DISCLAIMER: HP belongs to JKR. The story line and all new characters, new character development, new developments are my intellectual property.
Mr. Grey has a first name as suggested by Marcikyle. It is rather suitable. Thanks, and thanks to NCF for reading over my work.
Encounters-
Meanwhile at the Grangers' home, Hermione's grandmother, Marguerite, had calmed and her voice was steadier.
Jones, Grant's helper brought her a herbal tea and she continued, "We found the place, actually not very far from here, maybe a 45 minutes drive. I was able to see it because I was still one of the family, and its magic didn't conceal it from my eyes."
She smiled ruefully remembering and turned towards her husband as if to apologize.
He patted her shoulder, "You did what was needed."
She continued, "I had to convince your father that it was very foggy when he was unable to first see it. It wasn't as I remembered, there were walls crumbling and piles of rubble everywhere; it was the site of an old bombing forgotten by time. " She closed her eyes.
"We called and nobody came, it was abandoned. I can still remember finding the large graveyard in front of the castle; it was horrible. Yes, they lived in a large castle, probably 1,000 years old." Her face lit up for a second, remembering better times.
"Did you know, as I told you, it is actually not far from here, but it is abandoned. I have been thinking lately, there are other families like Jeanie's parents and the Grangers who gave up the Magic ways during the last centuries, and all lived around here. This was probably a Magic settlement since times long ago." Once again, the light went out of her, and after a drink of her tea, she started talking again.
"In the graveyard, I found the names of everyone I had known, my grandparents, their brothers and sisters, and many more." She turned and looked at her husband.
"Darling, I wasn't totally truthful, I told you they were friends, of course they were more than that. I am like them. I didn't want to tell you because I was afraid you would no longer love me." With these words she broke in inconsolable tears.
Paul had already suspected for years, but the actual knowledge had come as a shock, he was temporarily frozen. Marguerite noticed and just stood up. She walked to sit next to her son, Grant. Swiftly, she dried her tears with the back of her hand, took a deep breath and calmed down for her son's sake. Her son couldn't stop shaking so she held his hand.
The stories of murder and destruction, the legacy of strife, so much pain and grief, they all needed to end, but how? She had hidden in the Muggle world, and the Magic world had found her again.
Perhaps, because of her silence, her precious grandchildren, and her beloved daughter were now gone; actually, she loved all the children as if they were her own, Draco, Harry, were not less loved by her, and she felt responsible for all. How would this ever end? She needed to come clean.
"As I was saying, in the main burial place, there were all together over 100 names, and at the old cemetery we found at least sixty more graves from the same time period, They were dated less than two weeks after my family was murdered. It was too much for me to assimilate." Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"If that weren't enough, I also found my mother's grave and the graves of my brothers, and I even found a place with my name, maybe someone wanted to make me look dead. Remember that I lived in Germany before, so how their bodies got here is anyone's guess." She turned towards her husband.
"I am sorry Paul, I told you they were dear friends. They were not friends, I denied my own family, what kind of person am I?"
By this time, everyone's eyes were wet; it was a tale of grief and sorrow, of terrible times of darkness and fear. Paul stood up, still not knowing what to say, his heart ached for his wife; his denial of their magic blood was also responsible for the tragedy they now faced. He was responsible for all the pain he had caused to the ones he loved the most.
Marguerite knew she needed to end her tale, "My father must have brought their bodies to be buried there. Or maybe it was my father's brother, but we were told he had been killed. I will tell you later about him."
She really had hidden much, she never knew how to tell her husband that her mother loved two brothers until something happened. Yes, her lies had many consequences.
How could she tell him that she had been in a binding contract already; but that was so long ago. By the time she remembered him, she already had children. Was he also killed? His name wasn't in the graveyard. The day she remembered him, her long forgotten love, she had cried for days. God forgive her, she still missed him.
"Yes, so many beloved gone, she sighed, "I just couldn't understand who was responsible for all the destruction, and it is still a mystery to me. Even though, I didn't find Uncle Fenrir's name, I assumed that he had also died. Or maybe it was my father's brother who buried them, but we were told he had been killed. I just don't know."
Lucius and Remus were back. "What is going on?" Lucius asked, his face appeared gaunt, regardless of his suffering, he made a clear effort to appear calm for Narcissa's sake.
