DISCLAIMER: HP belongs to JKR. The story line and all new characters, new character development, new developments are my intellectual property.
WARNING- THIS A REPEAT OF THE M VERSION.
Letting bygones be…gone?
The children examined the Oma impersonator with distrust.
Harry nodded, "Like in the telly, she is 'asguised,'" he declared, sounding a little suspicious.
Holding hands, Hermione and Harry walked towards the imposter, ready to confront her. Draco joined them.
Draco whispered, rather loud, "No, she drank peel juice to glam herself."
Harry nodded since that sounded right. Hermione corrected him, like she usually did, and repeated the correction Mr. Remy had told her. Of course, she didn't get it right either, "I think it is oily juice, like Mr. uncle Remy told me."
Both minions agreed, Hermione, their mistress, knew everything.
"Who are you, where is my Oma?" the little witch asked pointing a righteous finger at Marguerite. Her voice was grumpy, no wonder, she was more than tired and confused.
When she heard her grandmother's voice before, her attention had been fixed on Fenrir, but now that she looked closer, she wasn't so sure who this person was, "Are you my daddy's cousin?"
"Or are you 'asguised' with juice to trick us?" Harry asked, his arms crossed in front of him.
To the children, Marguerite sounded and looked like their grandmother, but she seemed much too young, and it made them apprehensive and suspicious.
"I am your grandmother Maggie, and this is the way I really look, I will explain later." She stretched her arms trying to touch either Hermione or Harry.
The children downturned their eyes, not trusting her words, but much too tired to argue. Harry moved farther away from her, not convinced, and showed reluctance to come any closer.
Lucius came behind Elly and whispered. "Does Fenrir know who Harry is?"
Elly shook her head, "Good, let's keep it that way until we know better." Lucius whispered. He had seen a very nasty side of Greyback, and after the scare today, he needed much more reassurance before he would trust him.
Lucius had already decided to be gone within a couple of days. He could feel Albus right on their heels, and all he wanted was to be back at the Loire. No more of this rubbish, he would deal with Cissy's anger away from England.
Yes, oh yes, it was time to go. He wanted his mate in his arms, making wild love, not worrying about wolves, Headmasters, and other assorted boogie men; he wanted tranquillity and safety. Why did I want to come back? Lucius couldn't remember.
Elly nodded in acquiescence, it was all too new. Whereas she had liked Fenrir instinctively, she had noticed Lucius and Remus' apprehension; hence, she needed to appraise the situation.
Draco, Harry, and Hermione stood a few steps from Marguerite; they held hands looking very tired, and the parents knew that it was way past their bedtime.
Elly's eyes turned to look at Rattus, and to her surprise, his eyes were glued to her mom. Oh dear, he loves Mom. She knew that look, he was in shock and in love. She wished they had gone to France instead.
In a cell far away, Gellert pretended to be asleep, but kept his defences up. His Pixies, his poor Marguerite, his last flower, suffering because of him. "Helena, my love, I should have stayed away from you; I wanted your gift, but I fell in love with you. If you can protect my sweet Pixies, please do so. "
A tear of regret, of sorrow, fell down his wrinkled cheek. He was willing to sacrifice his life for them; nothing bad should happen to his innocents because of his bad choices. "God of my parents please listen," he prayed… if he could turn the clock back, if only.
He waited for Mr. Zech Grey, so just in case he got up and packed all his gear. He prepared the Gollum as well.
New Year's Day
Remus stayed in his own room on Frankie's and Evie's account, who wanted to sleep with their mommy. But the feeling that he was doing wrong was choking him.
Elly could sense a wall in between them, and suspected it to be related to Fenrir, she didn't see what could be done. She was who she was, she was a Greyback, and that was all there was to it.
Remus missed her, You idiot go and say goodnight. Moony ordered.
He knocked at her door and she ran to open it. He enveloped her in his arms and kissed her. "Please help me, you know that Fenrir was the one who bit me, although I know that you aren't at fault; resentment and anger are consuming me." She was all he had, he needed help. How he wished that Sirius was there.
"I am afraid, so much." Remus whispered.
"Me too, my dear, me too. We need you, we all do,the babies as well. Come in, we can all fit in."
"Yes, I am lost and need you to guide me." It was true, he didn't want to be ruled by hatred.
Paul excused himself, "Darling there is something I must do, go to sleep. I love you so much," he told her from the bedroom's door, and went to his office to place a call. "Yes… he may come as well if he wishes."
