Disclaimer I don't own Harry Potter. All rights to the characters and universe the story belongs in belong to JK Rowling

Chapter 29 - A Meeting in Shadows

The days in the hospital passed by surprisingly quickly. Ginny stayed with Harry, adamant that she wouldn't go back to Hogwarts until he was released. Harry had told her that he would be OK if she wanted to go back because she already needed to catch up. Instead Ginny had asked Hermione to send through the work they had been working on so she could work from the hospital.

Harry would never be able to tell her how grateful he was that she stuck by him. Not only during the hours he was awake but more importantly through the days where he had been unconscious. It was her voice that had brought him back and if she hadn't been there, he wouldn't like to think where he would be now.

The other Weasleys had all popped in at some point and even Hermione had managed to get away from school on the Saturday after he had awoken to see him. Harry was surprised to see Trott and Charlie visit him together. Apparently, they had become fast friends after meeting at the Dragon Reserve.

As soon as Trott had walked in, seeing him sitting up, she launched herself at him gripping him tightly. He was glad that she seemed better and had gotten over her stutter, even if she was still a little on edge.

Trott told the tale of how they had escaped, with Roza's help, to the Dragon Reserve where the onsite healer had temporarily stabilised Harry to be transported to St Mungos. When Harry asked about Roza, Trott explained that she knew how to get hold of her and they were going to set up a meeting soon.

She also said that it was unknown why Roza had helped in the first place, all she told him was that Roza had asked why Harry and Ron didn't kill the newly turned vampires. Content to get more answers when they met, Harry didn't think much into it.

'Are you sure you don't want me to stay at home for the next week? I'm sure McGonagall won't mind.'

Harry and Ginny were stood by the fireplace in his flat. He had been home for three days now and he was finally going back to work.

'I'll be fine. Don't worry about me.'

'Don't worry about you? You've just got out the hospital!'

'I know, I have to go back though.' He told taking her in his arms 'I need to stop them Gin.'

'I know I'm just worried, I don't want to see you hurt.'

He kissed her on the top of the head 'I know, I'll try to keep out of trouble.'

'No you won't.' She mumbled.

'I know.'

'Then why lie?'

'Because I worry about you worrying about me.'

'That doesn't make sense.'

He chuckled 'Yes it does.'

'No it doesn't.' She argued smiling into his chest.

'Yes it does.'

'No it doesn't.'

'Yes it does.' She shot him a playful glare 'I can do this all day if you want Gin.'

'No you can't.'

He snorted. 'Come on. It won't be long before I'll see you again. If I don't see you before your try-out you'll be a chaser for the Harpies.'

'You don't know that.' She said quietly looking at the floor to hide her self-doubt.

He gently put two fingers under her chin and tilted it so that she was looking back up at him. 'Yes I do.'

She looked for any sign that he was lying or telling her just what she wanted to hear. She found none, every time they spoke about this he was certain she was going to make it.

'Thank you. I'll make you proud.'

'I'm already proud. I love you.'

'I love you too.' She leaned up and kissed him. 'I best be going then.' She said smiling as she stepped into the fire with a handful of floo powder.

Harry nodded 'I'll speak to you later. Thanks Gin. For everything.'

'Anytime.' She looked him the eye one last time before shouting 'Hogwarts!' and dropping the powder into the fire. She was gone in a flash of green.

Harry stepped in after her 'Ministry of Magic!'

He stumbled ungracefully out of the floo in the Ministry Atrium, it still wasn't his favourite way to travel. He nodded at a few people he had met from other departments, saying a casual 'Thanks' when someone welcomed him back, all the while making his way to the Auror office.

He was just about to enter his cubicle when Trott came out of hers. 'Morning Harry.' She greeted warmly with a hug.

'Morning Leanne. This your first day back as well?'

'Yeah. I would have come back sooner but Robards insisted I took another week.'

'Where is everyone?' He asked, the whole floor was pretty much deserted.

'I spoke to Manny earlier, he said they've been looking for any sign of O'Manda. They still haven't found him though.'

