Chapter 6
Percy ran a good mile from the manor before he let out a tremendous howl. It was one that expected a response. Percy, like most experienced wolves, could distinguish the difference between the people the howls had come from. He could hear the specific responses. Percy was sure that the kitchen as well as the entire house would be filled with the raucous noise of near a hundred wolves howls in such a small space. Percy grinned at the look that was sure to be on Potter's face.
Percy recognised replies from almost all his pack. There were several that he knew would be unable to reply due to their distance away. The hospital wing, meeting rooms and potion labs, were, additionally, warded to ensure no sound penetrated them. So Percy was not worried as around fifty voices did not respond to his call. However he could not detect Sam's response to his summons. The boy was out of response range.
Percy was soon greeted by the sight of several wolves before him, as a few of those engaged in the search for Sam had recognised Percy's need for information on how it was going.
"So Rose, how is it that I've already managed to loose our second newest member?" Percy said with a self deprecating smile. He got along very well with Rose. She was a rather old wolf who had been one of the first few that had stood behind him when he had started a pack of his own. They had know each other for years. She was the type to subtly mock others, while pretending she has no idea that she was doing it. However Percy knew full well she would never say anything maliciously.
"Well, Mr Weasley, we believe that the young one was rather upset when you decided to leave us at such an ungodly hour." She gave him a cheeky smile and Percy nodded in response. A small smirk graced his lips.
"He's been having a difficult time transitioning into the pack. I think he has become rather attached to our big scary Alpha." Percy snorted at that. He was far from big or scary and Rose knew that more than anyone else.
"Something funny, Mr Weasley? I thought you would be proud that I am showing you the respect that you deserve. You are, after all, a rather fearsome beast." Percy choked down the laugh that once again found itself at the back of his throat.
"Of course Rose." He smirked. "Now about Sam...any progress?" Her face fell at Percy's question.
"No, Percy, Weber traced him to the edge of the wards. However as none of us can get through them we sent Oakley to get you. Weber believes that the youngn' may have, in some form of panic, used some accidental magic to force himself through the wards."
Percy's eyes widened slightly at that. It took some rather strong accidental magic to force one's way through the wards. The little boy must have been feeling some rather strong emotions to break though a set of wards created through a combination of Malfoy family magic, ward stones and Percy's own magic. That seemed nearly impossible.
"Show me the place then" Percy requested.
A short run later, Percy and Rose were at the place where Sam's smell and magical signature both disappeared. Percy sighed. This was going to take some work. He removed his wand and with a slight wave a rather large wolf patronus rocketed from the wand.
"Draco Malfoy I need you here as soon as physically possible." He spoke to the patronus before sending it off, back toward the house. He then proceeded to examine the wards.
There was any visible crack in the magic, where the small boy had obviously broken through. That meant that to get through the wars themselves Percy and Draco would need to cast the spells so that Percy, along with a few of the other wolves could slip through before the Draco, on the other side, fixed the wards again. Percy and the wolves with him would have to re-enter around the front of the property. At least they could apparate there.
With a small pop a rather sweaty looking Draco appeared before the small group of wolves.
"Good Morning Mr Weasley." the man said with a cheeky smirk. Although the effect was ruined by the shade of pink that dusted his cheeks. "Any update?"
Percy looked at the younger man with his brow raised. The blonde pushed the messy locks from his face; adopting a more regal position. Percy repressed the smirk at Draco's position.
"Well, Mr Malfoy." Percy looked down his glasses at the blonde."It seems that our young pack member managed to force his way through our carefully crafted wards without any visible damage."
"Indeed" Draco responded with a small frown. "That seems rather advanced for such a ball of fluff."
Percy gave a small growl at the insult to their missing pack member, however it was only meant half heartedly. He knew that Draco was only insulting Sam in jest, yet the fact the young man was missing so soon after the full moon meant that Percy was a little…sensitive.
"Come on Perce" the young Malfoy smirked. He stuck his tongue out at his Alpha. "Lets work out how to find the fluff ball." Percy rolled his eyes.
Draco made his way toward the wards, throwing a quick smirk to his alpha. He closed his eyes as he ran his magic across the weavings of generations of family magic. Along with the small tweaks of Percy's own magic throw in there.
"Oh" Draco turned toward his Alpha. "It seems…that it's all your fault Mr Weasley." Percy raised a warning brow.
"And why would that be Mr Malfoy?" Percy growled.
"Well, Mr Weasley. It seems that when we inserted the combination of Weasley and Malfoy magic into the wards, we failed to take into account those whom Magic considered family. I have accounted for my own children; disabling their access to the wards until they are of age. As we have additionally accounted for your own…blood relatives" Draco scowled in distaste.
"However" Draco's look turned smug as he looked at Percy "It seems that your….own children…were not taken into consideration."
Percy frowned. His brain took a second to catch up with what the Malfoy was saying. Hmmm, there it was. Percy scowled at the blonde. He may be right that the oversight was Percy's fault, however that did not justify the mockery that the blonde was so fond of.