He listened, "No, no fights…magic is okay…yes, soon. Let me say that I am sorry…no they don't know that …yes, can do, oh, I see… as in changed…yes, the sooner the better…Mother has big news… Mimi is a beauty…Son, I love you."
When Paul hung up, he prayed that he wasn't too late.
On his way back to the room, the blond wolf stopped him. Paul was surprised to find out that Rattus was his height. He was also a tall man. Actually, they had similar coloring, his now grey hair used to be just as blond. Paul wondered if Marguerite had liked him because he reminded her of this wolf.
"We haven't been introduced, I am Rattus Astus."
When Paul stretched his hand, Rattus ignored it.
"A pleasure, Paul Granger, I am Fenrir's brother by marriage."
"By marriage?"
"Yes, we are married."
"Ah, you mean a Muggle marriage?" Rattus' voice dripped contempt, then opened his mouth in a silent snarl, showing his powerful, sharp fangs. "There is much that you don't seem to know." He came closer, threatening.
At that moment, from different sides, Fenrir and Marguerite approached. Both had heard the loud voices.
"Rattus, stop it right there. We need to set this aside, for now," Fenrir commanded.
"No, this is so wrong, you know it…"
Marguerite stopped Rattus. Placing her hand on his arm, she pleaded, "Please, give me a few days; there is too much going on, please."
Rattus laid his large clawed hand over Marguerite's. The impact of the touch was an overwhelming current of lust that made them both step back. Now, Rattus wanted to take what was his. By law, she should come with him right at that moment.
Paul stood watching, the feeling that he was losing his wife increased. He needed to tell her how much he loved her.
Fenrir put an end to the encounter. "Rattus, we will wait for a couple of days. My niece already had a lot to deal with. I heard you, and yes, she is in a Muggle marriage. Let's all wait a few days."
Rattus agreed when he saw her eyes pleading, Fenrir was his leader, he would obey, for now.
"A couple of days, no longer. Margot show him your wrist, it is back," with this, Rattus turned around and walked to his room. Rattus saw his sister; she shook her head in disapproval. He ignored her because he was too unhappy.
He wished that he had forgotten Margot; but now that her scent was on his hand and his arm, he wanted her scent all over his body. He remembered her kisses, they were his, not the Muggle's.
Fenrir kissed Marguerite and also left.
Paul was grateful that his wife was quiet, he took her hand and turned her wrist. He saw a round colored mark, raised, inside an elaborate round frame there were two linked letters, very small. It was neither a tattoo, nor a branding, it was magical. Wisely, he said nothing.
She held his hand and started walking. On their way. On their way back to their room, both saw the shadow of a hawk. It went thru the door of Mimi's and Harry's room. Nah, it was their imagination, neither said anything; both were afraid to say something wrong. Nevertheless, they stood by the door, just to make sure all was in order.
The shadow, hmm, what? Something trying to surface in her brain. It was related to the Greyback's fortress. When they heard Hermione giggling, they decided that all was well.
Nothing else was said, but both knew the Rattus' situation needed to be addressed. Just not now, no, later, much later. Paul was glad, and once again, he prayed that all would be well.
In the children's room, five children lay on one bed. Hermione had 'opened' a door for Draco, a minute later, Frankie appeared inside the blankets, between Draco and Hermione. Evie just appeared a few seconds later; she'd followed Frankie.
They huddled against each other and went back to sleep with a menagerie around them, six dogs, two owls perched high, and on the headboard, above Hermione, a small grey hawk rested.
The two elves, who slept inside the dresser drawers, were now awake and could see Mr. Zechariel Grey. They were certain that he was a powerful guardian, although they didn't know his kind.
They also saw the giant man who came by the bed. He just stood there.
Out the corner of his eye, Fenrir saw the grey hawk, and a second later, he forgot about it.
He was going to have the best night sleep in a long time. He growled softly, at once the dogs jumped down from the bed to lay on their pillows by the fireplace.
Fenrir, the wolf, jumped on the bed, and stretched on the mattress making sure the children's feet touched his back. Once he was comfortable, he sighed and fell asleep.
He dreamed of the happy times to come. He had found heaven, indeed, there was nothing like the smell of Greyback pups. His life had changed radically in just a few hours, for the best.
When Remus and Elly woke up, they found the children gone. By now, they were nearly used to Frankie going to sleep with the Pixies, but Evie?
"Oh dear, she sees the doors," Elly sounded resigned.
"And we see opportunity," Remus pressed his hard sex against her and kissed her neck. "I love your pregnant body."
Conflict
The next morning the tension mounted. It started when Marguerite came to breakfast flanked by Fenrir, who defiantly kept his claws and fangs.
