HP Life after Hogwarts
Chapter 18
Dark Moon Rising
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Harry, Hermione, and the others attend the London Premiere of GOF...afterwards Harry is on edge and Hermione calls him on it...Draco has unwanted guests outside his home and calls in the troops to help deal with them.
--
Harry focused on his work and not about any of the impending dangers around him or his family. He set about overseeing Operation St. Nick which had amassed a response the likes of which that England had never seen. The added incentive to pitch in was a percentage off the release of the other version of HBP. GOF was set to release worldwide, so anything Harry Potter was in high demand.
"Can't we claim the girls have the sniffles or something?" Harry asked as he got dressed up for the London Premiere. "It's not like we didn't attend the first one."
Hermione stepped out of her dressing area to glare at him, "No we cannot. This also benefits your current pet project, so we are going and that is final."
Harry took in the vision of his wife dolled up to the nines in a red designer original and whistled low under his breath. "You're wearing the red dress. You know very well that brings out the inner wolf in me."
Hermione walked up to him and fixed his tie. "I want your full attention focused on me and not on those starlets."
"Mione, no one ever outshines you in my eyes never forget that." He ran his hands down the silkiness that was her bare back and frowned. "Where's the back of it? I distinctly remember it having a ribbon corset down the back of it."
"Don't start Wolfe; there's nothing scandalous about the back of my gown." Hermione rolled her eyes when he turned her around so he could see the rest of her gown.
"What do you mean by back! There's nothing nearly to your waist! By the gods this is a modified version of the red riding hood gown!" He circled her.
"It covers all the necessary places nicely. I see no reason for you to get all territorial about it!" Hermione planted her hands on her hips and glared at him. "Kate designed it and I intend to wear it tonight."
"My god woman with that gown…" Harry caught scent of the fragrance that she was wearing and groaned. "You're wearing it aren't you…"
"Taste happens to be a favorite fragrance of mine, so yes I'm wearing that line of products and this gown. Hurry up we don't want to be late." Hermione went to go collect her wrap.
"You win Mione, but I won't promise not to jinx any guys that leer at you." Harry grumbled.
"Same goes for any females leering at you." Hermione shot back.
--
(London)
"I'm here with the Crown Prince and Princess of Avalon, so let me start with saying the two of you look hot tonight. Who designed your dress Hermione?" Nanda was there covering the premiere.
"I'm wearing a Lady Katarina original and heirloom jewelry." Hermione happily showed off her gown.
"Sign me up on her client list that dress is fabulous!" Nanda winked at her. "No wonder Harry isn't letting you out of his sight…Might I say you two look relaxed for being the parents of nearly three-month-old triplets."
"My parents are watching them for us tonight and I have my mobile in case they need us." Harry kept his arm around Hermione's waist. "This is our night out and we're here to support Daniel and Em."
"And we are also here to support Harry's and my passion to help those less fortunate in this world." Hermione smiled and kissed his cheek.
"His passion is a godsend to children or families across the globe. Operation St. Nick is going to be a smashing success if the responses from around the globe are as high as has been reported." Nanda praised him for his efforts.
"We've had an overwhelming response and it makes me feel good inside the foundation will be able to make a difference this holiday season." Harry was passionate about the work that his foundation was doing.
"You've proven that people who care can make a difference in this world after all." Nanda nodded.
"My belief is that if we can end some of the suffering in this world by discovering cures for disease. Helping those in need by caring for those who are lost and alone that maybe there is a chance for peace in this world. It's worth a shot even if it takes one step at a time to get there. Our children are counting on us to make this world a better place for them." Harry grinned sheepishly and shrugged his shoulders, "Sorry about that, but it's something I strongly believe in."
"Don't apologize darling, that line of thinking is what the leaders of this world should be listening to." Hermione smiled up at him.
"I second that and I hope you two enjoy the premiere." Nanda hugged Hermione and the Harry. She stood on tiptoe and whispered something in his ear, "I got an early copy of the new HBP and all I can say is I'm happy that all of you finally got a break."
"Thanks Nanda…We'll try to enjoy the movie." Harry winked at her then led Hermione into the theater.
Inside there were bins overflowing with toys and donations for Operation St. Nick.
"There you are!" Emma walked over to greet them. "Daniel thought you weren't coming." She was wearing a red dress similar to the one that Hermione had worn that past December. Daniel like Harry was watching over her like a hawk.
"It's not like they haven't seen it yet..." Daniel took in what Hermione was wearing and shot Harry a knowing look. "Em's wearing a Katie original tonight."
"Fancy that so is Mione." Harry glared at the actors who played Cedric and Krum. "It's a pity that some of these poor blokes are going to come down with a nasty rash, if they don't stop leering at Em and Mione."
"You know Big brother we can't fault them for finding our girls hot…" Daniel didn't love the looks that Em was getting either. "On the other hand feel free to jinx them at will. I had to tolerate it onset, but I don't have to tolerate him leering at her now."
"Rory! Dromi! You made it." Emma was glad that his sisters had made it.
"We're here supporting you and the foundation." Dromi and Rory were wearing Katie originals showing off their figures to perfection.