Mr. Grey
Mr. Grey was listening. All the sorrow tied back to the Albus creature. He had ideas, but all he wanted was his angel. Hearing about the fortress, old memories scratched the back of his mind, beings that looked like wolves but nothing more. The forests around scared him, but why? All started in a forest, he thought.
He felt a tap on his shoulder. He sat above on a chandelier. He turned around ready to bolt, next to him there were two what? Ghosts? A low whisper on his ear, "You are right, Albus is behind all the sorrow, he lost his way."
He whispered back, "Who are you?"
"Zerachiel, you don't remember us? It will all come back. You are here because her warmth was familiar in more ways than one. It wasn't mere chance. I guess you have been granted a chance to redeem yourself."
The name, he guessed it was his, evoked old memories, very remote, he could hear his name being called. He wished to know more, but he knew nothing else would be forthcoming.
"The one called Remus, look at him. He is also a victim, but he needs to stay, the young ones need him. Darkness is coming again, and they must unite. The children have another family who will try to take them away. Many wrongs must be righted. Use your guile and your forgotten gifts, help. The one in the tower, help him."
She vanished in front of his eyes. But he knew who she might be, she was related to his angel. She was also one of beings with wolves in them.
He flew to the room with the small window, wenr thru it, and was inside Gellert's cell.
He made himself visible.
Gellert lay on his cot, he looked desperate. He blinked, what was that?
Sitting on the air, crossed legs, right above him, a small creature, grey, very narrow, dressed in a tunic and leggings. He was solid, not a ghost, the eyes glowed, not quite red but maybe pink. The being nodded.
"I am Mr. Zerachiel Grey, the Angel-Healer-Pixie Mimi's guardian. I am here, because I need to take you away from the Albus being."
Gellert knew that he couldn't be imagining this. The next words made sense, "After I lost my way, not sure when, I became a soul eater for a master. I was in a place of sorrow called Azkaban."
The Gellert nearly jumped back, but he wasn't afraid or desperate. "A Dementor? Nah, cannot be."
"Yet it is. Again, you need to come, there have been too many deaths, too much sorrow. You used to have an infestation, I can see the scars. Good, you have learned like I have. We must find a way out of here, away from Albus; any ideas?"
Gellert realized the being spoke in German and in English. Why not, everything was coming together.
"Ah, you saw my Blümchen at that place? I see, a master?"
A chill ran down his back. The children were at risk. Fenrir was Voldemort's henchman, he needed to change. He would talk to Fenrir, thus he needed to escape. He would tell Fenrir what he knew. Besides he wanted to find what really happened to his brother.
He heard Albus come back. Damn he had let his guard down. He looked at the books, food, maps, and the thing, all around him, and it was too late to do anything,
No it wasn't, the guardian had an elaborate charm at work, one that Albus didn't see as magic. Albus saw Gellert deep asleep.
"Wake up, damn it, I need to know, you must tell me.." Albus demanded.
After trying a few more minutes, Albus gave up and left. Mr. Zecheriel Grey jumped piggy back on an unknowing Albus. Time to learn about this being.
Gellert opened his eyes, no Albus and no Mr. Grey. There by the corner where the children came, he found a note. "Will be back."
He grinned.
The Master
The shrouded figure angered, change was coming. His supply of souls was in danger, his diviner had told him. Children would bring the change, and the Dementors would be expelled from Azkaban.
He had just found out that one of his best Dementors was missing, and he hadn't call it sent his spies everywhere, he wanted his Dementor back.
He walked thru the long room where he kept the stolen souls, his collection. Nobody was going to endanger his treasure, or take the power away. He was still around because of their power, it was a perfect scheme.
For starters, he needed to find out what was going on. Thus, he needed to assume human form, as much as he disliked it.
Back at the Granger Manor
Remus heard his name being called, not his name, "Mr Remi." He looked up, one second there, next gone. A winged grey figure with glowing eyes nearly red, clicked its teeth, "Don't lose your way, it is easy. You must forget the past and remember we all have sins. You already have a daughter who grew without you. Don't do it again, don't hurt them, they need you because darkness is coming back."
Moony said, "Aye."
Remus was afraid. What was that? He looked around, nobody else had seen it.
He looked at Lady Granger, she just sat there, quiet and somber. He knew that whatever he saw was warning him, he had a feeling he needed to listen.