When the pack had initially been formed Percy had not realised how attached the children of the pack would become to him. Draco had accounted for his own heirs; Percy, not so much. As many of the younger members of the pack had no parents of their own it seemed that magic had taken it upon herself to grant them one. Percy had known that many individuals had a close bond with him; that his magic was entwined with that of many of the younger wolves within his pack, rather deeply. It was something that had been convenient, a blessing from magic, so he had not questioned it. He had had a stronger connection with some members of his pack and had been able to locate them more easily. So he had ignored it. It seemed that that decision had come to bite him on the ass.
Percy sighed, typical. He should never have assumed a gift was without consequence. Looking at the wards again, he could clearly see what the Malfoy Lord meant by his claims. It was clear in the weaving of the runes.
"Have you recognised the cubs family recently?" Rose asked, coming up behind Percy. It was only his sense of smell that prevented him from flinching. He knew that she was there, after all.
"Hmmm" Percy rubbed his temples between the tips of his fingers.
"I may have mentioned their…parental view of me." Percy mumbled.
"Well" Rose smirked. "I believe that that's how the young'en forced his way through the wards. Audible recognition of familiar relation," the woman said it as though she had said it a hundred times before. As though it was something that should be blatantly obvious to everyone around her.
Percy gave a nod.
The problem currently raising its head had never been a concern before that very morning. Percy had never fully confirmed that there were any of his pack members that could be considered as his heirs. He had simply fostered a parental relationship without fully confirming it. However, as of that morning he had, in front of several of his blood relations, claimed that there were those that saw him as a parent. Magic had seen that as enough. Percy sighed. It seemed that now it was the case that all those who internally regarded Percy as his father were now magically bound for it to be so.
"Yeah, I get it Rose. Now let me fix it." Percy growled, frustrated at his oversight.
"Come on Draco." Percy ignored the satisfied look on Rose's face. "I'm gonna step through the wards. Caspian, Jason, Lilian; you're with me. Close the wards behind us Draco."
"Of course Alpha" Draco smirked. "I'll fix the mistake, wait, I mean, your mistake."
Percy threw him a disgusted look before steeping past the wards.
The whole situation moved along rather quickly after that. Once through the wards, the four of them were quickly able to locate Sam; although getting to him, was more of a struggle. It seemed that Sam had decided that the best place to hide was inside a tree. Inside a rather small hollow that was inaccessible to any of the wolves.
The young wolf had also managed to cast a silencing charm around himself. Percy supposed that in his fright the small boy had just wanted everything to go away. However that was rather inconvenient for the Alpha.
Percy had managed to break through the boy's silencing ward with Jason's help and with around fifteen minutes of soothing words and promises of forgiveness, for Sam's running off, Percy had managed to get the small boy to agree to leave the rotting tree.
The small wolf had emerged covered in dirt and rotting leaves. His whole body was covered in small scratches and grazes. Without the addition of clothing his body had been left to the elements. He was shivering. He kept his gaze on the floor. Percy was quick to act. The young pack member needed reassurance at this moment. He also needed his wounds seen to and to be warmed up.
Percy pulled off his robes and quickly wrapped them around Sam's shoulders. Tucking his hand under the little cub's knees, he pulled Sam to his chest. He used the other hand to rub soothing circles onto the little wolf's back.
"Come on Sam." Percy's voice was gentle and soothing. "Let's get you home." Percy felt the nod on his chest. He also felt the tears that were sinking through his undershirt. He ignored them. Percy only continued to soothe the small boy as the group made their way back toward the manor.
"Sam, why don't you let Caspian take you to the healing room. You need…"
However Percy didn't get to finish what he had been attempting to say. Sam started to cry. Well, he started to sob. His hands clutched tightly at Percy's shirt and Percy was now sure that there was snot mixed in with the tears that were soaking through the material and into his skin.
"No, no, no, no, no" the little boy shook as he chanted the words. "No. No!" Sam's hands impossibly tightened in the material. His legs pulled themselves tighter around Percy's waist.
"No!" Sam yelled as he rocked back before thumping hard into Percy's chest. "No. Don't leave me again." The muffled words were heard only by Percy. He sighed. He couldn't leave the little boy when he was in such a delicate state. He evidently wasn't in his right mind. His first full moon with a pack, his Alpha leaving so soon and then the fear of getting in trouble was all too much, too quickly for the wolf that was little more than a baby.
"Okay Sam, okay." Percy soothed gently, his hand still running up and down the young man's back.
"I'm here. I'm not leaving." The little boy calmed down as Percy continued to soothe him. His breathing evened out and his grip on Percy loosened, however it was barely noticeable as the fingers were still in a death grip. It was evident that Sam had no plans on letting Percy go soon.
Percy turned to the others that still stood before him outside the manor.
"Let the others know that Sam is safe. Keep Oakley watching over our unannounced guests. I will tend to Sam's injuries myself. I shall return within the hour." Percy then gave a small smirk. "Don't let everything go to shit while I'm gone"
"Yes Alpha" chorused from the three voices as Percy turned. He took several steps before he apperated with a small pop.