'Not likely to either he'll be long gone. Come on then we'd best go and see Robards.' The two walked to Robards' office, knocked once, then entered.

'Morning you two. How are you feeling?'

They glanced at each other a little uncertainly 'We're Ok.' Harry answered for them.

'You know if this is too soon, you can go home. We won't hold it against you. What you went through was horrible, there's no shame in needing time to recover.'

They looked at each other again and smiled 'We're OK sir.' Said Trott 'We want to help bring these bastards down.'

Robards smiled at them 'OK, I know this will be tough, but I need full reports from both of you on what happened. As quick as possible too. I'm meeting with the rest of your team at Grimmauld Place at two this evening. It would be best if you are there.'

'But sir, what about O'Manda. He can get through the wards.' Said Harry concerned.

Robards scowled 'Don't worry, he'd be an idiot to turn up there. He would be completely on his own. Now get on with your reports, this meeting is paramount.'

It was a sombre atmosphere at the meeting, all of the Aurors were disheartened with the lack of progress in capturing the traitor despite knowing their identity. They were all sitting in silence as Kreacher served them tea.

Once all of their mugs were filled Robards addressed them. 'So we know why we're here. We know who the mole was now all we have to do is catch him.'

'And make sure he pays for putting Potter and Trott through what they did.' Grumbled Owens.

'Sir if you don't mind, what happened with him since we disappeared? Did he give himself away any?' Asked Harry.

'No, we just assumed he was missing with you.' Said Robards gruffly. 'Then when you escaped Trott warned us about him, not seen him since.'

'He'll be long gone then,' Sighed Harry 'I'd imagine he's fled the country.'

'I agree. We've searched his home and there was nothing there. It was all planned though nothings been left, not even any extra food. I think there was one tin of soup.'

'So where do we start then?' Asked Neville. 'I take it they will abandon everywhere the vampire, what was her name, Roza?' Trotted nodded 'Right, well surely they will abandon every place she knows about.'

'Well luckily, I think I know where they are, or at least which country.' Said Harry.

'How?'

'He met Voldemort before he rose to power the first time.'

'How does that narrow anything down Potter?' Asked Robards.

'Well, not many people know but after Voldemort left school he worked for Borgin and Burkes in Diagon Alley. He then left the country after he killed a woman called Hepzibah Smith.'

'I remember reading something about that.' Said Owens. 'It was just before I joined the academy, wasn't she meant to be the descendant from Hufflepuff.'

'That's the one.'

'I thought her house elf killed her?'

'No Hokey was framed. It was actually Voldemort, although he was still using his given name, Tom Riddle, at this point.'

'Well bugger me.' Muttered Owens. 'How do you know this?'

'Dumbledore.' Said Harry simply. 'Anyway, he left the country looking for Ravenclaw's lost Diadem. That's where he met this man who's been running the Underground Society.'

'So he met him somewhere on his search how does that help?' Interrupted Robards gruffly. 'Even if he found it, he wouldn't have told anyone where.'

'No, but he would have had to of known where it was before searching. Which meant someone had told him where to look.'

'I bet he killed them.' Said Robards Darkly.

'Hard to kill a ghost. Did you know that the Grey Lady at Hogwarts is actually Helena Ravenclaw?'

'No, I didn't.'

'Well anyway, she stole the Diadem from her mother and hid it in Albania.'

'Right, still not proving anything. They could have just met in passing, or even in a different country.' Robards told him.

'I agree but I'd bet anything there hasn't been a kidnapping or any related crime in Albania.'

'Wait hasn't been?' Asked Owens.

'Right.' Grinned Harry 'These guys are like ghosts, the best place to hide is in plain sight, right?'

The Aurors all nodded. 'So, what better place to hide than in the only country where you haven't committed a crime and can't be linked with one?'

'Bloody Hell. Where in Albania?' Demanded Robards.

Harry waved his wand and a large map appeared before them all 'That I don't know.'

'Hmm we'll have to study this and come up with a list of places to check out. I'll get in contact with their Ministry to ask for any case files that could be linked to the society just to make sure there are none.' Said Robards.

'Check with Romania, Bulgaria and Greece as well.' Said Harry.

