Hey, reader, I know it's been a time but I am alive. If no one has noticed I have been going through the chapters of this story and fixing any problems I find or adding to places. I hope this only makes the story more enjoyable for you all to read.

I do not own Harry Potter and I am not making a profit off of my fan fiction.

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"Talk"

'Think'

"Parseltongue"

"Nightshade"

Chapter 43 - Start of Summer Meetings

Harry set a small crystal bowl filled with cut bread onto the low table beside the glass bowls of red wine and fresh strawberries. He sank down to sit comfortably on his knees. He relaxed with a single exhaled breath and while he didn't need to speak out loud he did anyway. "I cast this circle to keep all harm out. I cast this circle with offerings." Very simple and informal but that's how he wanted it. This wasn't a big ritual but a simple daily offering, even if he was nervous about the meeting he was to attend in less than two hours.

"Are those for me childe?" Harry smiled at Mother Magic's voice.

His eyes opened to see her sitting on the opposite side of the table. "Aren't they always Mother?"

Her cloaked form shimmered until a blond haired child of six in a white sundress that contrasted against her golden tan skin sat before him. Her blue eyes sparkled in happiness as she reached for one of the strawberries. "You always leave me an offering in the mornings yes but you have never stayed to receive me."

"I didn't think you wanted to be bothered every morning by me." Harry admitted. She held out a strawberry and Harry took it. "I can say if you would like me to."

Mother Magic laughed, her form changing into a middle aged Asian woman with short brown hair and hazel eyes. "You are fine my childe. I enjoy your presence." She took a sip of her wine, eyes watching him. "You worry about the coming meeting. Don't. You will do what is needed, my daughters assured me of that and now I will you. You are a natural leader, they will listen when you speak."

Harry sighed. "I believe you, I just worry that I will speak the wrong words and then they will no longer listen. I am still young, I have no illusion of that Mother, and as such these people may just dismiss me because of my age no matter all I have done so far."

Mother Magic's head tilted as she observed him, her form changing back to her origanal one. Her movements were slow as she placed her fingers on his forehead, on his scar. "This mark on flesh was gifted by my daughter Fate." She dropped her hand to his shoulder. "My daughter Luck put her mark in your bones." She moved again so her hand was over his heart. "My brother chose to mark your soul." She pulled her hand away once again. Harry thought she was just going to pull away but he was proven wrong when she grabbed his left wrist. She turned it so the underside was barred. "You by choice chose your blood as my mark's place." She swept her thumb across his pulse point. A blood red star sunburst the size of a sickle appeared on his skin. "This is my mark, wear it proudly and do not doubt."

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'Alpha is this wise? Will they even listen to what you have to say?' Neville asked, following Harry down to the hall to the meeting room.

'Relax Neville. Even if they don't believe what I say they won't attack us. We are invited guests. If they tried to harm us they would be declaring war on the British Ministries. That is not something they can afford.' Harry paused in front of the imposing door separating them from the whole Gardiens de Magi counsel. 'Stand strong, heads high. You three are of the Pack. My elite Venatores. Don't let them see weakness.'

Amara shifted around his shoulders so her head was at the hollow of his throat. "Master will I be allowed to bite?'

"No my beauty. We are trying to get allies not enemies." Harry stroked her scales. He had convinced Nightshade to say back with Luna but Amara hadn't wanted to leave his side."Be still and watch everyone."

Harry took a deep breath and glanced back to Hermione and Draco who stood right behind him. Neville stood at the back, protecting the small group's backs. He let some of his magic flow so his eyes glowed. Hermione stepped forward to fix his circlet so the runes subtly glowed as well. They were all in their uniforms and ready to face those behind the door. Hermione stepped back to take Draco's arm and Harry turned to the door once again. A flick of his wrist had the door opening.

They stepped into a large room with about a hundred people already waiting. They were all seated in rows of chairs facing a platform in the center of the room. It reminded Harry of the courtrooms at the Ministry of Magic in London. Harry saw Fleur first and as such gave her a nod that she returned. She sat with a woman who looks almost identical to Fleur and an older man with stern eyes but laugh lines around his mouth. Fleur got her eyes from her father. Fleur and her parents were sitting in the middle section of the room. Hermione noticed Viktor and smiled at him while directing Harry through the bond to where the young man sat. Viktor was in the far left section of the room. Harry and Viktor nodded to each other before Harry led his Pack to the empty chairs beside Fleur. As she was the one who vouched for him, they were her responsibility. It was a risk but she hadn't worried doing it and for that Harry was grateful to the young sat one seat over from Fleur. Hermione sat between them. Draco sat beside Harry and Neville beside him.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Lords and Ladys, and guests welcome." Harry was happy that Hermione found that two way translation potion before they came here because the room didn't have a translation spell on it. The speaker was a short fat man with a bushy beard. "It has come to our attention that one has come here claiming the title of Grey Lord. We are here to determin that."