"That and making sure our little brother behaves himself." Rory could see that he wasn't pleased with all the male attention that Hermione had glancing her way. :You are on official duty tonight, so keep the jinxing in check.:
"I don't have the slightest clue what you're getting at." Harry shrugged his shoulders, "I'm here for Daniel, Em, and to represent the foundation."
"Oh, is that right, then why are those two starting to squirm?" Rory arched a knowing brow at him.
"They may be having a reaction to something they ate or what not…" Harry eyed his watch. "Almost Showtime let's go find our seats."
"I told you we were running late." Draco grumbled at Ron.
"Yeah well, the girls had a craving when we past the fast-food places and we had to stop or be on the couch for a week." Ron pointed out that fact to him.
"You should have rung the house. We could have all gone together." Hermione chided them.
"We were staying in tonight, but Gin and Luna had other ideas when Kate dropped off her creations this afternoon." Draco wasn't pleased that Ginny was chatting with whom appeared to be Brad Pit.
"They sure are basking in the red carpet experience." Ron frowned at Luna who was also chatting with Brad.
"Let them have their fun, besides he's taken and harmless." Emma smiled.
"Uncle Andrew, Aunt Sarah, and the girls are here as well." Hermione saw them talking to Jo. :Now you have to behave.:
:Who says I'm not, no evidence no crime.: Harry pulled her into his arms for a long kiss.
"Hello everyone, I see the lovebirds are still entranced as ever with each other." Andrew greeted them.
"He's just trying to distract her attention from what he's really up too." Draco noticed that several actors were fairly twitchy.
"I'm about ready to do that to Brad what's his face." Ron snarled.
"I told you he's harmless, see here comes Angelina now he only has eyes for her." Emma rolled her eyes at him.
"Em is it me or is Rupert staring at one of the Princesses?" Daniel followed Rupert's gaze and it was obvious that he was interested in Princess Bea.
Emma looked over at Rupert. "Rupert come over here for a minute. I want you to meet someone." She called over to him.
Bea blushed she was shy among boys. "I've always wanted to meet him."
"Well, my darling girl now you can." Sarah whispered into her daughter's ear. "You were shy at the concert, so you missed that chance."
"I would have introduced you at the concert, but you stayed out of the spotlight." Rory winked at her.
"Our Bea is shy." Andrew winked at his daughter.
"Daddy stop it." She blushed even more.
"Hello I'm Rupert thanks for coming to see the movie." He focused on Bea.
"I wouldn't have missed it. I love all of your…I mean the films." She smiled shyly.
Rupert's smile widened as it dawned on him that she was here to see him in the film. "That's great to hear, because I love acting in them. It's nice to know the sidekick gets top billing in your eyes."
"I see your character as an interregnal part of the movie. He is the glue that holds the trio together and nothing at all like a sidekick." Bea got her back up about his view on his character. "You bring that to the films with your acting."
"Would you like to sit with me during the film?" Rupert asked.
"Oh, I'd love that." Bea was so happy that she was beaming.
"That is if your parents don't mind." He tore his gaze from her own to look up at her smiling parents.
"I see no harm in that." Andrew smiled.
"Have fun darling," Sarah whispered into Bea's ear and then smiled at Rupert. "Yes, I have no doubts that you will be a gentleman, you two can sit together, and we will see you both after."
"Don't worry; she'll be safe with me. I have no plan to incurring any of their wraths." He eyed Ron, Harry, and Draco with wary eyes. "Not that I'm that kind of guy, because I'm not." He added hastily.
"Of course you aren't Rupert." Emma smiled at him.
The houselights blinks signaling the feature was about to begin.
"Shall we go?" Rupert offered Bea his arm and they left to go find their seats.
"You two have nothing to worry about…you see a ladies man our Rupert is not." Daniel grinned at them.
"Let's go take our seats." Em changed the subject and they all went to find their seats.
--
(Later that evening back at Sanctuary)
"Was that necessary?" Hermione followed Harry into the kitchen. "You never felt the urge to jinx the director, screenwriter, and executive staff at the other premiere or on Valentines Day."
"What can I say; all the leering males drooling at you finally got to me, besides the movie clearly upset you so I reacted accordingly." Harry didn't look up at her, as he built his Marauder sandwich. "You would think that they would feed you at these things!"
"They cut S.P.E.W out of the movie, not to mention the House Elves is annoying, but I think that it's more than that. You were like this at the premiere after the concert." Hermione set about making bottles for the girls.
"Jinxing them is far better than knocking their heads together for taking carte blanche with my life story."
"Then why on Earth did you have Jo release the more factual manuscript of our sixth year?" Hermione scowled. "If she sticks with the one that is pure fantasy then all the hype shouldn't bother you as much."
"Because she can't write about our life and then decided to make it her own at the end of it! It isn't just about me when she decides to kill off my Uncle or make someone who's come a long way and sacrificed so much his murderer! I would rather have them read what actually happened than have them believe any of that tripe! If Voldemort had split his soul into seven pieces then why in grandfather's name did he need unicorn's blood first year or perform that ritual during my fourth!? Better yet why would Uncle Albus make Snape DADA teacher at all?! Let alone not even try to teach me anything all year!?" Harry glowered at her in leashed frustration.
"Maybe this was his way of having the final say? Maybe he planned it like this. It could be that Morganna had her under Imperio the whole time, so she would write that book the way she did. The book positively oozed of darkness it could very well have been their last hurrah." Hermione spoke to him in a soothing tone, as if she were talking to the girls.
