Hello, my loyal lovelies, I told you I would be updated at a more regular time frame and I plan to keep my word. If I have to be away for a period of time in the future I will place an alert on here but for now, enjoy the new update!

I do not own any part of Harry Potter.

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"Talk"

'Think'

"Parseltongue"

"Nightshade"

Chapter 46 – In the Blood

"My beauty, I think it is time to put the toad out of her misery. Nothing can be found when they go looking for what killed her." Harry stroked her head as he spoke

"It will be my pleasure. She has hurt too many of the hatchling for my tastes." Amara set off to bite the pink toad she had been hunting since the beginning of the year.

'Little One will you go to Tom and keep him out of trouble? He had been restless since I left.' Harry watched Nightshade scrabble down from his lap to go visit her second favorite human. Tom had a habit of letting her sleep draped around his neck and feeding her snacks whenever she woke. Harry found it adorable but never told the Dark Lord that.

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Morning came early for the Pack. Harry's magic was dancing around the room flashed of shadows, waves of soothing heat, and shards of coldness.

"Alpha what has you in a good mood?" Draco asked as another ribbon of Harry's magic wrapped around him, petting him.

The whole Pack watched amused as Harry continued to hum as he read. It was rare for him to allow his magic free reign. Each brush of his magic sent a shiver down their spines. Ginny slipped into his lap, pushing the book out of her way. Harry just rearranged so that he could hold onto her and read his book. Her head was tucked under his chin listening to his humming.

Hermione huffed, "We're not going to get an answer from him right now, are we?"

"Nope." The twins answered together. They glanced at each other before looking back to their Lord. "If he's in this good a mood than we will find out why soon enough."

"Breakfast," Harry's voice broke in. The Pack turned their attention back to him. Harry looked up with a smirk. "You will find out my reason at breakfast so get ready my Pack."

Everyone scrambled to get dressed and have their bags filled with all the supplies they needed for the day. Whatever had their Alpha in a good mood could only mean good things for everyone.

Harry waited while his Pack got ready. Amara was draped around his shoulders hissing in a content manner. Harry almost wanted to tease her that it was her own form of purring. The Pack finished and Harry led them to the great hall.

The Pack sat at the Slytherin table, looking around for any indicators of what Harry was happy about. It wasn't until Neville noticed Sirius sitting at the head table that something clicked. "Alpha, where is the toad?"

The Pack snapped their head to look at the head table where all the teachers sat, including one Sirius Black in the DADA seat. Ginny giggled happily at the new development. Luna smiled sweetly while softly singing, "The toad was found dead in her bed with no snake insight."

The Pack grinned at each other. As one they turned to their Alpha looking for details. Harry kept his eyes on his godfather like he couldn't feel their curious gazes but he didn't withhold the smirk of triumph. Let the school know, let Dumbledore know, he won this round. He was the one who kept the students safe, not the Light Lord.

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Harry was sitting in the Raven's common room when he felt his mirror activate. He almost laughed because only one person would be calling him at this time. He slipped it out of his shirt and activated a privacy charm around his chair. Luna glanced over at him but then turned away with a smile.

"Hello Tom." Harry purred answering the mirror, leaving it to hang around his neck small.

"Hello, My Little Alpha." An undertone of hissing had Harry chuckling. Tom was mad about something.

"Is Nightshade behaving herself?" Harry continued to look through the reports his Venatores from the Ministry sent him. Tonks was able to get an abundance of information for him on the workings of the different departments.

A meaningless harsh hiss caught his attention from the mirror. "Your ferret is a menace. She has ridden a rat of mine. One that still had use."

"Ahh," Harry hummed. "The rat that you've had hidden from me and my godfathers. That is a true shame."

"My Little Alpha, you will have to make up for my loss." His voice turned to a smooth purr.

Harry grinned in amusement. "I have a meeting with the Centaurs this coming weekend. Shall I come join you for dinner after I finish?"

"I will meet you in our clearing." The mirror deactivated as Harry mussed in amusement that the clearing that they sealed their alliance is now 'their clearing'.

He put his mirror away and took down his privacy charm. Luna glanced him with a secretive smile. He motioned her to him. Luna happily skipped over to settle in his lap. "Alpha is going to be busy with the Dark Lord this weekend."

"Anything I should know about little moon?" Harry settled his arms around her as he watched the common room. Students were scattered around in groups talking or studying.

Luna tugged on a strip of hair that escaped from his low ponytail. "You should have your hair braided back when you meet the Centaurs and wear your crown."

Harry looked at her cloudy eyes, interested in the new information offered. "And why is that?"

Luna's eyes cleared as she smiled up at her Alpha Lord. "It would serve you well to look close to your best."

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"They came in!" The Pack looked up at the twin's shout of excitement. The founders paused in their own talks to look out at the Pack.

Ginny looked confused at the workshop door. "What came in? What did the twins order?"

"They ordered some ingredients from the wolves but they never get that excited." Neville paused to examine the door like it would give him the answers he sought. "Didn't they say they finally designed the perfect battle gear for the Pack? Could that have come in from the Goblins?"