Harry felt his Pack's anger spike. His own was under tight control. He was going to be judged. Fleur's magic flashed in anger alerting Harry that she wasn't aware of this development either. Harry tugged on his Pack through the bond telling them to stay calm and silent. He would deal with this.

"That is not why we are here Olkhovsky." Viktor stood. It was then that Harry noticed the crest on the right side of his chest. Harry glanced around and confirmed. The sections all had crests showing which group they belonged to. Viktor had a crest that could only mean the Dark, the same one that the speaker had. "It has already been confirmed that Lord Evans is the Grey Lord."

"By who boy? You and another child? You wouldn't know a Lord if they were right in front of you." Harry could feel the fight that was about to break out. Fleur and her parents were ready to get involved.

Harry, without hesitation, released some of his magic. It flowed around the room, silencing the fight that was only just starting. Every eye turned to his seated form. The speaker frowned and glared. Harry could feel Tom's magic on the man and held back the urge to roll his eyes. That would be why he was trying to start a war then. Looks like it was time to take control of the meeting.

Harry stood gracefully from his chair. Amara shifted so her head was lifted and was hissing at the speaker. A gentle touch had her calm and resting again. "Thank you, Viktor for your defense." He locked eyes with the standing young man. "It would seem that being the Dark Lord's original downfall hasn't endeared me to his marked followers." He turned back to the speaker who was sneering at him but also eyeing Amara now that the room knew she was real and not just decoration. "Allow me to do introductions. I am Lord Harrison Potter Evans. Lord of the Noble house of Potter, the Noble and Ancient House of Black, the Noble and Ancient House of Peverell, the Noble and Ancient house of Gryffindor, the Noble and Ancient house of Ravenclaw and Heir to the Noble house of Prince." Harry gestured to Draco who stood. "This is Draco Malfoy Heir to the Noble and Ancient House of Malfoy." Neville stood next. "This is Neville Longbottom Heir to the Noble House of Longbottom." He held his left hand out for Hermione to take as she stood. "This is Hermione Granger of the Noble house of Potter and the Noble and Ancient House of Peverell." He felt Hermione twitch at that but she hid it well.

'Of the Noble house of Potter? Peverell? Harrison I'm not of your houses.' Hermione ranted at him.

'Yes you are. I may have mailed your parents after the third task and asked to magically adopt you into my family. The goblins sent a representive that explained that I wished to adopt you as my sister and take care of you in the magical world. After a long talk over a mirror I had the goblins take with them they understood that I wasn't taking any rights away from them but adding more protection to you. They signed the paperwork and you are now a Lady of the Noble house of Potter and Noble and Ancient house of Peverell.' Harry watched the people in the room as they absorbed the information he just presented. He allowed Hermione to take her seat once again. Draco and Neville sat as well.

'Oh. Thank you Harry. I've always wanted a brother.' She was quiet.

'You have the Pack. We are family. Alpha just put it on paper for you.' Neville pointed out to her. Hermione hid her smile.

The speaker growled, "Such a long list of names. They don't make you a Lord of Old boy."

Harry released a bit more magic and let it dance with the familiar magic hidden in the back. It was a presence he hadn't acknowledged once since they entered the room but he did now. "It would seem Tom, that some of your followers don't trust your word. Such a pity."

"It would seem so indeed little Alpha Lord." Tom's voice rang clear in the room making many freeze in their seats. Tom's magic fell away revealing his form, a black robe draped open around his shoulders showing his classy black button down shirt and black dress pants. "I will personally vouch that Lord Evans is the Grey Lord."

The speaker was wise enough to stay silent in the face of his Lord. Harry made his way to the platform. The speaker slinked back to his chair in the Dark party section. Viktor gave the man a fierce glare. "I did not come here for a fight. I came here to state facts for you to make a decision. I am the Grey Lord and a war has started, declared by the Light Lord Dumbledore. This war will determin if Magic lives or dies."

A man from the Neutral party stood. "Do you have proof of this? Magic is just as strong today as it always has been."

"You can't feel her can you? You can't feel magic pulse around you, through you. You can't hear her cries either. Her pain so is loud, so pronounced that my very soul aches for her. My proof of what I say is a prophecy that was documented by two known seers and Mother Magic's own mark on my flesh. " Harry felt his Pack's confusion.

The twins poked him through the bond wanting answers. 'You're hiding thing from us again Alpha.'

'No, I received this mark last night during a ritual. I didn't see the point telling you when you would hear about it here.' Harry watched as some of the members in the council whisper to each other. "Ladies and gentlemen, I understand that this is a distressing topic but at the same time if anyone was paying attention this problem could have been stopped long ago."

"Excuse me." A man from the Light party stood with a huff of anger."Are you accusing us of neglecting magic?"