"I looked into some of those names that she used for that farce. The Deatheaters were all real, as was the evil werewolf that ends up mauling Bill. The Deatheaters are all dead or in Azkaban, but the werewolf is still very much on the loose." Harry sliced the sandwich in half and set it on two plates. "I guess knowing that has me on edge. Now as for your other theories, that very well could be why she did what she did, and if that's the case then having the other manuscript out will counter any effects that it may be having on the muggles." He took a healthy bite out of his sandwich. "Now this is my idea of a snack."
"What aren't you telling me Harry James?" Hermione knew that he was holding something back and wanted to know why.
"My scar has been burning when I go for my morning run and I have yet to pinpoint the reason why." He decided the partial truth was better than lying to her or not saying anything at all.
"Your scar is like a form of early warning, so if it's bothering you then someone bad is lurking about." Hermione had felt that he had been hiding something from her, but nothing like this. "Why didn't you say something about it?"
"I've told Dad about it and he has everyone on the lookout for any sign of trouble." Harry had hoped to keep her out of this, but decided that it was best that she be on alert as well.
"You have to tell me about these things! We are a team!" Hermione wasn't at all pleased that he was trying to be Alpha Male and protect them all on his own.
"I know that Hermione…" Harry raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. "It's just instinct to want to protect what's mine from any unknown dangers." He hated the look that she was giving him.
"Exactly where were you when your scar started hurting you?" She asked coolly.
"Around Uncle Remus and Aunt Gene's place or in that general vicinity, that's where I first felt it, but then lately it's been closer and closer to our haven." Harry was no longer hungry, so he put his half of sandwich in a storage container and set it in the Fridge with all the other sandwich fixings.
"You think it's that fiend that turned Uncle Remus into a werewolf all those years ago…" Hermione shivered at the thought of something that evil skulking around Godric's Hollow. "Don't you."
"Call it paranoia, but yeah I do. The last place that I felt it was when we were over at Draco and Ginny's." Harry stared out into the peaceful night from the kitchen windows, as if seeking out a lurking enemy in the shadows. "He and Lucius were chums. He might be biding his time waiting for perfect moment to seek out vengeance for his fallen Lord and comrades."
"Draco is his prey?"
"Draco is one of many on his list," Harry nodded. "The full moon is in a few days and if it is him then he'll make his move then."
"I hope the couch in the study is comfortable or you can bunk in one of the guestrooms, because I don't wish to be around you right now!" Hermione finally let her temper fly.
"Come on Mione…Don't be like that…I was only trying to…"
She punched him in the jaw.
"Save it! I had a right to know about all of this! I will not be placed in a bubble while you fight all of our battles for us!" She was seething mad, so the potted herbs on the windowsill shattered. "I've fought right alongside you for seven years! I've been the one who has kept us alive more than a few times! You had no right to keep this from me!"
"Keeping you safe, keeping my family alive and in one-piece from someone or thing that activated my scar to the point of making me physically ill took precedence over yours or anyone else's feelings! This thing is a cold blooded killer, Hermione! He's been busy murdering innocents for three months in various parts of the UK! He must have missed the article about the cure for werewolfism, because St. Mungo's has been dishing out a hell of a lot of cures as has all of Europe! He mauls his prey and gets his jollies out of mutilating them for the fun of it! There was no way in hell that I wanted you, our girls, or any of our family subjected to that! Cure or no cure!"
Harry's and Hermione's temper triggered a storm outside.
The glass of the manor shook from the force of his leashed fury.
"Banish me from our bed all that you like, but the fact remains that I will not let anyone or anything hurt the ones that I love or what is mine!" He stalked out of the kitchen.
"Well then you have a major problem, because I will not allow anyone or anything to hurt the ones I love or what is mine either!" She stalked after him.
"Hermione just drop it!"
"No I will not drop it! Who got you through first year to the stone! Who figured out theBasilisk! Who saved your hide when Uncle Remus changed into a werewolf! Who dated Krum to get inside information on what he knew about the tournament, not to mention spent hours making sure you survived all three tasks! Me that's who! How about fifth year even though you were impossible to be around? I was still there to ease the suffering that you incurred during detentions and at the Department of Mysteries I more than held my own that is until I got hurt!"
"This isn't the same!" Harry stalked outside to get some air.
"It is so the same!" She stalked after him. "You've kept me in the dark just like sixth year when you decided to go it alone to protect us!"
"I tried to keep you in the dark for your own good! Not that it did any good! You kept on until you wore down Uncle Albus and then tried to shadow my every move afterwards!" Harry glowered down at her. "Did it ever occur to you the reason I kept you out of situations is for my own welfare as well as your own!?"
The two of them were soaked to the skin from the pouring rain, but neither of them cared.
"WHY BECAUSE I'M FEMALE AND YOUR MALE!? THAT'S A BUNCH OF TRIPE HARRY AND YOU KNOW IT!" Hermione screamed at him in fury.
"NO YOU LITTLE IDIOT! BECAUSE I CAN'T CONCENTRATE WORTH A DAMN UNLESS I KNOW THAT YOU'RE SAFE!" Harry roared in frustration.
Hermione stared at him in shock.
