Chapter 5
A/N: This is the chapter I've been waiting to write since I've started this... unfortunately, it's been a pain in the neck to write...
Harry left at Christmas break, thankfully crutch and cast-less. Dante wasn't that good at magic and the spell he had cast wore off, so Madame Pomfrey could fix it. The rest of the Wolves stayed there on Harry's orders. No one heard anything at all from him while he was gone. They began to get worried, however, when break ended and Harry still hadn't returned.
A week passed and still not a word was heard from him. Finally, one morning at breakfast, a very ragged, tired, and annoyed Harry stumbled in. He was dirty, his clothes were ripped, and he was limping a bit. His wrist was bandaged, and he had a few spots that could only be blood here and there on his clothes. He was most definitely thinner than when he left. He grinned when he saw food though, and plopped down and promptly filled a plate. No one dared to question him at the moment, for fear of loosing a limb. Once he had finished four plates, he looked around, finally noticing everyone was looking at him.
"What? I was hungry," he shrugged.
"Mr. Potter, I need to see you in my office later," Dumbledore said. Harry nodded, and began to fill his plate again.
"How did it go?" Sirius asked later as he and Harry walked to Dumbledore's office.
"Horrible," Harry sighed, blowing at his bangs, "Fox and Moon had sided with the Riders, it took me a solid week to convince them to ally with us again- that's what took me so long. If I had known, I would have tried to find an owl.
I spent a week regaining our territory, two days convincing Eagle and Sun to stop fighting and to continue to ally with us- I am so glad I didn't go in there with a cast, otherwise I'd still be there. I accidentally walked in the middle of a Eagle and Sun skirmish, and as a result, I have to go have Madame Pomfrey look at my leg and wrist."
Five days were spent getting Snake, Lion, Tiger, and Shark to make up their minds and side with us. The up side is half of Rider Territory is gone- Panther, Horse and Monkey got sick of protecting it and took it for themselves."
It's a bloody mess right now, but I think it's more or less settled down. I absolutely hate diplomatic meetings! I only hope one of the pups turns out to be good at diplomacy. We're one of the only ones that don't have an assigned diplomat- either WolfSong or I get the wonderful job of going. Ug."
"Sounds like you have a very eventful three weeks."
"I want to go sleep for another week. I didn't get much sleep the last four or five nights, and I'm still hungry..." Harry said, looking rather put off.
"Still? Damn," Sirius said, fighting a grin.
"There are no such thing as regular meals there. It's one extreme or the other, depending on what you can get," Harry shrugged, "It'll take me a few days to get back to a regular schedule, but until then, I'll shovel in everything in sight." Sirius laughed and said the password. They went up. Dumbledore was waiting. Harry knew exactly what he wanted, and repeated what he had just told Sirius. Then he looked down at himself.
"Damn, I really am in rough shape... anybody mind if I go get cleaned up?" Neither did and Harry left. He got to the Portrait before realizing he didn't know the password.
"Trawnley sucks," a voice said, and the portrait swung open. He turned to see Ginny behind him. "You're a mess."
"I noticed," Harry said dryly. She laughed, and pushed him inside. Harry went upstairs, grabbed some clean robes and locked himself in the bathroom, vowing not to come out until he looked halfway presentable again. An hour later he came back out.
"I took three showers, washed my hair five times, and those clothes will never be the same. Worst part is, I feel like I need three more showers," Harry said sorrowfully, rewrapping his wrist. Ron, Ginny and Hermione laughed.
"Our bathroom may never be the same again," Ron laughed.
"Poor house-elves," Harry said sympathetically, shaking his head.
"Hey Harry, how do the different groups pick their names?" Ron asked.
"Well... most of the groups have animal names, obviously. The Heads picked either their favorite animal or one that hadn't been taken yet. At that time wolves were my favorite, they still are come to think of it they still are... anyway... Sun and Moon is a different though... They're headed by twins who are as different as day and night, hence their name and the fact that they created separate groups. As for the Riders, I have no idea why Dante picked that," Harry explained. They talked for a while longer, and suddenly realized it was time for lunch. Draco did a surprising thing. Just as the four had sat down, Draco came up to Harry.