"The design that they spent two days working on with the Goblins this summer? Maybe. It's been long enough for them to have finished." Hermione shrugged.

The twins burst out of their workroom with a large box hovering behind them. "There finished! They have come."

Fred swept his had dramatically, "Ladies, Gentlemen and our Lord Alpha,"

"We are proud to present you," George spun and placed the box on the table.

Fred moved to stand with his brother, "A masterpiece that took months to perfect,"

"Many hours of negotiations with the Goblins," George grinned excitedly.

"And many galleons to get made." Fred almost pouted about that.

"We present the Pack's new armor." They finished together.

Fred pulled a wrapped package out of the box first. He opened it and started holding the pieces up one at a time. "For the ladies, we have a calf-length dragonhide skirt. It has slits up either side for mobility. A pair of pants that will be skin tight but that makes fighting easier. The top is a halter top vest so the front laced up and it has two almost un-noticeable pockets with extension charms on them. To complete the look, we have knee-high lace-up battle boots and battle cloak with tight sleeves. The whole ensemble is made of dragonhide treated in a number of potions made by your loveable twins to enhance durability, protection, and movements. And to stay with our custom it was dyed and spelled to be our trademark shifting grey smoky color. The cloaks also have our Pack mark on the back in black acromantula thread."

Fred passed out the female outfits while George started to show off the male version. "For the males, we have the pants, boots and cloak, all same as the ladies. The shirt is also vest style because this style is easier to put on. What my dear twin forgot to mention about all of these is that the underside has a layer of acromantula silk for comfort and it is spelled to keep the wearer warm in cold weather or cool in hot. The best part is the goblins had used their own magic to make it fit perfectly to the wearer and re-adjust for growth."

They pass out the packages to the males, leaving two for themselves. Harry sat, Luna curled up in his lap, waiting for his. The twins smirked looking at him and he rolled his eyes. "Alright my twins what did you do?"

"For our Lord and Alpha, we have a pair of Pack standard style pants but in black, black knee-high battle boot with silver over clasps and black custom-made dragonhide belt to hold your beloved blades." Fred handed said items to Harry, who takes them with another eye roll.

"Next we have the standard male vest top in a darker version of our shifting grey and finally we have the cloak." George holds up the cloak. "Note the missing sleeves and the flared collar instead of a hood. Next is the single silver clasp at the base of the throat with your blood mark engraved with inlaid liquefied emeralds, that the goblins refused to tell us how they did. All of this is for a reason."

George hands the cloak over. Harry pushes his magic out into it and almost dropped it in shock. "This is what you used my blood and invisibility cloak for? Twins this is ingenious."

"What is it?" Hermione asked.

"George would you like the honors?" Fred asked.

"Thank you Fred," George turned to the Pack. "Last year we asked Alpha of we could do some research on his cloak. We found that it could expand, or grow. When we told Alpha this we asked if we could cut a small amount of it. It that small piece we were able to make it expand bigger again, but not enough for a second cloak. What we did do was weave it into a spelled acromantula silk. This was then sewn under Alpha's cloak so that it could make him invisible."

"It looks like it doesn't have sleeves but it really does," Fred added. "Your cloak also has your Blood mark inside the Pack's mark (for those that have forgotten: Celtic knot crescent moon)"

Harry set his cloak down with a small grin. "This is nice my twins."

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Draco, Hermione, and Ginny stood behind him as he bowed respectfully to the mother elder of the Centaur herds. It was agreed that they would follow him but he had to put right the wrongs that the Ministry has done.

Hermione waited until they were away from the herd before she sighed. "Why was I brought along again? That was stressful and I never even spoke."

Harry hooked his arm around her shoulders. "A Lord never goes to negotiations without members of his most trusted with him. Draco is my second, you're my scholar and Ginny is my guard."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "And we are in our new uniform battle attire why? Don't get me wrong I love the new designs but why wear them to a peaceful meeting with the Centaurs?"

"Luna told Alpha that we should be dress like this," Ginny answered. "I think she saw something important."

"The twins made sure that this new uniform would be presentable for formal occasions too so why not?" Draco walked behind Harry. "The Centaurs weren't offended either, so I'll say we are fine."

Hermione huffed and shrugged Harry's arm off her shoulder so she could hold his arm instead. "What do you think Luna saw happening?"

Harry's magic pulled his attention to the side. He gave a lazy smile as he halted the group, "I believe she saw them."

The others turned to where he was watching. They only saw forest. "Alpha?" Ginny whispered, hands hovering over one of her invisible daggers.

"Your senses are strong." A low male voice spoke from the forest. Five shadows detached from the forest surrounding them.

Hermione gasped when the shadows became visible, "Elven…"

"Dark elven, Hermione, and of the royal line if my eyes do not deceive me." Harry nodded to the only hooded Elf.

The two groups stood observing each other. Hermione itched to reach for the weapon hidden by invisibility charms on her thigh. Draco was tense, waiting for them to make a move. Ginny kept her hand hovering over her dagger. Harry though, he truly observed them.