"That's right Hermione. You are my Achilles heel and Voldemort suspected it! I was so distracted by the idea that you might get seriously hurt again that he zeroed in on that thought during a nightmare that I had sixth year. It was the only time that I failed to banish him from my mind! Afterwards, I studied Occlumency always so it would never happen again! It was too late though he was already plotting our final battle…He used that against me and because of it you…you… nearly died!"
:We defeated Morganna together did we not? There is nothing that we can't fight as long as we're together. It's only divided that everything goes sour.: Hermione was crying now and wasn't able to speak. :Had you confided in me sixth year things might have been different or not fate is funny that way.:
Harry pulled her into his arms and held her. :I never want to take the chance of losing you, so I guess I let my fear override my common sense.:
:I have an extensive knowledge on werewolves. Particularly him or his type anyway, because after learning that Uncle Remus was a werewolf I researched it thoroughly. I suppose you also forgot the little fact that I never forget anything.: She sneezed. "Can we go inside now, before we get pneumonia?"
Harry closed his eyes and they were standing in their master bath. "Shower or tub?"
"Shh…ow…er." Hermione's teeth were now chattering and she sneezed several more times.
"Some loving husband I am." He turned on the taps to the shower before peeling the sopping wet clothes off her shivering form. "I should never have let us stay out in the chilly rain and gone back inside."
"We…(Sneeze)…we're both…(sneeze)…very upset." Hermione answered miserably as he set her in the shower. "Ah…nice and warm."
Harry joined her. "I'm sorry baby. I've just been on edge and didn't mean to take it out on you." He went about shampooing her hair.
"Next time confide in me." She was finally beginning to warm up, so her body wasn't racked with chills anymore. "We need to always confide in each other…" She sneezed several more times before continuing. "Gin and Luna are pregnant keeping them out of the loop is understandable…I'm not nearly as vulnerable as they are even when pregnant so always keep that in mind." She was feeling better now and focused on washing him.
Harry had finished washing her hair and was now focused on her in other more enjoyable ways. "Shall we focus on us and discuss this later?" He pulled her to him for a long kiss.
"Us sounds like a smashing idea, but we are going…" She lost her train of thought and decided to focus on the two of them at least for now anyway.
--
(Hogwarts)
Remus and Severus glared down at Bastion, Sean, and Alan. The three of them had just been discovered out of bed outside on the school grounds.
"What part of no do you three not understand?!" Severus snarled at them.
"We needed to check on Pendragon." Bastion frowned. "Charlie said he was sick, so we wanted to go see him."
"We didn't stray from the path or anything like that, so it shouldn't be a big deal." Sean shrugged his shoulders.
"Talon and Haden were shadowing us and so was Faron." Alan pointed at the two centaurs and the Avalonian guardian that were standing just a few feet away.
"THAT IS NOT THE POINT! THE FOREST IS NOT SAFE FOR THREE TWELVE-YEAR-OLDS TO GO ROMPING AROUND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!!" Remus was beyond furious at the three of them.
"What's the big deal?! We're at peace now and most of the bad guys are all gone or in Azkaban. We were safe, since the real danger was taken out a year ago by Grawp, Harry, Draco, you, and Priss." Bastion wasn't pleased that his wandering around the campus days had been canceled.
"Uh, Bastion maybe you shouldn't have said that…" Alan eyed Remus' beyond furious face as did Sean.
"THERE ARE FAR MORE DEADLY ENEMIES OF OURS THAN YOU COULD POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND! THE WORST OF THE LOT IS THE THING THAT BRUTALLY ATTACKED ME WHEN I WAS A BOY AND CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER! HE IS VERY MUCH ON THE LOOSE AND HAS BEEN WREAKING HAVOC ACROSS EUROPE AND NOW HERE IN THE UK!! HIS HOBBY IS EATING LITTLE BOYS LIKE YOU FOR DINNER!" Remus roared at them.
"He also loves to mutilate his prey. The three of you wouldn't wish a fate like that now would you?" Severus sneered at the three of them.
The three boys shook their heads no.
"What in Mab's name is going on out here?" Minerva had been awakened by the girls when Moria and Bree had sensed that their twins were in trouble. "It is two in the morning! Fifty points off Gryffindor!"
Albus was not pleased with them either. "I do not set rules for the three of you to challenge! They are set for your own protection and will be followed or you will face the consequences!" He glared down at the boys. "For this blatant act of rule breaking you will be spending the next two months in detention!"
The boys gulped they had never seen any of them this mad.
"I will also be telling your parents of your need for challenging the rules. You are banned from visiting the dragon colony until I say otherwise. Your brooms will be locked away, because for the next two months you are off the Quidditch team. You will only leave the Common Room to attend class, study at the library, or go to the Great Hall for meals. Other than that you are forbidden to wander the castle until further notice!" Albus pronounced the rest of their sentence.
The boys felt their lives crashing around them, no Quidditch was bad enough, but being leashed in the dorms that was just unthinkable.
"We're sorry…" They chorused in a miserable tone of voice.
"Remus, would you please escort these three back to their beds?" Albus cut their apology short.
"Move it you three!" Remus snarled at them. "Oh and congratulations as well. You now have to figure out a way to add one hundred and fifty points back to your house! I'll bet everyone is going to love you for that!"
