares never hurt anyone." She breathed a bit deeper, trying to drift into sleep.
"Good, now go back to sleep. You'll feel better."
"Jeff?"
"Mm?"
"What if he-"
"He won- What was that?" Jeff stood up, reaching for his wand. Penny pretended to be asleep, still clutching her wand. Her knuckles looked like paper. The door burst open. Hooded shapes filled the room.
"So nice of you to welcome us, traitor," an icy voice spoke. It high-pitched and merciless, the kind that sends shivers down the bravest person's back. "And I would put your wand down. It will only make matters worse."
Knowing this to be the truth, Jeff obeyed. "Just don't kill her."
"What can you do about it if you're dead? Avada ked-"
"CRUCIO!" Penny's voice rung out, loud and clear. The source of the voice lay twitching before them. Dead eaters closed in, like a swarm of angry bees.
Jeff opened his eyes suddenly. They were safe. Still safe in a room beneath the Leaky Cauldron. It was still raining, still pouring down like there was no tomorrow. The soaked cloaks hung on the wall. Small puddles formed beneath them. Neither had bothered to clean it up.
Penny sat in a chair next to the room's fireplace. She was sipping some tea and staring at the fire.
"I thought he was Voldemort II," she said, noticing Jeff was awake.
"So did I. He looks so sickly now, all worn out."
"Remember when he came to the school to visit Harry?"
"When was that?" Jeff said. He couldn't quite remember.
"Right after Harry defeated the original Voldemort."
"Oh yeah. We were in third year."
"Seems so long ago now, but I still have some of those pranks products he brought."
"Yeah. No one expected the new Voldemort to make the switch."
"Didn't seem in his character."
"Well, after being ditched by Hermione and seeing what power can do, he just lost it."
"And no one was the same when the doctors said they couldn't heal Harry," Penny shook her head.
"It's a sha-"
"Did you feel that?" Penny looked around as if worried. Instinctively, she put a hand to her stomach and grabbed her wand.
"Feel what?"
"It was like a small shaking."
"I'm sure it was nothing."
There was a knock on the door. Penny jumped.
"Are you ok?" the blonde woman before them asked.
"Yeah." Penny put a hand to her head and took another sip of water. "Just tired. I haven't been able to sleep."
The woman nodded. "I know the feeling. When He went crazy, I couldn't sleep for weeks. I was so scared. I thought he would come and take me while I slept."
"It's a good thing he didn't, Hermione," Jeff took a cookie off the table, "Not sure what we'd do without you."
"It's nothing. Really, it's the least I can do. Not many are brave enough to spy as closely as you two did.
"There is no bravery involved, only necessity," Penny said softly, as she took a cookie too.
"She was a Gryffindor, Pen. They think in terms of bravery."
Hermione shook her head, laughing softly, "Well, I guess we're all a product of our houses… in most cases anyways."
Penny nodded. "Do you have any idea what they are planning for us?"
"No, but Dumbledore is working on it, so there's no need to worry. Actually, I think he has Harry on it too."
"We're in good hands." Jeff nodded as he spoke.
"How is Harry, by the way?"
"He's doing well. He still can't walk more than a meter without extreme pain, though."
"And still no cure can be found?"
Hermione shook her head sadly, "I sometimes think he doesn't want to be healed. He grows weary of everything. They still praise him for defeating Voldemort, while he waves them off, the second darkness that is rising on his mind. It is sad to see him almost wasting away. I am weary too. I may step down soon. We are not as young as we used to be." Hermione laughed halfheartedly. Barely thirty-one and she was feeling old, Harry too. What would they feel like if they ever reached Dumbledore's age? The old wizard must be at least a hundred fifty now, and he was still as lively as ever.
"But who could replace you as the head of the Ministry, especially in this time?"
"I don't know. I've heard Wood is thinking about running."
"The Quiditch player?" Penny sounded incredulous.
"Exactly. He is surprisingly qualified, actually. People like him too."
