Chapter five – Wolf-brothers come in all shapes and sizes

Two years earlier, what would have been Harry's first year…

Albus Dumbledore sighed happily as he looked over the hall, this would be the year Harry Potter comes to Hogwarts. He trusted that the boy's Aunt and Uncle would get him on the train and get the boy his supplies, so he had sent them a letter saying how to get to Diagon alley and told them there was no need to reply. He looked up as the doors opened and the first years filed in, searching for a head of black, messy hair. He couldn't see one in the crowd so he sat back and waited for the boy's name to be called.

Eventually the name 'Potter, Harry' was called and Dumbledore leaned forward in his seat, but no child appeared. Again his name was called, but there was only the nervous shuffle of the other first years. McGonagal searched the students twice then sighed and continued with the sorting. Dumbledore slumped in his seat, only one thought on his mind – Where is Harry Potter?

Present day…

Torsten leaped for the top of the fence, slamming into the invisible barrier then blocked his way home. He growled and slammed into the barrier again. Nothing happened. He barked in frustration and sat, staring at the school. He was vexed. A tall man with a long, flowing white beard had come to see the big man yesterday. The big man told the tall man that he had bee trying to escape and the tall man had put some sort of collar on him. He growled again and thought. He sat, staring, for at least an hour when it hit him. How could he have been so stupid? The girl! She had slid under the fence that day. Torsten quickly looked around him. Nobody was about. He walked swiftly over to the fence and crawled under. He was free! He ran for the forest. Just before he reached the cover of the trees he slammed into yet another invisible barrier. He growled in frustration. He needed the barrier down, but the magic was strong, and he couldn't take on the tall man by himself.

Torsten sat, dejected, on the edge of the forest. He was about to give up and go back when he heard a howl pierce the night. His mother! He quickly howled a return, his pack had finally arrived, he had expected it to take longer with the burials and Devaki's paw to take care of. He watched eagerly, returning the howls his pack sent to be sure of where he was. Suddenly his mother leapt out of the brush, tackling him to the ground and washing him thoroughly.

Child, you're free, why didn't you return? She asked him.

It's the collar, mother, he replied, it stops me from entering the forest.

How dare he! Hunter snarled, looking at the castle, How dare he collar and chain my child like some common-bred mutt? Well, we'll soon find out. Spread out, she called to the pack behind her, It's time for those meddling Humans to find out why they should never mess with one of ours. The others behind snarled agreement and fanned out behind her and Ink. Torsten took up his place at her side and they turned and started towards Hogwarts.

Inside, dinner was drawing to a close, and the headmaster was just standing to make his speech when a howl pierced the air to echo in the now silent hall. The doors to the great hall slammed open as wolves streamed into room. Children screamed as snarling wolves took places as sentries, making sure none could escape. Three wolves walked up the centre of the tables to stand in front of the headmaster, who had his wand drawn against them. One of the wolves was the young black wolf that they had bought from the villagers for the 'Care of Magical Creatures' classes. The other two were a large white wolf with burning amber eyes, and a large black wolf whose piercing blue eyes seemed to see into the deepest depths of your soul. Suddenly the white wolf threw back her head and let out a deep, echoing howl. Then the two standing beside her joined and finally the rest of the wolves completed the song, holding it for a number of seconds before letting it fade.

The white wolf looked Dumbledore in the eyes and snarled, advancing a step. Dumbledore let off a stunning spell, but all the wolf did was step aside calmly. The white wolf snarled again and scratched her paw on the ground. Dumbledore realized he couldn't find out what they wanted if he couldn't understand them, despite how smart they seemed. He didn't know if they would understand him, but he decided to try to talk to them.

"If you don't mind, my dear," he said, staring the wolf in the eyes, "I would like to call in an interpreter." The wolf stared at him for a moment, then seeming to come to a decision, nodded her head. Dumbledore accioed an inkpot, quill and some parchment to him and wrote a letter to one Remus Lupin. He whistled and Fawkes appeared in a flash of flame. Dumbledore tied the note to his leg and sent him off with the note.

