Warning: There is a slightly adult scene at the near the end of the chapter!

To Howl in Harmony

Chapter 9:Handy Helpers

The Pack was still excited about their victorious allegiance by the time that weekend's Hogsmeade trip came around. The Pack spent most of the day just enjoying themselves and having fun. This didn't last more than half the day, however, before the village was suddenly thrown into chaos as Death Eaters swarmed Hogsmeade.

"Death Eaters!" an elderly woman shrieked as she burst into the 3 Broomsticks where the Pack was dallying over drinks, "Death Eaters in the village!" this was quickly followed by a loud explosion.

Harry stood quickly, authority coming naturally to him as always. "Where?" he demanded of the woman, "Where are they coming from?"

But the woman was too hysterical to answer, and many people were beginning to panic now as well. Harry frowned, leaping up on a vacant table and howling loudly for their attention. All eyes turned to him as they quieted.

"Madame Rosemary, you need to get everyone 13 years and younger and the elderly out through the Floo. Anyone older than that and willing to fight-get outside!" that said, Harry leapt down from the table and led the Pack outside.

The village was in total chaos. The Death Eaters were cackling loudly as they killed and tortures the students and villagers. Said students and villagers were in panic, knocking each other over in an attempt to get out of range of the Death Eaters, trampling each other, screaming.

"Spread out," Harry demanded tersely, "Take out as many of them as you can. And stop the panicking."

The group nodded and split up quickly, all heading in opposite directions. Harry and Ginny drove straight into the large group, hacking Death Eaters left and right with the swords that they'd kept at their side at all times, using their free hands to take out other Death Eaters magically. Draco and Rose moved in the direction the Death Eaters hadn't come from yet, dragging as many people as they could with them to bring them to Honeyduke's and get them out of harm's way. Luna quickly healed any major injuries while Neville covered her with spells and shields before placing the injured person on a stretcher which was then carried away by some of the people being herded away by Draco and Rose. And Ron and Hermione had started slipping into every building and evacuating it-either by herding survivors out to Rose and Draco or killing Death Eaters.

As the Pack stood and fought back, the panic began to subside. Looking slightly shamefaced, but extremely determined, the DA was suddenly side-by-side with the Pack, fighting with wands, inner magic, swords, knives, poles-anything and everything they could get their hands on to fight for their rights and freedoms. And, soon, others joined in too.

They fought hard, but it wasn't enough. After all, it was only about 200 under-aged students and villagers-most of whom weren't even trained in battle defense-against almost 500 deranged witched and wizards, There was no way they could win alone.

Which is why it was a good thing they weren't alone.

Many students had been cute down- almost 25 dead while others were knocked out or too injured to fight back. There was about only 100 students left standing. Many of the Death Eaters were down too, their number cut to half their original size.

Harry was just about to call a retreat when more figures suddenly swarmed the village The Pack all flinched, thinking it was more Death Eaters-but it wasn't.

It was a large group of Vampires. They were dressed in loose, silky white karate-like pants and white tunic like shirts under a silver and black cape clasped at the throat with a silver dagger brooch. They each carried swords and daggers and dove into the fray with cries of delight, hacking away at Death Eaters mercilessly.

And only moments after the vampires arrived, a group from the Realm showed up, diving in with gusto. They were all dressed in white pants and long-sleeved shirts with magically created chain-mail overtop. They carried staffs, knives, wands, guns and swords and killed just as mercilessly as the vampires did.

With the help of the Coven and the Realm, the Death Eaters were being quickly subdued. Taking advantage of this, Harry pulled the students from the fray, instead sending them up to Hogwarts, taking along stretchers bearing the injured from Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Coven and the Realm. The Pack, however, dove straight back into the fight.
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The battle lasted only twenty minutes after the forces from the Coven and the Realm arrived, the battle lasting a total of an hour and a half. No Death Eaters were left alive-too many escaped Ministry to go on torturing and killing innocent people. None of the Coven or the Realm died-20 of the Coven were minorly injured, 3 majorly and 17 of the Realm were injured minorly and 6 majorly.

The large group began their trek to the castle, tired, battle weary-and singing loudly in their victory. They were met by the gates by a group of teachers and members of the Order. They looked at the approaching singers with incredulity.

"Harry!" Sirius cried upon catching sight of his godson, safe from harm and leading the group of warriors. Both he and Remus raced forward, tackling the laughing teens backwards onto the ground. Lily and James followed them quickly, watching their estranged son anxiously as they prayed he was unharmed.