"Mother, why would your uncle want to take your daughter and grandchildren away? Why not come and see you, it doesn't make sense." Grant pondered.
Paul moved by Marguerite and just stood there.
Jeanie hadn't say a word; she was mute, as if she was in a state of shock. Tears would not stop coming, while Grant rubbed her back.
"I am pregnant." She told no one in particular. Everyone was quiet at once.
"it should be a happy day, but now, my Mimi, my sweet angel is gone, and my Harry, my little boy, is also gone. We had him for such a short time; poor darling, he only had a few months of a good life; and now, our new girl will never meet them." And she broke in heart wrenching sobs.
Everyone froze at her announcement. Grant held her close to him, "Darling, they aren't gone; they will be back. I will find her, and remember that Harry is with her, they are the Pixies; they are creative, disobedient, and willful. Don't forget that, they will find a way to come back; thus I am certain that we haven't lost them. And thank you for the little one, you always bring me much joy."
Grant soothed his wife, even when his own body was trembling; he was frozen cold and felt afraid for the future; his words were empty and lacked conviction.
He loved his children with fierce love, and the pain was tearing him apart. He had studied about werewolves, many were not reasonable creatures, and he had little hope; he remembered what Remus had confided on him, how he had been bitten by a cruel werewolf; one who increased his ranks by preying amongst children.
He tried to stop the gloomy images from invading his mind.
Meanwhile, Narcissa updated Remus and Lucius. She repeated the tale that Marguerite had told them thus far. Lucius was amazed, and his eyebrows went up a couple of times.
"Marguerite," Lucius addressed her, "Are you saying that you are a Greyback, and that Fenrir isn't a werewolf?"
If that is so, why is it that I cannot smell a wolf in Elly, how can that be? Remus asked Moony, his mind in turmoil.
He ruminated, the family are Greybacks, and Fenrir is my big enemy; so how can I love a grandchild of Fenrir? This is madness. And Fenrir isn't a werewolf? Greyback can shift like I do; I thought that was a gift from the Pixies, and shifters were legends.
Remus felt sick and wanted to run away from this place. He wasn't sure that he could still love Elly; moreover, maybe Eleanor would think him not good enough for her.
Idiot, you are me, a shifter, don't make me take over. Don't you know of regret? This family has taken us in. I won't let you mess it up. Will you abandon our wife? Remember the warning. Think, now you have a long life, a gift; one the Pixie gave you because she could, and because the little Greyback, our pup, loves you,
Remus knew that Moony was right. But how could he face her? And it was true the curse was a blessing, that was true. He preached to Sirius and he was being so stubborn. Did he want another child growing up without him? His little Pansy, not his, someone else's now.
Paul and Marguerite sat by Jeanie, both holding her. Paul wanted his family and to put it all behind. He was foolish and nothing had changed, they were his and that would never go away. He had driven his son away. When he looked at the Lestrange, they were very happy. Happy as Grant, Peter and Jeanie could have been. He had hurt his own children, thus, he was also at fault.
Jeanie looked at Grant and cried harder, "Darling, Peter, he never met our Pixie, he never did."
Grant looked at his father with hard eyes, it was true, they had driven his brother away. His father didn't understand how their minds connected, what he now imagined that it came from the Greyback family. If the Pixies came back, Peter needed to meet their Pixie. Hell with his parents, if the Lestrange could do it, why not him?
Jeanie's parents had gone home minutes before the children had disappeared. Although they had been called, they were still to arrive at their home. Jones and his wife had been on the phone calling every minute or so.
"Darling, we are going to call your parents again, I think they need to be here. Darling, you are giving us another grandchild, what a blessing and don't be sad. Now, Mimi is formidable and the boys are just like her; listen to Grant, they are the Pixies, and they will be back, I just know it."
Paul reassured her, telling her something he did not believe himself.
"Lady Grant, I don't want to contradict you, but if what you have said is right, then Fenrir is their Alpha. When he commands us, his pack, or the ones he has converted, his magic doesn't allow us to disobey him." Remus stood up in the middle of the room, averting his eyes from Marguerite.
He appeared ashamed as he related his experience, "I caught up with them in a couple of minutes; it didn't matter because Fenrir sent me back after I took a beating. Although, I was angry and tried to strike again, I was unable to do so. His command overrides any of my desires; hence when he commands Mimi, or Elly for that matter, they will comply."