"If you insist. I somehow can't see it working."
"He's better than Malfoy. That one has managed to fool the public."
"I remember him," Jeff commented. "Reminded me of a bleached Snape, the slimeball."
Penny shook her head. "You ruined it with the last part. You'd think with all those books we've gone through you could have come up with something better."
Fully expecting Penny to scold him for saying something at all and not for coming up with a juvenile insult, Hermione was caught off guard. She quickly stifled a laugh.
"How about wool-head? Git? Moron? Sped? Idiot? Ignoramus."
"The last one at least sounds intelligent."
"Thought so too." There was a knock at the door.
Jeff opened his eyes quickly. He had fallen asleep reading about dragon breeding. He was better with numbers. Jeff would have to handle the business aspect.
Getting up, Jeff walked to the door and opened it.
"Tired?" Penny asked. She stepped into the room and wiped her feet on the carpet at the door.
"A little. Dragons have lost my interest. Being in the Magical World so long does that to you."
"Hasn't happened to me yet. I remember when my dad became an ambassador."
"I remember that. You were the little American girl who came in and forced everyone to try to beat you in English."
"Right before we went to Hogwarts, but that's not the point. My parents had gotten me a book when we came to London. I remember reading it and wishing dragons were real so I could see them. Now I can."
"I had almost forgotten you were muggle-born. Weird coincidence."
"Or maybe fate."
"I don't like fate. Not control."
"There's some. The path to get there is yours to choose."
"Maybe, but I don't believe in it."
Penny shrugged. "Suit yourself." She paused. "When do we leave for home?"
"Home?"
"Sorry. Meant America. Forgot myself."
"Within an hour, I'd say."
"Good. I can't wait to go home. I want to see them do the barrier."
"That will be interesting. I heard they have that telepath helping."
"That should coordinate things more easily. She's remarkable good for a student"
Jeff nodded. "Can you imagine it? A hundred of the most powerful witches and wizards, some the most powerful in the world… All to protect u-"
"Woah."
"What is it? The baby kicking?"
"Felt like more than that," Penny put a hand to her head. That was no baby kicking. It felt like raw power, pulsating through her body and into the baby. As the realization came to her, her stomach wrenched. Merlin, what was that? What if she's hurt? Dead? What can that type of power do to an infant? What could even cause that? As she thought, everything went black.
Black as night and cold as ice, the cave they sat in was definitely an unwelcoming place. You could barely tell the difference between opened eyes and closed ones, as Penny remembered when she opened her eyes.
Jeff nodded in response to her words as he said, "Yeah, but we won't be in here long. They're just making sure everything is secure before we go out to watch."
"I'm sure it will be fine. Look who's running it."
"Good point. What could go wrong with Harry and Dumbledore around?
"Probably nothing."
"Another reason that she's going to Hogwarts."
"Already decided?"
"Of course. We both went there so why not?" Jeff leaned back against the wall.
"I was thinking the same thing, actually."
"Unless she's a…"
Penny interrupted him. "Trust me she's not a…"
"You ready?" A voice came from the entrance of the cave. A girl stepped in. She looked about sixteen, with a pretty face and blonde hair that was streaked with pink. She was a couple of inches taller than Penny, but you couldn't tell because of the way the girl stood."
Jeff nodded as he stood up, helping Penny as he did so. "Yes."
"Ready as ever,"
"Good." The girl led them out of the dark cave. It was a relatively warm day, around 75° F (about 27° C), bright and sunny. Or so the girl said, you couldn't really tell. The trees were so dense in this part of the woods. Tight-packed with lush green leaves, with conifers sprouting everywhere between the other trees. The woods seemed very dark that day, but the trail was wide, probably for larger dragons. They walked along, and soon passed a small swampy area. The small, snake-like dragons would like that.
In actuality, they were not really in Massachusetts, where the farm was "located." The truth was that only the house was in MA, while the rest was somewhere in New Hampshire. It was a weird set-up, but it allowed for a safety zone. You could almost guarantee that it was possible find a way out because it was difficult to surround the place. That had all been set up before. All that was left was the final protection spell.