'Why?'

'To make sure they don't realise we are only interested in Albania. We don't want them bolting yet.'

'Good idea.'

'Harry, when were you going to meet with the vampires?' Asked Sam.

'We haven't set a date yet. It's up to Leanne to get in touch with them, why?'

Sam grinned wolfishly 'I have some old friends that would like to be involved. They want to help us take down Priory.'

Harry glanced at Robards 'What do you reckon?'

'The more the merrier.'

It was a cold March night when Harry, Ron and Trott were making their way through Hogsmeade to the Hogshead. All three of them were nervous, tonight they were meeting with Roza. The vampire had demanded that only Harry, Ron and Trott were to be in attendance but did extend an invitation to Sam and his counterparts as well.

The three of them ducked inside the pub, nodding to Aberforth, before ascending the stairs to the private room where the meeting was being held. The room was dark with two candles for light on either side. The chairs had been arranged in a circle in the middle of the room, the most of which were already occupied.

Roza had brought two vampires with her, Harry was surprised to see the one that he had fought with before. The four werewolves who had started to rebel against Priory with Sam were also there. They wore their own scars that Harry guessed were from that incident and many other transformations.

The three of them sat down in the remaining chairs and an uncomfortable silence ensued. It seemed neither faction wanted to be the first to speak. Harry met Roza's eyes, which seemed to glow in the semi darkness, they grinned at each other.

'I suppose we best start then.' He said 'or we're going to be here all night.'

'I agree. Zhall we ztart with introductionz?' Harry nodded. 'Very well. I am Roza, theze are my two mozt truzted friendz. Zebaztian and Natalia.' Sebastian was the vampire Harry recognised from their previous encounter. Harry shuddered at the memory of almost being bitten. Natalia was one of the vampires he briefly remembered seeing at the coven. She had spoken with Priory and Hellman.

'I am sorry for our previous encounter Mr Potter and Miss Trott.' Said Sebastian.

'It's Ok,' Said Trott waving away the apology 'We've all fought with each other here we need to move past that.'

'Well said!' Applauded one of the werewolves.

Sam smiled 'For those that don't know I'm Sam Bollinger, these are my friends, Finlay, Johnathan, Herman and Monty.'

The werewolves were all stick thin apart from Jonathan who was more heavily build and slightly hump backed. He had greying brown shaggy hair along with a bushy beard. Finlay's nose looked like it had been broken more than once and never properly repaired, he was bald and clean shaven. Herman and Monty looked like twins, they both had the same blue eyes and wore their dark hair long.

'I am Leanne, these are my colleagues Harry and Ron. Sam also works with us.'

'Right now those are over.' Said Ron clapping his hands together. 'Does everyone know why we're here?' They all nodded. 'Good, so who wants to start?'

'I will.' Said Roza. 'I have queztionz for you Ron and Harry.'

'OK?' Said Ron nervously.

'Leanne gave me an anzwer but I want yourz. Why did you not take the young vampirez we had turned?'

'Because we couldn't give them a life. You could.' Harry told her 'Now don't take this the wrong way.' He said speaking to the werewolves in particular 'If they had been bitten by werewolves I would have tried to rescue them. They could have had a life outside of the werewolves, we could have given them something.

'It's different for vampires though. You are very much different from humans, you have different needs and when newly turned you are very volatile. They would have been a danger to their families and will continue to be until they can control their blood lust.'

'Why not juzt kill them?'

'They were innocent. It's the same reason I didn't kill any other vampires when I could have done in the coven. Where I can, I will avoid killing and so far, I've just about managed that.'

'Very well.' She said, seemingly pleased with his answers.

'Why are you so outspoken on werewolf rights?' Asked Finlay.

'Why shouldn't I be?' Asked Harry coolly.

'Well you must have some ulterior motive.'

'Finlay.' Warned Sam.

'No, it's alright.' Said Harry edgily 'Why would you think that?'

'The high and mighty never defend the likes of us.'

Harry snorted, 'The high and mighty?'

'Yes, people like you don't understand what it's like to be hated and beat down like we do. So why are you bothered?'