'"Did you sleep well?"
"Best night sleep I had in over 40 years." He had, when he woke up around 9:00, the view filled his heart with pure love. The bed was occupied with five children; one was new, another Greyback. There were several dogs, two owls and two elves. He wanted all his mornings to be like this one.
For the first time in a long while, his dreams hadn't been of bodies bleeding, of darkness and despair. He breathed in deeply, letting the combined scents sooth his injured soul.
He'd vowed to keep them safe. For starters, he would keep them away from the Dark Lord. On that, he wanted to find out about Lucius, a wizard who shouldn't be trusted.
Harry was a point of contention, why did they hide Harry's identity from him? Why was he there? And why did they have Harry Potter? All his questions were a good reason to talk to Remus. Of course, he knew who Harry was, he had seen the scar.
Meeting his family had not altered his nature a great deal, but it had planted a seed. As it grew, it allowed him to reclaim his heart and his emotions; and thus far, he was able to care for his blood relatives, and to open his mind to future possibilities, given the proper influences.
Whereas the good night sleep had softened him, it had also made him want them always by his side; thus, it reinforced his resolution to bring the family with him. He was never letting them out his sight, never. Nobody was ever going to harm one of them. Well, really, why was a Death Eater with them?
Fenrir obviously forgot that he was the Dark Lord's henchman. Alas, it was more comfortable seeing what was wrong with others that with oneself.
Marguerite, wisely, hadn't shared about the Pixies, or discussed their portentous powers. Mostly, they had talked about their memories for a couple of hours. Fenrir decided to stay over for a while longer with the pack members who had come with him, four wizards and two witches.
Remus was already at the breakfast table with Hermione, Harry, Draco, and Frankie. The later raised his eyes when Fenrir came towards him.
He is the male cub, a young Greyback male, Plato sounded very happy.
Frankie gladdened the wolf's heart and made him smile. They are perfection, Plato remarked and added, nothing like the smell of pups. Nothing, Fenrir agreed.
Although Fenrir could see Gellert in all Marguerite's family, even in the children, he could also see the Greyback's blood running strong. However, what he really liked was the kinship and the bond he felt with every one of them, one that he had believed forever lost.
Remus saw the boy's eyes latch on Fenrir; the boy's eyes were bright with like, admiration, and an undeniable magical bond.
Sadly, at the sight, anger and bitterness made him despair. No wonder, Remus thought, Frankie is Greyback stock, just as Evie and Hermione are. He corrected himself immediately since he realized that he was being a petty ass.
Fenrir bent, and Frankie jumped into his arms "And you must be Frankie, you are big and strong, aren't you?"
Frankie smiled and stretched his hand, "Yes, I am, but you're much bigger. I like your wolf's teeth. Do you think I will get some of those when I am bigger? Are you my uncle?" Fenrir guffawed loudly, and Remus twisted his lips in disapproval. Moony gave him a mental pinch.
"Very funny, now he wants the child to be a wolf." Remus grumbled in nearly a whisper. If Fenrir heard, he didn't say anything, but Remus felt his cold eyes upon him.
Two minutes later Remus heard him in his head, "I need your advice after breakfast, let's make it casual, I know that I can trust you."
Remus opened his eyes in surprise, now he was curious.
While everybody served their food from the buffet, Marguerite stood up, "I am glad that all of you are here," Marguerite once again wore glamour, no need to alarm the children, who said nothing about her previous night's appearance.
"I have invited Fenrir and his friends. Tonight, we will have a formal dinner of celebration. It shall be marvellous."
Remus couldn't help it and emitted a snarl, aggressively showing his teeth. Draco broke in a giggle at the display, "Mr. Remy, do the doggy growl again," and clapped his hands. As for Remus, he blushed when he noticed his father-in-law's stern look.
Elly who had just entered the room with Evie, stared at him coldly, "Draco darling, it is always impolite to snarl at others, playing or otherwise."
Remus shot her a discontented look, obviously not thinking clearly. You really are asking for it. Moony warned him. He'd already forgotten their bodies together less than an hour before.
Remus felt a familiar tap. "The Angel Pixie healed you, don't forget it. She is a Greyback, so are your babies, and they all need you." Mr. Grey who sat on the air next to him, looked at Remus with utter contempt.
Once again, he knew that he was being petty and nasty and needed to calm down.
Elly walked to her place next to Fenrir, who promptly stood up to pull back her chair, and to assist her with seating.
