Hey, guys. Here's the next installment. I hope you all enjoy it.

Chapter 17

"Tonight, this feast is a celebration in honor of a special little girl," Dumbledore called out over the Great Hall. The students were looking around wondering who the headmaster was talking about. "The girl I'm speaking of is Ms. Siri Greenleaf." The Great Hall erupted into chaos. It took a number of loud, almost gunshot-like bangs from Dumbledore's wand before the hall was silent once more. "As you are all now aware of, Professor Greenleaf had her baby. I ask that you all respect Professor Greenleaf's privacy when outside of class. Do not bombard her, asking about the baby or to see the baby. And now, let's eat!"

"I can't believe he actually respected my wishes." Inuai said, a bit shocked by Dumbledore's words.

"He is for now, at least." Inuyasha said sardonically. A few snorts were heard from the rest of the family and a few of the other professors.

Slowly, the happy chatter of the students turned into concerned and somewhat frightened whispers. Harry, Ron, and Hermione couldn't help but stare as Inuai's owl, Mist, came flying in and changed into a human man. He was tall and muscular with shoulder length black hair and eyes as black as coal.

"Oh, wow." Hermione breathed. "He's gorgeous."

"And what am I?" Ron bellowed. As he noticed what he had said and the fact that everyone was now looking at him, he turned the infamous Weasley red and would not meet Hermione's eyes. All Hermione could do was stare at the redhead in shock.

"Ummm... guys." Harry started, shaking the two from the awkward moment. "Something's going on. Look." The trio looked toward the staff table to see Kagura and Kagome leaving with Siri.

"I wonder what's..." But Ron was cut off but the doors opening with a bang, and two men in expensive looking suits and the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, striding towards the head table.

"Where is she, Dumbledore?" Fudge blustered, pushing past the two men.

"I'm not quite sure who you're talking about, Minister." Dumbledore said serenely, his twinkle in full force.

"You know damn well who!" Fudge rallied. "The demon girl!"

"Minister Fudge, I suggest you watch what you say in mixed company." the tall sliver haired man said somewhat angrily. But Fudge didn't seem to hear him.

"There is no 'demon girl' here, Cornelius." McGonagall bit out icily.

"I know she's here, Dumbledore! You cannot hide her forever."

"I assure you, Cornelius, I am not hiding anyone." Dumbledore said calmly. "Now, maybe we should take tis somewhere a bit more quiet. My office, perhaps?" Dumbledore rose from his chair, followed by McGonagall, Inuai, Inuyasha, and Sesshomaru.

"Mr. James. Mr. Gerald." Inuai clipped shortly.

"Ms. Satou, it's so good to see you again." Reginald James replied jovially. He hadn't changed much since the last time she had seen him. Neither had Andrew, much to her displeasure.

"Actually, it's Mrs. Greenleaf now." Inuai commented dryly.

"Ah, yes. I do remember hearing that. Please accept my apologies for the slip." Reginald said, bowing slightly to the young hanyou.

"Of course, sir."

The group slowly made their way through the corridors in silence. The only sounds to be heard was Fudge muttering under his breath and incessantly turning his lime green bowler in his hands. Presently, and without too many problems (they had to stop and pull Fudge from the trick stair), they came to the gargoyle, which leapt aside aside without an utterance of a password, and into Dumbledore's office.

"Is everyone comfy?" Dumbledore asked from behind his desk once everyone was seated. "Now, I don't believe we've been introduced. I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"Of course. I am Reginald James, the English Tai-Youkai, and this is my assistant, Andrew Gerald."
"Tai-Youkai? What does that mean and why was I never informed of you?" Fudge blustered, turning red at the thought that Weatherby had not informed him of this 'new' development.

"Mr. Fudge, was it?" Andrew asked condescendingly, looking down his nose at the little red man.

"That's Minister Fudge!"

"Yes, of course. Mr. James, here, is a tai-youkai. He is what would be considered the king of all the youkais in England. And, if memory serves, Sesshomaru-sama is the Japanese tai-youkai. Isn't that correct, sir?" Andrew explained. Sesshomaru merely nodded at the fox youkai.

"But that still doesn't explain what a youkai is!" Fudge yelled, turning redder still.

"Oh, but Minister Fudge, you already know what a youkai is. In fact, you consider us dark creatures." Inuai stated, a feral gleam in her eyes.

"Y-you're not w-werewolves, are you?" Fudge stuttered.

"Werewolves, Cornelius? Heavens no." McGonagall said, inwardly laughing at the look of relief on Fudge's face.

"No, Minister. You consider us the darkest of the dark." Fudge looked confused for a moment before his face paled, and he tried to scoot away from the group, only to run into Inuyasha, who grinned at him, showing off his fangs. Fudge screamed at the sight of fangs so close to his face and ran to hide behind Dumbledore.

"So, you're all d-demons?" Fudge stuttered, looking fearfully around the room.