"You personally? No, but the whole of the magical community? Yes. Every time laws are passed to restrict magic because you fear it or can't have it so no one else can you weaken magic as a whole. The world needs an equal amount of magic and it hasn't had that since the Old Ways were pushed out of practice. Tell me, in the past year how many of you have performed a ritual? Any kind I don't care." A single woman in the neutral party raised her hand and most of the Dark party did also. Fluer proudly had her hand in the air, her parents looking stunned at her. "Now let me ask this, when was the last time you did a dedication or an offering to Mother Magic?" Hands fell, leaving only Viktor, Fleur, and the single Neutral woman's hands in the air. Harry nodes and the hands lower. "Mother Magic gifts us with her magic and gets nothing in return."

"Are we to have no laws then? Let things run ramped?" Fleur's father asked.

Harry shook his head. "No, but many of the laws were made out of fear or jealousy. Many bloodline magics were out lawed for those very reasons. So now those magics that were once being released into the air and land around us are now gone. The balance was tipped. We have a give and take relationship with magic. The spells and rituals we do releases magic into the air and land around us. That magic feeds the planet and some of it returns back to Mother Magic. Mother Magic is then able to gift magic to the next generation. The magic that doesn't return to her is what our cores absorb to replenish itself. If magic isn't being performed through the cycle is broken. The small spells that are done in everyday life isn't enough to substan the planet or Mother Magic." He watched as some of the older in the group nod in understanding. He didn't truly know that best way to explain the relationship magic users had with Mother Magic without confusing everyone so Harry just took their nods as a job well done. "Now that the basics are known let's start."

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"That went well, don't you think so little Alpha?" Tom purred watching Hermione and Draco going over the alliance paperwork with the leaders of the different parties. Neville was slowly making his way around the room listening and watching everything.

"Tom you cursed two of your marked in front of the whole council. I think this could have gone much better." Harry sighed. He had to remind himself that hexing Tom wouldn't end well for anyone.

Tom chuckled, wrapped his magic tighter to Harry's and wrapped an arm around his waist. His free hand was used to pet Amara who was throughly enjoying the attention. "Come, there are a few places I haven't been to in years."

'Have everything covered?' Harry asked over the bond.

'We have this.' Hermione glanced over her shoulder at the pair. 'He stealing you?'

He snorted but nodded. 'You make it sound like I don't have a choice if I go with him or not.'

Draco snorted in the bond even as he argued with a French Light party member. 'We feel your magic Harrison.' He said it like that explained everything, and in a way it did. Tom and his magic were intertwined tightly, tugging and playing together in the space around them. Harry almost blushed at what some of the council must think at the display, well those who could see it anyway.

"Lead the way then Tom. Pack I'll meet you back at the hotel." Harry told them. Hermione and Draco both bowed their heads in acceptance. A number of the council glanced confused at the group as this was the first time during the meeting Harry had called them Pack. The term threw them before they returned to work.

"We will keep you posted on the proceeding Alpha. Check in hourly?" Neville approached the pair from the sidelines.

"That will be sufficient Neville." Neville bowed his head and returned to his paroling around the room. Harry turned to Fleur who sat beside her mother away from the rest of the council. "Fleur, I will see you this evening."

"My sister-in-law wished to change the meeting place milord." Harry nodded for her to continue. "She wished to meet inside the west side sitting room here. Added protection for all parties involved. Will that be acceptable milord?"

"That is fine. I don't intend for any wands to be pulled anyway." Harry sent a glare over his shoulder at Tom who was smiling back at him innocently. "I will ensure that Tom behaves himself."

"You wound me Little Alpha." Tom chuckled. He pulled Harry flush against his chest as he took them to the destination he wanted.

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"Lady Kateri Delacour, Neutral Lord." Harry nodded to the woman sitting before him in a simple blue sundress that flowed to her ankles and complimented her carmel tanned skin tone and electric blue eyes. Her hair fell in loose curls around her shoulders. She sat alone in the simple sitting room.

"Lord Harrison Evans, Grey Lord. Lord Voldemort, Dark Lord." She stood in a single graceful move. Her voice was smooth but Harry could hear the sharp steel under it. This was a woman who wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt but was more than willing to fight them. "My sister-in-law told me that you had some of your..'Pack' with you. Your elite I believe. Will they not join us?"

Harry chuckled taking a seat in one of the chairs across from the one she had chosen. "My Pack mates are relaxing after a full morning of negotiations with the council. I don't need them here for a simple meet and greet with fellow Lords."

Fleur chose that moment to enter the room. She gave a bow to Harry before sitting in a chair between Harry and Kateri. "Sorry for the delay Milord. Viktor asked for to give this to you." She held out a small package.

Harry took the wrapped package but didn't open it. Instead he tucked it into his pocket with a nod. Tom took the last seat beside Harry, Amara happily napping coiled up around his neck. Tom was lazily stroking her head. "Shall we start?"

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Thanks for reading everyone. I hope to read what you think so far and what you want to see in future chapters.

SHBTM