"She said fifty!" They stared at him in utter horror.
"That was fifty points each for being out of bed after hours now move your butts!" He growled.
"Ah man we are so dead!" They groaned in unison.
"Next time listen!" Remus escorted them into the castle. "Harry, Hermione, and Ron the three of you are not!"
Faron, Haden, and Talon walked over to join them.
"The younglings care not of the danger around them and are concerned for the young dragon's well-being." Faron saw admirable traits in the three boys.
"Pendragon is under Charlie's excellent care and will be fine. The three of them are very much like James, Sirius, and Remus was as boys." Albus sighed.
"Greyback is insane and seeking vengeance. The boys would make appealing prey in his eyes." Talon growled.
"Our arrows dispatched two of his followers, but the beast was not among them." Haden scowled.
"Greyback is stalking other prey. Harry has sensed him near Remus' summerhouse and near Draco's as well." Severus wanted to go hunting more than he wanted to watch over the students at the school. "He will no doubt make his move come this next full moon."
"I am aware of that Severus and he will find that attacking our loved ones is a grievous error in judgment. Max, James, and Sirius have Hogwarts and Godric's Hollow under watch. He will not succeed in harming any more innocents or any of our family." Albus was calmer now. "Thank you for watching over the boys. I believe that it is safe for all of us to turn in now."
"We are honor bound to protect the Prince's loved ones and the school. Next time we might just teach the three of them a lesson, Goodnight to you." Haden and Faron left.
"I am also honor bound to keep them safe and now I must return and tell them that this creature is indeed a threat to the family here on this plain." Talon vanished.
"We should thank our lucky stars the three of them didn't include the girls as well." Minerva was not pleased with the boys.
"And here we thought the other three were trouble." Severus grumbled.
"Harry was never trouble, Severus. He was merely trying his best to survive and Ron and Hermione were not about to let him go it alone." Albus corrected him.
"Yes well, I suppose you have a point. I need to return to Sibyll before she comes looking for me. I will see you both in the morning." Severus went back into the castle.
"Shall we my dear?" Albus and Minerva went back to bed.
--
(Dragon Manor, Godric's Hollow)
Isis and Tutt hissed and spat at the French doors that led to the outside terrace.
"Hey, now what's up with the two of you… It's two in the morning." Draco got out of bed to see what was up with his cats.
They hissed, growled, and spat at the doors.
It had him instantly awake and on high alert. "Quiet you two or you'll wake up Gin." He growled.
The two cats glared at him.
Draco wand in hand went to investigate. "I don't like trespassers particularly dark magic ones." He took the secret passage that led outside and to various places throughout the manor.
"No amount of Aurors guarding him will prevent me from exacting my revenge!" The snarl could be heard just outside the exit of the passage.
Draco recognized the voice behind the snarl. Shit!! I hate it when Harry's right! He sealed off the exit with a spell and went to seal off the other passages into the manor. The windows and doors of the manor were already sealed to prevent any unwanted entry.
"Accio mobile," He growled softly and the object in question appeared in his hand. "There is no telling how many things he has with him and I'm not about to face off with them on my own." He sealed the final passage just as Harry grouchily answered his phone.
"I have a slight problem here. Greyback and his goons are prowling the grounds…No I'm not gonna take him on myself! I'm not nearly as gung ho as you are. I like having others to back me up in situations like this. No all the doors, passages, and windows are all sealed tight it's the grounds that aren't secure. I heard him just outside the north passage exit saying something about no amount of Aurors guarding me would prevent him from exacting his revenge. I know. We might have some people injured on the grounds…I'm gonna suit up after I check on Gin…I'll see you in five minutes." He walked into master bedroom just as he ended the call.
Ginny was awake and pointing her wand at the French doors. "Why are the cats all wired and my senses on high alert?" She narrowed her eyes at Draco. "Who were you talking to at two in the morning?"
"We have some uninvited guests on the grounds. Harry and I are gonna look into it." Draco decided that a quick change was in order and focused on changing into his Auror armor or more like battle wear. "The house is locked-down, so you and the cats will be fine."
"What unwanted guests and why are you dressed for all-out war?" Gin pulled on her robe and stalked over to him.
"Gin, I promise that everything is gonna be fine, now let's get you back under the covers." Draco picked her up and settled her back on their bed.
"I may be pregnant, but I'm not out of the loop about things. The thing stalking around the UK is out there on our grounds isn't it?" Gin shivered.
Draco kissed her to calm her fears. :Yes, Peaches, it looks like it, but nothing is gonna happen to you or our son. I won't allow it.:
:You and Harry can't face that thing alone! I won't have either of you hurt out of the need to protect us!: Gin hugged him close. :I won't allow it!:
Harry knocked on the door to Ginny and Draco's master suite. "Logan, Mac, Uncle Sirius, Dad, and Rory are all downstairs in the study."
Draco reluctantly let her go. "Be right there."
"Is Gin all right?"
"I don't want any of you to get hurt, but I know it's your chosen path to fight the baddies." Gin sighed in resignation.
"Do you want us to take you to Sanctuary?" Harry opened the door and looked inside. "Mum, Dromi, and Mione are up."
"This is my home and no disease infested were-thing is gonna drive me from it." Ginny growled and found herself cuddled by Draco again.