"Mind if I sit down?" he asked tentitively. Ron, Hermione and Ginny exchanged puzzled glances, but Harry gave Draco a long look, that made him extremely nervous. Then Harry motioned for him to sit down. Ron, Hermione and Ginny looked at each other, then Harry, then Draco.
"HarryHarryHarryHarryHarryHarryHarry!!!!" Harry raised an eyebrow at his excited second in command as she raced it.
"What's up?"
"Theyretreatedtheyretreatedthey retreated!!" she cried, "The Riders are heading back to London!"
"They- What-" Harry looked incredibly confused.
"I don't know! NightShade's spies reported they were leaving! It's up to you though, do you want us to head back or stay here?" she asked, turning serious.
Harry froze. Something just didn't seem right with this.
"I don't know, WolfSong... It's seems a little odd that he just packs up and leaves after all this. Wait a day or two. I'd love for you guys to stay, but I did not work for three weeks over Christmas for Dante to just undo everything." She laughed.
"You got it, boss-man," she said, heading back upstairs.
* * *
Three Days Later
Now, Wormtail, we strike London. The area near the Leaky Cauldron should be a perfect target. Summon the Death Eaters. We leave in an hour!"
"Y-Yes, my Lord," Wormtail said.
Harry shot up, "NO!"
"Huh? Harry, wassamatter?" Ron asked sleepily.
"NO! I've got to warn them!" Harry yelled, tearing out of the dorm and downstairs. He tried to get the portrait open, but it wouldn't. "OPEN UP!" he yelled at it.
"Harry? What are you doing?" Hermione said from the top of the stairs.
"I can't! I need to send an owl!" he cried.
"At this hour??" she asked.
"YES!"
"Mr. Potter! What in the world is going on?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"I. Need. To. Send. An. owl. NOW." Harry cried.
"What ever it is, I'm sure it can wait," she said.
"No it can't! Right now, Voldemort is summoning his Death Eaters for an attack on London. Specifically the area around the Leaky Cauldron! MY WOLVES ARE THERE! THEY WILL BE KILLED IF I CAN'T WARN THEM IN TIME, AND IT WILL BE MY FAULT! " Harry shouted.
"Harry-"
"Don't say it Hermione. It will be my fault. I sent them back there! I sent them back there..." Harry sunk to the floor, lowered his head, and repeated in barely a whisper "...I sent them back there..."
[A/n I should stop here... but that's too short... right? *impatient nods* right then... I'll keep going...]
He got back to his feet. "Can't think that way, can't think that way," he muttered. He ran back up to his dorm, grabbed his Firebolt and jumped out the window.
"HARRY!" Ron yelled. Harry hovered outside the window.
"I'm just flying to the owlery, I have to write WolfSong. They need to get out of there, now!" With that, he flew off.
"Hedwig!" Harry called. She flew down. "Hedwig, I need you to take something to WolfSong, it's urgent!" She hooted.
-WolfSong
You all need to get out of there, NOW! Get out of Wolf territory, and tell all the groups that surround Wolf territory to get out now. Head to another ally's territory, and write me as soon as you are all out of there. THIS IS A DIRECT ORDER!
-ShadowWolf
He gave it to Hedwig and she flew off. "I hope to Godric you guys are all right," Harry whispered, watching her fly away. Then he flew back to the tower. Ron was pacing anxiously; the other boys were sitting on their beds. Hermione was sitting on Ron's bed.
"Guys, I didn't take off for London," Harry said, "Did McGonagall tell Dumbledore what I said?"
"Yes she did." Harry jumped as Dumbledore walked in. "Another dream?" Harry nodded.
"Voldemort was talking to Wormtail. He told him to summon the Death Eaters. They're going to attack the area around the Leaky Cauldron. I sent Hedwig to WolfSong. I just hope-" he broke off, "I can't think that way... I can't..." He started to pace. Dumbledore left.