Twenty minutes later a ruffled Remus entered the hall coming to a standstill at the sight he saw. Wolves crowded the hall and as soon as he had stepped far enough into the hall doors slammed shut behind him with a tremendous bang. He looked up to the front and Dumbledore beckoned him forward. Remus walked cautiously up to the front, three wolves sat there, staring at him. Ice blue eyes turned away to look at Dumbledore. It was clear the large male was not amused that this was who they were waiting for, but then Torsten let out a small yip, the sound they used to greet a wolf-brother. Ink inhaled deeply, checking the Human's scent, while Hunter did the same. There! The Human wasn't human at all, he smelled of wolf. Remus was staring at the young black male, the emerald green eyes stared back at him, hard as the gems they got their name from, but welcoming at the same time. Remus kneeled in front of the wolf, keeping eye contact, and slowly bowed his head. The entire pack was stunned, this wolf-human should be submitting to Hunter, not Torsten. Hunter herself, however, was watching with fond eyes. It looked like her cub had found his first pack-mate, she was sure many more would come, wolves loyal only to him, who would help him rule his pack. Torsten just stared until his mother nudged him with her nose. He looked at her and saw she was proud. Torsten gave a wolf-smile and stepped forwards. He gently closed his fangs around the back of the wolf-human's neck, and then let go.

Hello, wolf-brother, Torsten called to him, The Tall One asked you here to translate for us, we wish for your help.

Of course, Pack-brother, replied Remus, you need only to ask.

Thank you, my name is Torsten, but call me Blade in front of these Humans, will you.

Of course, my name is Remus.

You have no pack-name?

I have no pack now, I did once, but they are gone.

Well, you're my Pack now, so we will decide a pack-name for you later, right now I wish for you to tell this Tall One to remove the collar that keeps me from returning to my home.

What! They dare keep an Ancient Wolf locked away from his home, replied Remus angrily, hatred burning in his eyes, turning them the same amber as his mother's, It's despicable, horrendous, he should not be alive right now.

Calm, Wolf-brother, just ask him to remove it, and if he doesn't then we'll see about the consequences then.

Yes, Torsten. Remus turned to Dumbledore. "Albus," he said through strained teeth, "The wolves wish for you to remove Blade's collar, as it is preventing him from returning home."

"The collar, but the animal was captured and sold here, by law he is ours," replied Albus, looking shocked.

"Who cares about your laws, these noble creatures do not obey Humans Albus, you risk making an enemy of the forest creatures by forcing their will to your laws. Not only will this pack keep attacking until you free him, but the others will, as will the centaurs, the spiders and any other beast in that place, Ancient Wolves are not to be touched!"

"Ancient Wolves? They cannot be, where are their wings?"

"They have magic, Albus, their wings stay hidden until they need them."

"I'm sorry Remus, I have no proof of this." Remus snarled at him, rage clearly written on his face. The other teachers were shocked, they had never seen Remus this angry.

Remus turned away from them and back to the wolves. He will not do it. He says that there is no proof you are Ancients, your wings are hidden.

Hunter snarled her rage. Fine! She said, He wants proof, he'll get proof. She threw back her head and let out a long, piercing howl. The two black males by her side joined her, but the others just watched. A bright white light surrounded the three, and when it was gone the students and teachers alike let out a gasp. Standing before them were three of the most beautiful creatures any of them had ever seen. All three were larger. The three wolves eyes shone brighter than ever, their teeth and claws glistened silver and large wings emerged from their shoulder blades. The white wolf's wings were as white as her fur and were feathered. They looked soft to the touch and one was longer form tip to shoulder than the wolf was nose to tail. The large black wolf's wings were the same, except they were leathery like a dragon's and black. The younger male was a mixture of his parent's. His wings were black, but they were feathered. Dumbledore gaped at the three, cleared his throat and murmured a spell. The collar broke and fell to the ground. The three regal wolves looked at him then turned and walked away. "They say thank you for removing the collar, but if you ever put one on their kind again, they will kill you." With that Remus turned, and followed the wolves from the hall.

Finally, sorry it's been a while but I'm back to school so updates might slow to once a week, less once it comes to my exams. I'll try to update as soon as I can, but I have a slight case of writers block now I'm back at school. The only reason I could update so fast was because I was off sick for three weeks.

Okay, enough griping, reviews. Thanks to all who reviewed, I'd put more but rules and all, I'll just answer a few questions.

Scott Adams- he's thirteen at the moment.

Vamp and Matt- Yep got it right.

Britt- yes it was.

Again thanks to all. Review if ya want, but if ya don't want to, well I'm not gonna make ya.