The Dark elves were inhumanly beautiful with pale skin that had a faint glow like the moonlight to his senses. They stood tall and were built slim. He could see the muscles under their skin and the different weapons they wore openly. Most of all though he could 'see' their magic. Their eyes glowed with it, pure and untainted. Their magic brushed against his, curious and cautious. They reminded him a little of Luna. He once again glanced at them outwardly, one even looked close to Luna. Blond silver hair and pure crystal blue eyes. The others had pure silver hair or black hair with various eye colors but that one looked like his Luna. Harry mused that it would make sense that Luna had elven blood somewhere in her bloodline.

Harry broke from his musing and broke the silence. "To what do I owe the honor of this meeting?"

"A whisper reached our ears. I came to see if it was true." The hooded elf spoke, her voice soft and rang like a bell in the air.

Harry gave a single nod. "Were they?"

The hooded figure reached up, removing the hood. White hair tumbled over her shoulders and blood eyes with black rings on the outside locked with his emerald ones. Her youthful appearance made her appear in her late 20s. "It would appear they are. Wil will be hunted."

"I know, but I will not fall." Harry's voice was hard with conviction. "They are welcome to try and kill me. It will be their blood spilt not mine."

The elf smiled sadly at him, stepping closer. The pack tensed but Harry calmed them with a raised hand. She ignored them, only stopping her approach when she stood only a foot from him. Her hand rose to cup his cheek. "Do you know who I am childe?"

Harry had a hunch even the story said that she was killed. "The dark elven princess Selvinta."

Her ash colored lips curved into a smile. "They will come as they have done for every other of your line."

Harry saw the sorrow in her eyes as she absorbed every detail of his face like she was looking for something. He was struck with a blaring truth. "You didn't just take in the child, you made her your own. Your blood flowed in her veins."

"Just as it does in yours and did in your mothers. Only the children that inherited the magic, inherited my blood." She placed a kiss on his forehead. Harry closed his eyes as his magic reached up to greet her. His eyes fluttered open, glowing bright when she pulled away.

'Alpha your blood marks are visible.' Hermione alerted him.

"You are so close childe. So close to achieving what only my daughter had. Hurry to achieve it and them surpass it. Mother Magic has made you as she made her first children. She made you a Lord unlike any other this world had seen before and cloaks you in her protection. Lady Luck and Lady Fate placed their marks on you and you accepted them. Yet there is one last mark. If you wish to survive and achieve your destiny, you must accept this last mark and pass the final test." Selvinta pulled away, letting her hand drift back to her side. "Almost there my blood. I will be watching your progress."

She drifted back into the forest's shadows and disappeared. Harry sighed. He had much to think about.

"Alpha? What was that about?" Hermione asked. "Who is hunting you and why?"

Harry cleared his mind of all the thoughts cluttering it. "I will not speak on this now." He continued the path they were walking before the meeting. The others followed in silence.

When he turned to head for the clearing Draco spoke up, "Harrison are we not returning to Hogwarts?"

"You all are, I am meeting with Tom." Harry glanced back at them when worry leaked into the bond. Hermine and Ginny watched him with uncertainty in their eyes. Draco's eyes kept glancing around the forest like he was expecting an attack. "My Pack, I am only having dinner with Tom. I will be safe. Now go."

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Harry returned to the Silver common room late in the night. He felt the Pack asleep and indeed they were in the common area like they had tried waiting up for him. He stopped in front of the fireplace and just gazed at them. George and Neville were sleeping on the couch together under a blanket. Draco had his head laying on Fred's shoulder on the loveseat, Fred's arms holding him, and a blanket wrapped around them. Ginny and Luna were asleep curled up together under a large blanket on mattress sized pillow. Hermione was asleep in his chair, likely the last to succumb to sleep's arms. She must have been the one responsible for the other being covered with blankets.

Harry sighed and changed the chair into a pillow like the one Luna and Ginny slept on. He settled a blanket around her form. He sat beside her, running his fingers through her hair as he thought of the plans for the rest of the school year.

With the toad out of the way he had Tom was sending one of his to fill the DADA place for the rest of the year. He was hoping for Barty to be sent back. After that is done Harry just had to watch the students. After he had gotten help for all the students affected by the blood quills the Pack quietly started rumors about the Headmaster's ability to protect the students. A few of the younger years will even write home about it now that the toad is dead and the spell of silence she had placed on them was gone. He had a few of his sixth-year Venatores draft letters to all the news outlets with the same questions about why Dumbledore wasn't able to protect the students and how such dark artifacts got into his school without the wards alerting him.

The most prominent item on his list though was his blood magic. Selvinta was right, he needed to advance. He had gotten far but he was still only a Blood Wizard. He needed to advance to the next level. He leaned down and place a small kiss on Hermione's brow. He stood, nodding to the founders and left for the RoR.

He had a ritual to do.

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And another piece of the puzzle is added to the story. Has anyone seen the different connections matching up yet? Can anyone guess what next chapter holds? Thanks for reading! Next chapter is in the works now!