They passed through the line where place melted into place with little more than a shivers, and soon found themselves in the center. Dumbledore stood there, his robes blowing slightly in the wind, his smile twinkling as ever.
"Very good. You were quick," he smiled, "We're ready." You could hear his thick accent as he spoke, especially since Penny, still retaining her Bostonian accent after many years, spoke next. Jeff's accent was dulled, and the girl appeared to have none.
"Glad to get this over."
Jeff agreed silently. "It will be nice to feel safe again."
"I'm sure it will. Are you ready, Kate?"
The ten nodded. "Been ready for hours." She closed her eyes, concentrating on the minds of the witches and wizards around her. It was going to tire her out, but she was the best choice for the job, if only because of her enthusiasm.
"Go!" Dumbledore's voice rang out like a bell and the sky lit up like…
… Fire lit the room with an orangey glow. It was dying down now, as the sun began to think about rising. There was still time. It didn't have to come up until around 8:00, and it was just about 7:00. Everything was calm on the farm. Three months since they had moved in, and everything was settling already. Sales were up, death was down, and there was very little to trouble. Everything seemed safe at last.
"Will the danger ever leave us?" Penny shivered as she sipped her coffee. It was cool. Not cold, but just cool enough to tap the bones.
"What do you mean? We're safe here." Jeff looked at her over the section of the paper he was reading. She had the other parts sitting next to her on the table.
"Are we, though? We're trapped here like rats in a flood. We drown no matter where we go."
"Don't let it get you down. There's a way out."
"Oh?"
"She won't have to deal with this?"
"Yes she will. She's being born into it. She's going to have to learn to defend herself. If he finds out, who do you think he'll go after? Not us. We can hide here for the rest of our lives. That's a luxury she doesn't have."
Jeff sighed, "So we're going to strip her of her childhood?"
Penny nodded sadly. "What choice do we have? Ignorance could kill h-"
"Merlin. She loses either way."
"I don't want to do this to her, but there is nothing else."
"What if we send her to live with a muggle family?" He suggested, his eyes betraying that he disliked the idea. "We'll tell no one. She'd be safe then."
"NO!"
Jeff jumped at the strength of her refusal. "It was just an idea," he defended.
"Sorry. We can't do that, though. Under different circumstances, I might actually consider it, even if I dislike it, but it will cause trouble."
"Trouble?"
"There is more to her than we know. I'm sure of it." She shuddered.
"What are you keeping from me?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"How about now?"
"No, you can wait."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Only fools are positive."
"Maybe, but you're the one reciting lines from a children's movie."
"I am?"
"Yeah. Batty says that in Ferngulli."
"And you remember it?"
"Of course," she said, as if it were perfectly normal to remember some movie you watched when you were very little."
Jeff shook his head, "Are you mad?"
"I'm not… No. I haven't gone crazy. If I was crazy, wouldn't you be the first to know?"
"Point taken…" He was going to say something else, but stopped at the look that painted Penny's face. "Are you ok."
"Time," she whispered."
"Time?" he just stared at her for a moment. "Oh! That time!"
She nodded as she closed her eyes.
"Penny? Penny? Penny, are you all right?"
She looked up, shaking herself awake. "I'm fine. I was just thinking."
"Good to know," the raven-haired man before her smiled through his round glasses. His green eyes were bright as emeralds, but even his smile was offset by the look of exhaustion that appeared all about him in his hovering chair. Jeff was sleeping in a chair in the corner, and her newborn daughter was yawning in the man's arms.
"Did they just bring her in?"
Harry nodded. "Yes. What is her name?"
"Wolf."
Harry laughed, "Isn't that a little cruel? Wolf Howl?"
"Her name is just Wolf. She did not take on our last name."
"Why?"
"To protect her. It makes her conspicuous, yet hidden at the same time."