Harry caught sight of the anxious pair from his spot between Remus and Sirius on the ground. The laughter faded from his face, but it didn't harden like it had done so many times before. Putting both his hands on either side of his body by his hips, he pushed himself up, brushing off the seat of his pants as he stood in front of his parents.

The trio stood in silence, just staring at each other. After a few moments, a gentle, welcoming smile graced Harry's features and he stepped forward, arms open wide. With a happy sob/laugh, Lily flung her arms around her son's neck, his clasping tightly around her back. James, tears in his eyes, wrapped his arms around the pair, loving the feeling of finally having his son's love and trust.

Harry had realized something while he was fighting. He'd known, since he was 11, how easy it was for him to die-he'd come close enough so many times. But somehow, the point had really been driven home as he watched his comrades fall.

His arms tightened slightly around his parents.

Life was much too short to hold a grudge against his own family.
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They'd had to add another table to the Great hall to fit everyone. Everyone-even the injured- were sitting about in the Great Hall, dressed comfortably in pajamas and feasting greedily on the food before them.

At the Head table sat the teachers and the Pack on one side, with the leaders of the Coven and the Realm groups on the other side. King Leopold had brought along two of the Elders to help fight, leaving the other three behind to rule over the Coven in his absence. The Realm had sent along Sara, a well built, vicious warrior in charge of the humans of the Realm, Evidrë, a blue-eyed, wispy blonde haired male elf in charge of the elves, Adam, a well-built, green-eyed brunette werewolf to lead the werewolves and a blonde centaur named Adva for the centaurs. Reginald had come too, along with Emrys.

The little boy had yelled with delight when the Pack had entered the Hall, having been brought up to Hogwarts by an elf instead of into the fight. The small child had been enveloped in hugs and covered in kisses by the laughing Pack and had claimed a spot on Harry's lap while they ate.

"How did you know Harry needed you?" Lily asked curiously from her spot beside her son-where she hadn't moved from since that wonderful, memorable hug.

"We didn't." Leopold answered, "We knew the Pack needed us," he held up his hand to show the scar there, "To create our allegiance to the Pack, we had to mix our blood-we are brothers now. And, because our brotherhood was created my magic, our magic will tell us when our allies are in trouble- it will work the same for the Pack if we need them. Harry's own scar will twinge and his mind will flood with the knowledge of what is wrong with us."

"It's much like the Elven ritual," Reginald smiled, holding up his right palm to reveal a star-shaped scar that matched the ones on the palms of the Pack, Marday and Emrys. "You cut the palm of each hand of the leaders of your allies and press together the palms of the two main leaders and their mates'. There are words in Elfish that must be spoken and then the magic shall heal the wounds and our blood mixes with our ally's. If our allies are in trouble, the star shall glow and we will gain the knowledge of what's wrong and vice-versa."

Lily grabbed hold of both of Harry's hands, flipping them so they were palms up and frowning at the pair of scars, demanding, "Must you cut yourselves in these rituals?"

"It's blood magic, mum, you need the blood to have blood magic," Harry said, a teasing note in his voice and amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Smart-ass," Lily tried sternly, but she couldn't help the grin that spread across her face at Harry's use of the word "mum."

Harry grinned at her, answering warmly, "But you love me anyway."

"Damn right we do," James answered from Lily's other side, grinning crookedly at Harry, the same crooked grin that Harry had.

Harry grinned widely at the admission and Ginny, at his other side, couldn't hide her own, amused but loving smile as she attempted to smother a giggle at Harry's goofy expression. Harry, out of the corner of his eye, caught sight of Ginny's hand smothering her giggle and he turned to her slowly, trying to look predator-like, but betrayed by the laughing sparkle in his eyes.

"Are you laughing at me, young maiden?" Harry demanded, adopting a look of mock-outrage.

Ginny, with a tiny, uncontrollable grin, answered innocently, "Why, never, good sir! I wouldn't ever do such a thing!"

"Minx," Harry grinned impishly, before a devilish gleam entered his eyes as he reached across the table, scooping up some mashed potatoes with two fingers and then swiping it across Ginny's face.

"Harry!" Ginny shrieked, torn between anger and amusement.

Harry grinned rakishly at his mate, and, with a scowl, Ginny picked up a bowl of peas and dumped the contents on his head. Harry's mouth dropped open in surprise for only a moment before laughter danced in his eyes and he retaliated with a handful of corn. Ginny shrieked again as the corn splattered over her face, catching the attention of the rest of the hall, who laughed at the sight of two of their A-Ps with food all over them.