"That's a no then…" Harry smirked. "Got it loud and clear you're staying put."
"Good." Gin reluctantly let Draco go. "You two be careful and no trying to be hero's." She ordered.
Harry held out a short silver stake. "Not a problem Gin. I don't plan to letting this one or his minions live." He ran his thumb along the side of it and it lengthened into a long spike. "Werewolves don't fancy silver." He tossed it at Draco.
"And here I thought you were focusing on your other pet projects." Draco examined the new weapon.
"What can I say little brother I'm a jack of all trades." Harry handed one to Gin. "This is better than the other weapons of choice." He patted the gun holstered to one leg and to the triple arrow crossbow loaded with silver tipped arrows clipped to his belt.
"No, but it's just as messy." Ginny wrinkled her nose and handed the weapon back to Harry. "My home is safe, besides I trust you both to correct the situation."
James stood in the doorway. "I'll have him tucked in beside you in no less than an hour's time." He winked at Gin. "Let's go boys, it's time to dispatch some rabid creatures."
"One hour." Gin curled up under the covers. :Be careful…I love you.:
:Love you my angel.: Draco joined his father and brother and the three of them left the room.
--
"Rory you can stay here and guard Gin." Draco growled at his sister.
"This house is on lockdown, so she'll be fine. I'm going hunting with all of you boys whether you like it or not." Rory narrowed her eyes at Draco.
"How many are out there?" Logan focused on the situation at hand.
"I heard Greyback right outside one of the secret passage exits and he doesn't travel without his pack." Draco was now a big fan of modern technology tweaked with a little Wizarding know-how. "I can barely make out anything besides shadows outside, because the storm made it foggy outside." He used the computer in the study to access the security cameras found throughout the grounds.
"I prefer the Wizarding approach it's hell of a lot more accurate than the camera's outside." Harry took out his map went about the various steps to activate it then ordered it to give him the layout of Dragon Manor. "Please show me any werewolves."
The map complied with his question revealing there were a dozen prowling the grounds.
Draco used his own map to check on Sanctuary. It was not on their target list, so they were free to focus on the problem. He did however ask the map one more question. "Show me Fenrir Greyback."
The map revealed that he was somewhere near Galloway.
"These creatures are killing and attacking Muggles and Wizarding alike therefore we will show them no mercy." Sirius was in the mood to give Greyback a message.
"This is gonna get messy then." Mac arched a brow at Rory.
"Oh please! Get over yourself! I am not a frail damsel! I am an Auror just like all of you!" Rory was fed up with being treated like glass by everyone.
"I understand that Ror, but you are also the future Queen of England, so there are situations that we are leery of having you in." James listened to the rain pelting the glass.
"I am a Pendragon!" Rory loaded her crossbow with silver tipped arrows. "Discuss it until you are blue in the face for all I care! I'm going hunting!" Rory her own map in hand, flipped the hood of her Invisibility Cloak over her head, and vanished from the room.
"Nice going Dad now she'll try to prove herself!" Harry vanished.
"I say we go hunting before these things retreat to their lairs." Logan growled.
"I don't want any hero's out there. Just take them out and be done with it." James ordered them.
"No problem there Dad," Draco vanished.
"What he said." Logan vanished as well.
"I know that we want to divest this scum from this plain of existence, but maybe we should keep one alive, interrogate it, and find out just what Greyback is up to?" Mac suggested.
"I'm one step ahead of you." Sirius held up a rifle. "It's loaded up with darts filled with the vaccine."
"Let's get this over with before Hermione comes searching for Harry." James loaded up his own crossbow, Mac followed suit, and the three of them vanished.
--
Rory appeared behind a pair of weremen deciding what to do with the two fallen Aurors bleeding on the grass.
"I say we tear'em apart." One snarled.
"I say you don't and I kill you instead." Rory shot one straight through the heart with an arrow then stupefied the other before dealing it the same fate.
"We were outnumbered…" Fin was barely conscious.
"Greyback was here…" Avery groaned in pain, but was aware enough to focus on who his rescuer was. "Princess you shouldn't be here…"
Rory, who had brought her Healers bag with her, focused on treating their injuries. "I've stopped the bleeding and given you both the vaccine. She finished bandaging their wounds as best as she could, covered them with a camouflage blanket that magically blended in with its surroundings, and then went hunting for more badies.
Harry had taken down two of them near the stables. "Mac was right this is messy. I feel like Van Helsing." He sensed another coming up behind him and turned to shoot him in the knee.
The wereman howled in pain. He lunged for him his claws grazed the leather of his boot. "It's Potter! The Master will reward me well for killing you!"
"Sorry to disappoint, but that's not gonna happen." Harry used Avada Kedavra on it and the wereman was now lying lifeless at his boots.
A streak of neon green light whizzed by his ear catching him by surprise. "Potter! It's Potter!"
"Son of a Bitch! Really intelligent Harry. They're wizards of course they have wands, it's not the full moon yet, so they're all coherent." Harry told off himself as he shot AK back at one hitting his target square in the chest.
"We will avenge our brother!"
A barrage of green pelted around Harry, three streams of light found their target, hitting him in the upper left arm, the chest, and his upper right leg.