"I think I understand, but you don't have to explain anymore, even if I don't." He took a deep breath and his eyes focused on the baby in his arms just as suddenly as his body shook slightly, but violently. He looked up at Penny, who looked concerned at this point. "I'm fine, but did you feel that? It was stranger than anything I've ever experienced. Pure power," he was almost whispering.
She sighed in relief. "I have felt it, and I don't like it."
"Keep this from her. Things like this fade over time, but it will not remain dormant forever."
"That is what I fear, Harry."
He looked at her for a moment. "Keep it secret. Keep her safe. Stranger things have happened, but stranger are to come."
"You sound like your foreshadowing something. This is not some story. If you know something, tell me."
"I don't know anything, but I may soon."
A/N: Yes, this is a rewrite. It was horrible before. I think it's a bit better now. What do you think?
Rain fell in tiny droplets, pounding the streets of London. Drop after drop after drop after drop. Like war drums, never ceasing, never failing, never faltering. Monotonous rhythms weaved on and on, lulling old and young into blissful sleeps and pleasant dream worlds. Green meadows, candy trees, love, happiness, perfection. But wait, what was that? Thunder. Lightning. Nightmares. Pierced the night like the sun.
Running. Always running. Long coated figures dashed to and fro. Their feet were in time with the rain, their hearts, the thunder. Few had hats. Others carried umbrellas. All were drenched, chilled to the bone by an icy wind that whipped through the streets. And to think some had gone out for nothing more than a carton of milk.
A young couple walked swiftly in the downpour, always seeming to stay just within the shadows. Their coats were longer than most. They dragged along the ground and soaked up puddles as the pair passed. They wore large hoods that hid their faces completely, but these did little. Water seeped through the saturated hoods, mixing with the nervous sweat that dripped almost as steadily.
"Only a few more streets?" The shorter one spoke, the voice undoubtedly female.
The taller nodded as they rounded another corner, one glancing behind them at regular intervals. They shuffled toward the downtown area, turning another corner. There was some fool standing out on that corner, just waiting in the rain for something, or someone. They ignored him, going strait to a pub that was a few buildings down.
The pub was small, barely visible if you didn't know it was there. Its shabby, run-down appearance was nothing, though. The food was good and the door out back was well hidden, making this a popular entrance. The young couple stepped in, removing their hoods at once. The taller was male. With light, messy hair and brown eyes, he looked around the room. He was of an average build, though maybe a bit heavy around the middle, and his skin was light. Not as light as the man his eyes settled upon. The other man's dark eyes made him seem even paler than was natural, so pale, that he almost glowed.
Penny gasped, sitting strait up in her bed. Beads of sweat dripped down her face. Something was wrong. She could feel it. She shouldn't wake in the middle of the night because of him. She saw him all the time. It was part of her job. Fear shouldn't even be an option, at least not until he found out, anyways. What if he finds out? We won't be able to run soon. She put a hand to her stomach and lay down. Her other hand slipped beneath her pillow, grasping the wand beneath it tightly. She closed her eyes.
"Something wrong?" the man turned over, placing an arm around his dark-haired wife. She relaxed a little.
"Just a nightmare," she reassured him, "Nothing to worry about. Nightmares never hurt anyone." She breathed a bit deeper, trying to drift into sleep.
"Good, now go back to sleep. You'll feel better."
"Jeff?"
"Mm?"
"What if he-"
"He won- What was that?" Jeff stood up, reaching for his wand. Penny pretended to be asleep, still clutching her wand. Her knuckles looked like paper. The door burst open. Hooded shapes filled the room.
"So nice of you to welcome us, traitor," an icy voice spoke. It high-pitched and merciless, the kind that sends shivers down the bravest person's back. "And I would put your wand down. It will only make matters worse."
Knowing this to be the truth, Jeff obeyed. "Just don't kill her."