Noticing her distress, Fenrir patted Elly's head with great tenderness, and she smiled to him gratefully. He bent to kiss her forehead and whispered, "He'll come around my dear girl, trust me. He is getting used to the idea; give the lad some time." Or we will kill him, Plato added. Indeed, Fenrir agreed.
That same morning Petunia Dursley was sitting waiting for a haircut, paging an old scandal rag, and who did she see? The couple at the puppet show months ago. Their names were Lord Granger and his wife, Lady Jeanie. They were with his sister Lady Eleanor Granger-Rosier, the adorable little girl, and two precious children.
Oh dear, his father was an Earl, oh my. They were at a party somewhere, attended by some of the Royals, and were dressed very elegantly. She was star struck. Not only a lady had come to her home. She had sat behind the couple behind the show. Quickly forgetting that both encounters had been less than friendly.
The old man had told her to bring him any item of importance, and she had recognized the young Lady Granger. She was the investigator who came to her house when the weirdo was taken away. Maybe she could get Vernon back. She needed to drop Mr. Albus a note with the owl.
The only thing that bothered her was betraying a Lady to the big weirdo. Perhaps if she were to find the lady, she would tell her about the big weirdo, and the Grangers would invite her for tea in a grandiose manor. She would blame little Harry on Vernon.
She dreamed for a moment. Hadn't Vernon cheated with another woman? As with all ideas, this one planted itself.
Mr. Zech Grey followed Albus going to meet the Muggle. The one who had mentioned Harry Potter, one of the Pixie Angels. He was keeping a close tab on him, wanting to bail Gellert out.
Petunia was clever and didn't give him the picture, she wanted to see Vernon first. However, she told him that she knew the name of the woman who had come to take Harry.
Albus reached inside her brain but found a block, how? Mr. Grey that was how. They agreed to meet the next day, she would bring the picture after she saw Vernon.
The Albus creature had followed the foolish woman. It was a good thing that Mr. Zech Grey now knew where she lived and arrived ahead. She had hidden the picture rather well, but he found it and took it.
As soon as she entered her house, she could neither remember the names, nor the Grangers' looks, nor who they were, or how she found the picture. What she remembered was that she had seen it.
Grey needed an adult, but first showed the picture to the Grandfather in the tower. "I need to leave, Albus will try to destroy them all." Grindenwald cried in desperation. He should have told Fenrir his suspicions.
Seeing the Light
Some said that there are people who like to boycott their chances to succeed in their endeavors. During the execution of their efforts, they become the worse saboteurs at any attempts to have their wishes realized. They think they should live in misery and in effect, so they make it happen. Sadly, that was exactly Remus Lupin's case.
It didn't matter if Moony was angry with him; or that he no longer was a werewolf; or that could shift at will after the Pixies' healing session; or that now he was wealthier than ever before.
He also ignored how his wolf's nature had attracted Elly; no, nothing mattered, because he wanted revenge.
It is a fact, revenge and hatred are powerful and destructive emotions. Poor Remus, blinded by his dark feelings, he wished to be vindicated for the years of suffering, regardless of the consequences, and not thinking of his personal cost if he were to accomplish any sort of revenge.
All would have gone to hell if not for fate intervening.
After lunch Remus had gone for a walk and to sulk. Coming towards him, he saw a wolf coming towards him, he was magnificent, it was Fenrir. Not the nasty werewolf but a giant sleek beast.
"Remus, I want to tell you that I am …"
He said nothing else because Mr. Grey, who looked like a grey fox, dropped the picture on Remus' hands.
Fenrir didn't see or hear, but saw it just appear on Remus' hand, he seemed to be listen to someone, so he waited.
"The nasty female told the Albus creature about the picture, but he didn't see it. What he knows is that it exists. The picture is of the Angel Pixie's parents and the aunt. The female is looking and might find another of this. I must go back to see what the Albus is doing. Think what can be done."
"We need to see Gellert, we must find him. Gellert said that Albus will destroy all of them, and my wife looks like your sister, I've been told. Grant looks like Gellert, oh Lord. And there is Maddie, you don't know her, but Gellert said that she is your mother but for the hair." Remus was talking a mile a minute, he was panicking.
If Albus saw them, he would stop at nothing. His Elly and the pups, his brother-friend Grant, all his beloved pups, the entire family at risk, this couldn't be. He looked at Fenrir.
"Why is it a problem if anyone looks like my mother. Did Albus know my mother?"
"I'm not sure, I never asked."
A/N. Hmm neither has Lucius. I recommend that you read the review comment I posted in answer to a comment made by Maddisonthered. It addressed Rattus' hard-line approach.