Ron, grinning wildly, picked up a piece of pie and hollered loudly, "FOOD FIGHT!"

Within moments, there was food flying everywhere. Even the teachers were joining in. Everyone was laughing and yelling, having a good time and celebrating their victory. The celebration stopped almost immediately, however, when the doors of the Great Hall swung open without warning.

Instantly, all the food was dropped, before the doors were even partially open. The Pack, teachers, the Order, the Coven and the Realm moved swiftly to the front as the younger students were quickly shoved to the back of the group, the older students standing defensively in front of them-there was nothing like a war to teach you to always protect the innocence of others, even if you couldn't protect your own innocence.

The entire room sagged with relief as the doors opened fully. Standing in the doorway was a red-faced Minister Cornelius Fudge, as well as 4 aurors-one of which was Tonks, whose face lit up with amusement as she watched the disgust flash across the Pack's face when they saw Fudge in the doorway and at their food-spattered appearance.

"What's going on here?" Fudge spluttered, looking distinctly disgusted at the food thrown all over the room and it's occupants.

"We were celebrating, Cornelius." Dumbledore said calmly, eyes twinkling madly, "Would you care to join us?"

"What-? No!" Fudge spluttered, before drawing himself up suddenly, regaining his calm, pompous air, as he stated, "We are here on official Ministry business-the arrest of Harry James Potter."

Outrage and shock sounded throughout the room and they all began to yell angrily. Even Tonks' face registered shock, 'though only one of the other aurors' face did as well. Harry's own eyes flashed with anger and the rest of the Pack, as well as Sirius, Remus, James and Lily, were practically radiating outrage.

"Quiet!" Harry called out, stepping out of the crowd before turning to face said crowd, "I said QUIET!"

As Harry's voice boomed through the Hall, the people quieted-Harry didn't exactly yell every day. They did, however, continue to throw dirty looks at Fudge (Man, if looks could kill the Great Hall would be full of some very happy people!).

"Thank you," Harry said with a crooked grin, before his face became serious and he turned back to Fudge, "Now, what's this about an arrest, Minister?"

"You are under arrest!" Fudge crowed, looking quite delighted with himself, adding, "Auror Tonks, arrest him."

"Wait, wait," Harry protested mildly, smiling gently at the torn-looking Tonks, "Don't I have the right to know what it is I'm being charged with, Minister? After all, How am I supposed to prove I didn't do it if I don't know what I'm being accused of?"

"So you're denying that you had any part in the slaughter of the people in Hogsmeade?" Fudge demanded, "Because I'll have you know we have multiple witnesses that saw you attacking people in the village with a sword!"

"If you mean did I start the attack in Hogsmeade, then yes, I'm innocent," Harry answered mildly before his eyes hardened and he added coldly, "If you mean did I lead the defense against the Death Eaters who were torturing and killing innocent children in Hogsmeade, then yes, I'm guilty.

"I'm guilty of actually giving a shit about the people of the Wizarding World-and the ones who aren't of the Wizarding World. I'm guilty of fighting for my rights and freedoms. I'm guilty of protecting my loved ones from a group of overgrown, under-qualified bullies," he stepped forward, right up in Fudge's face, "I'm guilty of keeping the current and future people of our world safe and allowing them the chance to live freely and not under the reign of a Dark bastard," he paused before asking in a soft voice that nevertheless carried through the hall, "Can you say the same Minister?"

Fudge's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water and Harry shook his head contemptuously, saying, "I didn't think so," he paused, and then asked, "Do you really want to arrest me Minister? Do you really want to arrest the Boy-Who-Lived? Do you actually want to take the chance of putting me in jail?

"I'd be out in less than a day, Minister. You think the public would actually let you stick me, their hero, in jail with Voldemort still on the loose?" he questioned softly.

Fudge continued to gape stupidly and Harry snorted contemptuously, saying simply, "Go home, Fudge. Leave the fighting for those of us who can, and you'd better not come around here until Voldemort's gone-we wouldn't want a Death Eater to kill you thinking you were actually on our side now, would we?"

Turning back to the Hall, Harry smiled, ignoring Fudge, holding his hands up and demanding, "Now, where were we?"
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"I'm very proud of you Sparky," Ginny said with a loving smile as the pair, hand-in-hand, walked into their room, still covered in food, "And not just for stuffing Fudge where he belongs, either. I'm really proud that you've forgiven your parents."