"What can you do about it if you're dead? Avada ked-"
"CRUCIO!" Penny's voice rung out, loud and clear. The source of the voice lay twitching before them. Dead eaters closed in, like a swarm of angry bees.
Jeff opened his eyes suddenly. They were safe. Still safe in a room beneath the Leaky Cauldron. It was still raining, still pouring down like there was no tomorrow. The soaked cloaks hung on the wall. Small puddles formed beneath them. Neither had bothered to clean it up.
Penny sat in a chair next to the room's fireplace. She was sipping some tea and staring at the fire.
"I thought he was Voldemort II," she said, noticing Jeff was awake.
"So did I. He looks so sickly now, all worn out."
"Remember when he came to the school to visit Harry?"
"When was that?" Jeff said. He couldn't quite remember.
"Right after Harry defeated the original Voldemort."
"Oh yeah. We were in third year."
"Seems so long ago now, but I still have some of those pranks products he brought."
"Yeah. No one expected the new Voldemort to make the switch."
"Didn't seem in his character."
"Well, after being ditched by Hermione and seeing what power can do, he just lost it."
"And no one was the same when the doctors said they couldn't heal Harry," Penny shook her head.
"It's a sha-"
"Did you feel that?" Penny looked around as if worried. Instinctively, she put a hand to her stomach and grabbed her wand.
"Feel what?"
"It was like a small shaking."
"I'm sure it was nothing."
There was a knock on the door. Penny jumped.
"Are you ok?" the blonde woman before them asked.
"Yeah." Penny put a hand to her head and took another sip of water. "Just tired. I haven't been able to sleep."
The woman nodded. "I know the feeling. When He went crazy, I couldn't sleep for weeks. I was so scared. I thought he would come and take me while I slept."
"It's a good thing he didn't, Hermione," Jeff took a cookie off the table, "Not sure what we'd do without you."
"It's nothing. Really, it's the least I can do. Not many are brave enough to spy as closely as you two did.
"There is no bravery involved, only necessity," Penny said softly, as she took a cookie too.
"She was a Gryffindor, Pen. They think in terms of bravery."
Hermione shook her head, laughing softly, "Well, I guess we're all a product of our houses… in most cases anyways."
Penny nodded. "Do you have any idea what they are planning for us?"
"No, but Dumbledore is working on it, so there's no need to worry. Actually, I think he has Harry on it too."
"We're in good hands." Jeff nodded as he spoke.
"How is Harry, by the way?"
"He's doing well. He still can't walk more than a meter without extreme pain, though."
"And still no cure can be found?"
Hermione shook her head sadly, "I sometimes think he doesn't want to be healed. He grows weary of everything. They still praise him for defeating Voldemort, while he waves them off, the second darkness that is rising on his mind. It is sad to see him almost wasting away. I am weary too. I may step down soon. We are not as young as we used to be." Hermione laughed halfheartedly. Barely thirty-one and she was feeling old, Harry too. What would they feel like if they ever reached Dumbledore's age? The old wizard must be at least a hundred fifty now, and he was still as lively as ever.
"But who could replace you as the head of the Ministry, especially in this time?"
"I don't know. I've heard Wood is thinking about running."
"The Quiditch player?" Penny sounded incredulous.
"Exactly. He is surprisingly qualified, actually. People like him too."
"If you insist. I somehow can't see it working."
"He's better than Malfoy. That one has managed to fool the public."
"I remember him," Jeff commented. "Reminded me of a bleached Snape, the slimeball."
Penny shook her head. "You ruined it with the last part. You'd think with all those books we've gone through you could have come up with something better."
Fully expecting Penny to scold him for saying something at all and not for coming up with a juvenile insult, Hermione was caught off guard. She quickly stifled a laugh.
"How about wool-head? Git? Moron? Sped? Idiot? Ignoramus."
"The last one at least sounds intelligent."
"Thought so too." There was a knock at the door.
Jeff opened his eyes quickly. He had fallen asleep reading about dragon breeding. He was better with numbers. Jeff would have to handle the business aspect.