He slumped on his seat and covered his eyes. The shy wizard was in pain because he believed that. They all knew that he had been a werewolf, but this was the first time he said who converted him.
Grant was the first to realize the implications. Fenrir was Remus' evil werewolf, the werewolf who bit children. His heart sunk.
Moony had it, think this well and behave, because you and I know what I can do. Moony warned him. Keep it up, and you will see what I can do. Think of Avery, why don't you let him take our Elly? Moony was glad to have foreseen a disaster. Remus the man, was his worse enemy, blind to his good fortune, so Moony was glad that he had a game plan.
How could I ever think someone like Elly would stay with me? Fenrir would never allow her to be with me.
Remus was very conflicted and even if Moony had chosen her for a mate, he knew that Fenrir's magic could change it all. He had seen when Fenrir had broken mate magic; just because he had not authorized the union, he did not stand a chance. It was better if he left before he was dismissed.
Think away, I won't let you. Moony respected that they were two beings, but if he had to bury Remus, he would do it. The only problem was that Moony lacked Remus' education, but he would manage.
"Wait everyone," Lucius stood up." I think we are looking at this wrong. If Marguerite is his niece, why didn't he contact her first? I would say because he didn't know whom the children belong to. Maybe he could tell they were from his family but that was the extent. Surely there must have been other Greybacks; maybe he thought they were the children of a relative when he took them. I think it is time we try to contact him; and we should let him know who Marguerite is."
Grant thought about it, "Yes, you are right, and I was thinking of our last Pixie, he might have a way to talk to his friends. As you all know, Frankie is also very powerful, maybe greener than the older children but a pixie nevertheless. I suspect they are all safe, so, since it is late we must call it a night."
He looked at his wife, "My love, let's get a little rest, the baby needs it. There is nothing much we can do now, and we need to wait for Frankie to wake up; and once he is up, he can try to contact our pixies."
He had not uttered the last word, when the dogs started barking loudly and aggressively. Negus was nearly breaking a window by jumping against it, and Brutus was actively opening a door with his mouth.
The pack of Cairns ran from window to window, the noise was deafening. The wolfhounds that guarded the perimeter when the family rested, were barking and growling outside, but then there was silence. Brutus and Negus grew wilder with every passing second.
It was obvious that there was a disturbance outside; everyone held his or her breaths, waiting.
Someone tapped on the window, once, twice, and thrice. The room's occupants were frozen, all hoping against hope.
Grant was the first to walk towards the window, then Marguerite who thought someone had called her name. Their steps were hesitant, almost scared.
Everyone stood and walked towards the windows facing east, where the dogs were concentrating their attack.
The sight that greeted them, was indeed magical. Against the bright crescent moon, there were several brooms hovering about the house. On the broom closest to the window, Fenrir flew with Mimi in his lap, who had covered her face because she was afraid to fly. A witch and a wizard had Draco and Harry respectively.
The boys threw nutshells at the windows, as the brooms would fly near by. Further back, Elly flew in her own broom, and behind her on another broom, a strong wizard held Evie on his lap.
The joy was contagious, however, the meeting between Fenrir and Marguerite, was something that nobody would ever forget.
As Narcissa had suspected, Marguerite must have conjured glamour during many years, she appeared Grant's age, maybe a little older. She was beautiful, and reminded her of someone. Paul was dazzled seeing his wife, who now was a much younger woman.
He realized that she had done something to mimic aging; probably afraid of people like Rose around them; maybe fearful that he would not love her. His dislike for magic had made her not trust him. He needed to change as well; he would never lose his family, and would do whatever it took to stay with them, starting by calling Peter back. He actually thought that the relationship the Lestrange older couple had, was sexy. He wondered if his religion had skewed his views, but if so, it was his own doing.
Fenrir dismounted the broom, and Hermione dropped her hands away from her eyes. Remus stayed behind, hatred flashing out his eyes. He wouldn't step forward to greet Elly; he hated Fenrir. Already forgetting warnings and all else.
A/N What will Remus do? My muse is floundering, Remus is obstinate and a little foolish. Or maybe, "Never fear, Moony is here? Who was Marguerite's love? Thanks you all.