"It was about time someone stuffed that jackass back into his hole in the ground. And my parents…life's just too short to keep hating the people who gave me life for making a mistake," Harry said with a gentle smile for his mate, before, lightening the mood, he said, "Besides, I'm sure one day I'll piss them off enough to want to freeze me out-but they won't be able to since I forgave them for this."

Ginny laughed, her head tilting back slightly so that she could see her mate's laughing face. Harry's eyes softened with love as he gazed down at her-mashed potatoes in her hair, mashed peas on her cheek, chocolate icing in her hair, juice and milk stained on her clothes-and still the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen in his life.

"What?" Ginny asked, her voice soft, as if she couldn't raise her voice any higher, a look of curious confusion crossing her face, asking jokingly, "Do I have something on my face?"

"Mashed up peas," Harry answered with a grin, pulling her around so that they were face-to-face, one arm around her waist while using the other to play with her potato-covered hair, "But that's not why I was staring at you."

"No?" Ginny asked, slipping her own arms around Harry's waist and moving closer to him, asking, "Then why?"

"Because you, Ginevra Molly Weasley," he murmured huskily, dipping his head so their lips were inches apart, "are the most gorgeous," he kissed her quickly, "wonderful," another kiss, "absolutely amazing woman I have ever met in my life."

"Is that so?" Ginny purred, coyly moving her hands from around his waist to move them sensuously up his chest and around his neck, letting her nails dig through his hair.

"Yes," Harry moaned, greatly enjoying the feeling of his mate's nails scraping against his skin. He dipped his head, nipping lightly along her neck before moving his lips up to bite her earlobe at that sensitive spot behind her ear, her fingers clenched in his hair, her body arching into his as she gasped, "Harry!"

"Love you, cannon," he murmured breathlessly into her ear as Ginny pulled back from a deep, passionate kiss.

"I love you too" gasp, "Sparky," she moaned as one of Harry's hands traveled up from her waist to cup her breast, running his thumb sensuously over her already-taut nipple. "Now," she demanded in a moan, "Shower! Please, Harry!"

Harry grinned, "Whatever milady commands."

Harry moved his hands back around to her waist, slipping them under her firm buttocks. With a slight tug, he lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Harry grinned, kissing the flesh revealed by the V of her shirt before carrying her in to the large bathroom.

Twenty minutes later, the pair collapsed on the bed, still flushed from their "shower activities". Neither bothered to get dressed, too warm and satisfied to move. So, with Ginny pressed full-length into his side, her head on his chest and their legs entangled, Harry pulled a light sheet over them and turned out the light.

He'd been quite victorious that day.
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The groups from the Coven and from the Realm decided to stay while Hogwarts was open, knowing Voldemort and his forces would take any chance that could to attack Hogwarts. Both groups kept mostly to themselves-patrolling the castle and the grounds and holding strategy meetings-but they were still nice to everyone.

The attack came at the leaving feast. The wards had been breached.
XoXoXoXo

Hello my loverlies! I'm pretty sure it's just going to be an epilouge, 'cuz I've suddenly got this story for an AU of Harry's childhood-cliché, I know, but I've always wanted to do my own version!

And, PLEASE, don't kill me for the elder Potters' forgiveness! I couldn't keep them apart for so long-Harry needs his mummy and daddy just as much as the rest of us do(even tho we won't admit it:D)!

Much thanks to:

Demon's Moon

Twin Tails Speed

NamelessHeretic

Lily 101: it's still a possible option if I get an idea before I do the epilouge. Ideas welcome!

The Insane Immortal Dragon: Lol, I thought so too!

Godessa39

Athenakitty: no more allies anymore!

Tolandiel

Daft Rith the Awakener

Hermione1208: sequel only if I can get any ideas for one (HINT HINT!)

Articuno13: you are like a freaking mind reader!I read your review and I was like "Holy crap, how the hell…?" and, if you want a secret, you're gonna have to give me some ideas cuz I'm all crapped out!

Samantha:lol, hunny you're crazy, but I love it. Yeah, it is the thought that counts, and thank you for trying in advance. Aw, that's so cool that I can make you feel better! That makes me feel good, thanks for telling me! And don't worry, I enjoy my insanity to;)

Anyway guys, I've got to go. The next chapter-the LAST ONE :'( -will be up when I get the chance kay?

All my luv,

Red