Getting up, Jeff walked to the door and opened it.
"Tired?" Penny asked. She stepped into the room and wiped her feet on the carpet at the door.
"A little. Dragons have lost my interest. Being in the Magical World so long does that to you."
"Hasn't happened to me yet. I remember when my dad became an ambassador."
"I remember that. You were the little American girl who came in and forced everyone to try to beat you in English."
"Right before we went to Hogwarts, but that's not the point. My parents had gotten me a book when we came to London. I remember reading it and wishing dragons were real so I could see them. Now I can."
"I had almost forgotten you were muggle-born. Weird coincidence."
"Or maybe fate."
"I don't like fate. Not control."
"There's some. The path to get there is yours to choose."
"Maybe, but I don't believe in it."
Penny shrugged. "Suit yourself." She paused. "When do we leave for home?"
"Home?"
"Sorry. Meant America. Forgot myself."
"Within an hour, I'd say."
"Good. I can't wait to go home. I want to see them do the barrier."
"That will be interesting. I heard they have that telepath helping."
"That should coordinate things more easily. She's remarkable good for a student"
Jeff nodded. "Can you imagine it? A hundred of the most powerful witches and wizards, some the most powerful in the world… All to protect u-"
"Woah."
"What is it? The baby kicking?"
"Felt like more than that," Penny put a hand to her head. That was no baby kicking. It felt like raw power, pulsating through her body and into the baby. As the realization came to her, her stomach wrenched. Merlin, what was that? What if she's hurt? Dead? What can that type of power do to an infant? What could even cause that? As she thought, everything went black.
Black as night and cold as ice, the cave they sat in was definitely an unwelcoming place. You could barely tell the difference between opened eyes and closed ones, as Penny remembered when she opened her eyes.
Jeff nodded in response to her words as he said, "Yeah, but we won't be in here long. They're just making sure everything is secure before we go out to watch."
"I'm sure it will be fine. Look who's running it."
"Good point. What could go wrong with Harry and Dumbledore around?
"Probably nothing."
"Another reason that she's going to Hogwarts."
"Already decided?"
"Of course. We both went there so why not?" Jeff leaned back against the wall.
"I was thinking the same thing, actually."
"Unless she's a…"
Penny interrupted him. "Trust me she's not a…"
"You ready?" A voice came from the entrance of the cave. A girl stepped in. She looked about sixteen, with a pretty face and blonde hair that was streaked with pink. She was a couple of inches taller than Penny, but you couldn't tell because of the way the girl stood."
Jeff nodded as he stood up, helping Penny as he did so. "Yes."
"Ready as ever,"
"Good." The girl led them out of the dark cave. It was a relatively warm day, around 75° F (about 27° C), bright and sunny. Or so the girl said, you couldn't really tell. The trees were so dense in this part of the woods. Tight-packed with lush green leaves, with conifers sprouting everywhere between the other trees. The woods seemed very dark that day, but the trail was wide, probably for larger dragons. They walked along, and soon passed a small swampy area. The small, snake-like dragons would like that.
In actuality, they were not really in Massachusetts, where the farm was "located." The truth was that only the house was in MA, while the rest was somewhere in New Hampshire. It was a weird set-up, but it allowed for a safety zone. You could almost guarantee that it was possible find a way out because it was difficult to surround the place. That had all been set up before. All that was left was the final protection spell.
They passed through the line where place melted into place with little more than a shivers, and soon found themselves in the center. Dumbledore stood there, his robes blowing slightly in the wind, his smile twinkling as ever.
"Very good. You were quick," he smiled, "We're ready." You could hear his thick accent as he spoke, especially since Penny, still retaining her Bostonian accent after many years, spoke next. Jeff's accent was dulled, and the girl appeared to have none.
"Glad to get this over."
Jeff agreed silently. "It will be nice to feel safe again."
"I'm sure it will. Are you ready, Kate?"