"That's what you think!" Two arrows made their targets hitting the weremen straight through the hearts and they fell lifeless to the ground.
Draco and Logan their task now complete went to see if Harry was okay.
"You all right there, Prince?" Logan walked over the bodies to get to his cousin.
Harry winced in pain. "I'll live."
"Dad and Uncle Sirius just took down two more. That leaves one left." Draco glanced at the map in his hand.
Mac joined them. "Rory wounded one, gave them the vaccine, so now we have one to interrogate."
Harry tried to move, but ended up yelping in pain. "Next time I stay invisible…"
"Harry!" Rory saw that he was down and panicked. "Daddy! Harry's hurt!" She shouted over at her Uncle and father.
Harry swore under his breath in Parseltounge. He couldn't crawl off and lick his wounds if he wanted to. He was starting to feel the effects of getting hit more than twice with AK.
James, Rory, and Sirius raced to his side.
"He got nailed at least three times with AK, so that's why he's down." Draco filled them in.
"He took down four before they got him though." Logan made sure that AK did indeed kill weremen, but shot them with arrows just in case.
"They are also wizards, Junior. So, naturally they would have wands on them. It's not the full moon yet, so they can use them with pinpoint accuracy." James lectured him.
Harry glared up at his father, but said nothing.
"Harry James, this is no time to brood now where did you get hit?" Rory growled.
"Choose a body part and you probably won't be wrong." Harry snarled, bearing his teeth at his dad when he knelt beside him. "Don't touch me!"
James ignored his snarl and checked him for any severe injuries. "They worked you over good. It looks like we're making a trip to St. Mungo's."
"I said that I'm fine!" Harry tried to stand, only to yelp in pain when heat searing pain shot across his rib cage and up his right leg. "Bloody hell! Mione is gonna kill me. I promised to come home to her intact not in traction!"
"Stop whining. It could have been a hell of a lot worse; one of them could've scratched or bitten you." Sirius was using his Wizarding mobile to call in the troops.
Draco conjured a stretcher for them to put Harry on. "Let's get you to St. Mungo's."
"Thanks for backing my up." Harry gritted his teeth in pain as they set him on the stretcher.
"You would have done the same." Logan hated that they hadn't gotten to him in time.
"Serves you right, we're a team." Draco wasn't happy that he'd gotten hurt, but knew that Harry hated it when others fussed over him. "Next time don't go off on your own."
Hermione appeared in front of them beyond furious. "WHO BROKE HIM!?"
"Go home Hermione Anne." Harry growled.
"NO I WILL NOT GO HOME! KANE AND LOTUS ARRIVED AND ARE WATCHING OVER THINGS AT SANCTUARY. SOMEONE ANSWER THE QUESTION WHO BROKE HIM?!" Hermione wasn't going anywhere.
"It's no one that you can hurt, Hermione, because they aren't on this plain of existence anymore. Logan and Draco got them, after I got hit by AK in the arm, leg, and chest!" Harry gritted his teeth when she continued to check him over. "Go back home!"
Hermione ignored him, "Whoever they were knew how to use the unforgivable curse at its full power. They broke your upper arm, upper leg, and several of your ribs. Like it or not you are going to St. Mungo's."
"No really! I didn't know that parts of me causing me mind numbing pain are broken, because two weremen wished to fry my ass!" Harry focused on being furious with her and not on his pain. "The girls need you to look after them! Not Lotus, Kane, Dromi, or mum they need you!"
Lily appeared with her Healers bag in her hands. "I'll watch over him now sweetie. The girls are fussing and won't calm down."
"Very well, I'll go home, but keep me informed." Hermione left without kissing Harry good-bye.
"Oh yeah, I'm dead all right." Harry closed his eyes.
"Nah Mate, she's just worried is all." Logan tried to cheer him up, but it was obvious that Harry was in the pound.
"Here honey drink these they should make you feel better." Lily gave him pain medicine and then something to make him sleep.
Harry obediently drank the potions. "Thanks mum…" Harry was instantly asleep.
--
(Hours later)
"That stuff is vile, but it works." Harry drank the potion that he thought was Skele-gro, but was a new potion called Skele-fuse instead. "No I take it back that was much worse!" He gagged as he forced himself to swallow.
"Its called Skele-fuse. Yet another potion that Hermione tweaked, because of your tendency to break yourself." Rory smirked.
"I do not, it just happens."
"The potion will mend the breaks in your leg and arm, but it might take a day or two to mend your ribs." Lily told her son.
"I know the drill, mother. Can I go home or am I stuck here?" Harry, even though in his own private room, was not about to stay in the hospital.
"When that wereman fell at your feet did you feel him scratch your leg?" Lily arched a brow at her son. "The claws of a wereman or werewolf can rip through any protective armor and he more than barely grazed your leg."
James held up one of his boots. There was a slash along the side of it. "Just to be on the safe side we injected you with the vaccine, even though all odds pointed to you already being immune to that disease."
"My scar was on fire, so minor pain didn't register nearly as much as getting slammed three times with AK." Harry chanced a look at his right leg. "Although, from the looks of that bandage on my calf it wasn't a minor cut was it?"
"No it wasn't a minor cut, but we sealed the gash and it will heal without so much as a scar in a few days." Lily patted his hand.
"Can I go or not?" Harry was beginning to feel caged.