'I have a better idea than what you think. One of my old schoolteachers was a werewolf and he was one of the best men I've ever met. I'm outspoken in his memory, werewolves shouldn't be treated the way they are.'

'So, what's your other motive then?' Pressed Finlay.

'I don't have one. You're looking for something that isn't there. I get that you mistrust the wizarding world and the wizarding world mistrusts you. The first step in righting that is to stop the Underworld Society, which we'll do with or without your help.' Said Harry with finality.

Before Finlay could continue Harry asked a question of his own 'Roza, why did you bite those children or at least allow them to be bitten? I checked they were within the ransom period.'

'Unfortunately, that waz out of my control.' A downcast Roza answered 'They were given to uz beaten and ztarved. Az we heal naturally well, we don't practise medicine az far as you humanz do. The only way to zave them waz to turn them.'

'How did the vampires come to work for the society?'

'That was Flave'z doing.' She said angrily.

'Flave?' Asked Trott.

'Yez Flave Padonniz. He waz our employer, the one you have been looking for. You met him whilzt captured.' That name alone was worth this meeting. 'We were zet up with a good blood bank zupply from a local wizarding community in Zerbia. It was a good arrangement, we offered protection to the localz liveztock from wildlife and they paid uz in kind.

'We never fought, we from the coven frequently vizited the village we were on friendly termz with them and often used the barz after night fell. There waz never trouble. A quarter of a century ago I waz approached by a man with a propozition. He zaid he wanted to pay uz for housing hoztages for him. Even getting the chance to turn them or kill them if the ranzom wazn't paid.'

She scowled 'He told uz how he already had a coven working in Eastern Europe and wanted uz to head Wezt. Of courze we refuzed, zaying that we had no qualmz with wizardz and wanted to continue living peacefully. He zaid our involvement need never be known, which iz when I lost my temper. I told him we are not monzterz, that we would never join him.'

'So what happened?' Asked Harry.

'We were attacked out of the blue by the witchez and wizardz from the village. They killed many of uz, I thought it waz a hate attack. They were well organized and attacked at daybreak to give uz no chance of ezcape.

'Some of uz survived and we fled. That was when Flave approached uz again. Offering zanctuary in return for our help. The zafety of what waz left of my coven waz at ztake I couldn't refuze.' She insisted.

'I understand.' Harry told her gently, 'So why did you help us?'

'After you infiltrated the coven I visited the other vampirez under Flave'z employ. I overheard a converzation of an attack on a village in Zerbia. I was curious zo I asked about it.' Here her face turned wild with fury. 'I found out they attacked the village we lived by, they left a note zaying it waz my coven. That iz what zparked the attack. After that, I couldn't work for the man anymore, I will be no onez puppet.'

'If we gave you a location in Albania, how long would it take you to get there and join us in an assault on Flave's headquarters?' Asked Trott.

'Couple of nightz and we could be ready. Why?'

'We believe that's where he is located. We just haven't found where.'

'We have bigger problems.' Said Johnathan. 'There's an imminent attack on the muggle streets of Hamburg in five days.'

'Shit.' Swore Harry. 'Do you know where they're starting?'

'Yeah, in one of the less industrial parts of the city.'

'Would you be willing to work with other Aurors and tell them what you know?'

'Why can't it be you?' He asked.

'I can be there if needs be.' Said Harry 'However, if we can attack first with our own infiltration it would save an awful lot of people.'

'Do you have enough Aurors to do that?'

'We do when working with foreign Ministries.'

'When are we going to Albania then?' Asked Ron.

'Tomorrow.' Said Trott 'Take Neville with you and report back as quickly as possible. If you're agreeing, we'll meet with you four tomorrow as well to come up with the overall plan for defending Hamburg.' She informed the werewolves.

'We'll be there.' Sam answered for them.

'What about uz?' Asked Roza.

'Where are you currently based?' Asked Harry.

'In a coven of a friend of mine, in Borove, in the Ukraine.'

'Ok stay there until we contact you. Hopefully we'll find what we're looking for in time. We'll plan from there.' Said Harry.