The ten nodded. "Been ready for hours." She closed her eyes, concentrating on the minds of the witches and wizards around her. It was going to tire her out, but she was the best choice for the job, if only because of her enthusiasm.
"Go!" Dumbledore's voice rang out like a bell and the sky lit up like…
… Fire lit the room with an orangey glow. It was dying down now, as the sun began to think about rising. There was still time. It didn't have to come up until around 8:00, and it was just about 7:00. Everything was calm on the farm. Three months since they had moved in, and everything was settling already. Sales were up, death was down, and there was very little to trouble. Everything seemed safe at last.
"Will the danger ever leave us?" Penny shivered as she sipped her coffee. It was cool. Not cold, but just cool enough to tap the bones.
"What do you mean? We're safe here." Jeff looked at her over the section of the paper he was reading. She had the other parts sitting next to her on the table.
"Are we, though? We're trapped here like rats in a flood. We drown no matter where we go."
"Don't let it get you down. There's a way out."
"Oh?"
"She won't have to deal with this?"
"Yes she will. She's being born into it. She's going to have to learn to defend herself. If he finds out, who do you think he'll go after? Not us. We can hide here for the rest of our lives. That's a luxury she doesn't have."
Jeff sighed, "So we're going to strip her of her childhood?"
Penny nodded sadly. "What choice do we have? Ignorance could kill h-"
"Merlin. She loses either way."
"I don't want to do this to her, but there is nothing else."
"What if we send her to live with a muggle family?" He suggested, his eyes betraying that he disliked the idea. "We'll tell no one. She'd be safe then."
"NO!"
Jeff jumped at the strength of her refusal. "It was just an idea," he defended.
"Sorry. We can't do that, though. Under different circumstances, I might actually consider it, even if I dislike it, but it will cause trouble."
"Trouble?"
"There is more to her than we know. I'm sure of it." She shuddered.
"What are you keeping from me?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"How about now?"
"No, you can wait."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Only fools are positive."
"Maybe, but you're the one reciting lines from a children's movie."
"I am?"
"Yeah. Batty says that in Ferngulli."
"And you remember it?"
"Of course," she said, as if it were perfectly normal to remember some movie you watched when you were very little."
Jeff shook his head, "Are you mad?"
"I'm not… No. I haven't gone crazy. If I was crazy, wouldn't you be the first to know?"
"Point taken…" He was going to say something else, but stopped at the look that painted Penny's face. "Are you ok."
"Time," she whispered."
"Time?" he just stared at her for a moment. "Oh! That time!"
She nodded as she closed her eyes.
"Penny? Penny? Penny, are you all right?"
She looked up, shaking herself awake. "I'm fine. I was just thinking."
"Good to know," the raven-haired man before her smiled through his round glasses. His green eyes were bright as emeralds, but even his smile was offset by the look of exhaustion that appeared all about him in his hovering chair. Jeff was sleeping in a chair in the corner, and her newborn daughter was yawning in the man's arms.
"Did they just bring her in?"
Harry nodded. "Yes. What is her name?"
"Wolf."
Harry laughed, "Isn't that a little cruel? Wolf Howl?"
"Her name is just Wolf. She did not take on our last name."
"Why?"
"To protect her. It makes her conspicuous, yet hidden at the same time."
"I think I understand, but you don't have to explain anymore, even if I don't." He took a deep breath and his eyes focused on the baby in his arms just as suddenly as his body shook slightly, but violently. He looked up at Penny, who looked concerned at this point. "I'm fine, but did you feel that? It was stranger than anything I've ever experienced. Pure power," he was almost whispering.
She sighed in relief. "I have felt it, and I don't like it."
"Keep this from her. Things like this fade over time, but it will not remain dormant forever."
"That is what I fear, Harry."
He looked at her for a moment. "Keep it secret. Keep her safe. Stranger things have happened, but stranger are to come."
"You sound like your foreshadowing something. This is not some story. If you know something, tell me."
"I don't know anything, but I may soon."