"Very well, but it's straight to bed with you." Lily gave in and let him have his way. "Not that Hermione is going to allow you to do anything else."
"Anything is better than being poked at here. I'll bet they took another pint of my blood just for the fun of it." Harry didn't wait for a response he vanished from the bed.
"More like put at least that if not more back into him." James yawned. "Let's all go home and get some sleep."
"Just let me update his chart and I'll be ready to go." She wrote some things down on the parchment attached to a floating clipboard and with a wave of her hand it vanished. "All set."
"Sleep sounds good. I hung up on Wills last night, so I'd rather do that instead of face my voice mail, text, or e-mail messages." Rory yawned.
"You did excellent Rory, because of your quick thinking; all the injured are going to make full recoveries. I'm proud of you." James hugged her. "Now let's go home."
--
(Sanctuary, Harry and Hermione's wing)
Hermione was asleep and so were their girls. She had the three of them with her on the bed, but had left just enough room for him to crawl in and join them.
"Night my sleeping, angels," Harry whispered as he carefully got under the covers.
Dani instinctively crawled over him to snuggle contently on his chest. :Love Dada.:
:Love you too princess.: Harry put his good arm around her and drifted off to sleep.
Hermione waited until he had gotten himself settled to look at him.
Dani was snuggled against his bandaged torso, his left upper arm was wrapped in a bandage, but there was no sign of a cast. She lowered the sheet revealing his bandaged right leg and calf, before carefully covering him up again.
So you did get scratched after all. No matter any aftereffects will benefit you in the long run. The cure will handle the rest. She took in the marks on his right arm, showing where they had given him blood, and tried to stem the flow of tears streaming down her cheeks. You chose to be a Healer, so you'd best get used to patching him up. You can't be both even if you want to… She lectured herself.
Harry opened his eyes to find her staring at him. :What's wrong angel mine?:
:Nothing's wrong. I'm just relieved to see that you were well enough to come home.: She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.
:No, you're not fine. I'm sorry if I worried you, but this is what I do. Draco called. I acted accordingly end of discussion.: Harry kept his feelings in check so as not to awaken the babies.
:You were careless or else they wouldn't have hurt you. I assume you didn't even think that they would be carrying wands until a spell streaked by your ear.: Hermione bristled.
:I will not get into this with you right now, because we'll wake up our daughters and they've already been stressed enough this morning.: Harry closed his eyes and focused on going back to sleep.
:You just wish to avoid the truth! You royally screwed up tonight and nearly ended up in a coma for a week or more again!: Hermione carefully got out of bed and left the bedroom. :Need I add that you were scratched by one of them which makes you, well, different regardless of the cure!:
:You win Hermione! Yeah all right! I royally screwed up tonight, by underestimating my opponent's ability to wield a wand, let alone use it with pinpoint accuracy! My only experience was with Uncle Remus and I recall him being out of his mind!: Harry couldn't have gone after her if he wanted to, his injuries wouldn't allow it, nor would his sleeping daughter snoozing on his chest. :What's really bothering you?:
:I hate just sitting around and praying that you come back to me in one-piece! We've been a team for seven years and now that's all changed! You go off to handle the danger, while I sit at home watch the girls, and try to keep up a good front!: Hermione fixed herself a rocky road ice-cream sundae.
:I get it now. You want to do both and that isn't possible at least not now. You are happy at what you're doing now that being tweaking various potions and doing a smashing job at it. You're the reason I'm not sporting two casts, can now take something that handles even the pain of my scar, and I'm thankful that you had the opportunity to do that. You are a smashingly brilliant Healer and budding Potions Master and I'm usually not half bad at fighting the bad guys. We are still a team, honey, just not in our chosen paths.: Harry was beginning to ache all over, but he ignored it and focused on her.
Hermione walked back into the bedroom with her treat and some medicine for his pain. :I'll stay on this path at least for now. Are you in pain? Is Dani lying on your chest hurting you?: She set the bowl of ice-cream on the nightstand and focused on him.
:More like my early morning battle is catching up with me and no Dani is fine. Its my whole body that aches.: Harry managed a weak grin.
Hermione put a vial of dark pink maximum strength pain potion to his lips. :Drink that and I might just share my treat with you.:
:That stuff has been a godsend for me, since my scar has been on fire, and nothing else can dent the pain.: Harry recognized the potion and eagerly drank it.
:I knew that and decided to try to make a cure just in case your scar started bothering you again.: Hermione fed him a spoonful of her treat. :I also knew that we both hated wearing casts when we broke our bones and tweaked the Skele-gro so it now fuses the bone making the need for a cast usually obsolete.:
Harry loved being pampered more than he liked being snarled at and let her take care of him. :I love you so much. I would be lost without you. I thank the powers that be everyday for your being in my life and for our girls.:
:I feel the same Harry and no matter how many times you get hurt during missions I will be here waiting to take care of you or patch you up.: She touched her lips to his.
--
Chapter 19
Conflicting emotions
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I do not claim any of JKR's characters only that I love being able to create my own kind of mischief with her beloved characters. I do not claim any other things that are owned by other companies that I may mention once and a while in the stories...Although the original characters and ideas are mine and I loved creating them. So please review if you wish but try not to flame me too badly.
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Cindra 2004-2008