"I believe that Mr. Takahashi and Mrs. Greenleaf are only half youkai, Cornelius." Dumbledore said reassuringly. "Now, what is all this business about a demon girl?"

"I heard from a very reliable source that there was a demon girl here. I know you're hiding her somewhere." Fudge blustered again. (Doesn't it always seen like he's either blustering or whining?)

"And just what do you plan to do with this demon girl?" Reginald asked patiently.

"Well, put her in Azkaban, of course! We don't want her joining You-Know-Who's ranks."

"You will do no such thing!" Reginald bellowed, standing quickly from his chair to tower over Fudge.

"Of course, I will!" Fudge yelled, standing as well, so as not to look intimidated by the tai-youkai. It only served to make him look ridiculous as he only came up to the youkai's chest. "I'm the Minister of Magic! I can do whatever I want!"

"Mr. James, Cornelius. If you would please sit back down, we can talk this out peacefully." Dumbledore said calmly, standing behind his desk. "Now, Cornelius, you have many examples of demons who are not affiliated with Voldemort in this very room."

"We don't know that for sure, Dumbledore." Fudge said tersely as he finally sat down. "Especially that one." he muttered, pointing toward Inuyasha.

"Nah, I just don't like you." Inuyasha smirked.

"Inuyasha, do sit down and shut up." Sesshomaru said stoically. The hanyou huffed before slumping into a seat.

"So, do you have a name for this demon girl?" McGonagall asked coolly.

"Oh, now what did Weatherby tell me it's name was?" Fudge muttered. "I believe it started with an S."

"Then I believe we are here for the same reason, although I do not wish to incarcerate the child." Reginald spoke up. Fudge looked like he had just smelled something truly atrocious. How can that demon say that? He thought irritably.

"So, what are your plans for the child?" Sesshomaru asked calmly. There was something about that aide that just rubbed him the wrong way.

"Let me assure you, Sesshomaru-sama, that we mean the child no harm." Andrew began. "We only wish to welcome the child into the demon culture and make sure she is brought up according to out customs."

"Excuse me," Inuai spoke up for the first time since entering the office. "but that child just happens to be my daughter. Therefore, Iwill be deciding how she will be brought up. And since she is half elf and elvin royalty, she will be brought up according to their customs."

"And what of her demon heritage?" Reginald asked gently, hoping to sooth any frayed nerves.

"That is for me to decide." Inuai shot. "Now, if you don't mind, I need to go attend to my daughter."

"Mrs. Greenleaf," Andrew said, stepping in front of the hanyou. "I'm sure I speak for everyone here, when I say that we mean you and your family no harm, and we would love to see the little one." He put one his best smile, hoping she would be convinced of his sincerity.

Inuai looked at the expectant faces of Reginald, Fudge, and Dumbledore, who had yet to see Siri. "Fine," she said, "but not tonight."

"Perhaps, tomorrow?" Dumbledore asked hopefully.

"Tomorrow." Inuai relented. "But I will decide when and send someone to get you. Is that understood?"

"Clearly. We will wait for your decision." Dumbledore called out to the siblings' backs as they left the office.

"So, what happened?" Kagura asked worriedly. Kagome could only stare in shock as her sister-in-law ran up the stairs to their rooms.

"The so-called Minister of Magic intends to throw little Siri into Azkaban." Gasps form the two women met this statement. Sesshomaru rubbed the bridge of his nose, the only outward sign of his aggravation. "He considers demons to be the darkest of all the dark creatures. So, we will all be on his hit list now."

"And what of the two youkais?" Kagome asked absently. She was worried about Inuai. And the fact that her own mate was not yet back, did nothing to calm her already frazzled nerves.

"Ah, yes. Reginald James and Andrew Gerald, the English Tai-Youkai and his lackey. They want to introduce Siri into the demon culture and have her raised according to their customs." he sighed.

"But she's not even full youkai!" Kagura cried indignantly. "So, they should have no say in the matter!"

"Unfortunately, they have some say, but not much." Everyone turned to see Inuai coming back down to the common area, looking dejected, with Siri and Mistoffelees following behind. "She is a ΒΌ demon. So, in effect, they're say doesn't mean much."

"So, they can tell you how to raise your child?" Kagome asked confused. There were still some things about the demon culture that she didn't know or understand.

"Not exactly," Sesshomaru commented. "I believe all they can really do is check up on her over the years to see if she's being raised by their customs."

"Is that what you would do with us and our children?" Kagome asked interestedly.

"In a way, yes." Sesshomaru answered truthfully. "But I believe they mean to do more."

"Like what?"

"We may not know until they themselves decide." Inuai spoke softly from where she sat feeding Siri in the corner. "We'll probably find out when they come to see her tomorrow."

"What? When will they be here?" Kagura ashed somewhat angrily.

"Do not worry, dear sister. They will only come when I send for them, and Mistoffelees will be their escort." Inuai said, smiling mischievously at the Carpathian standing beside her.

"You're downright evil, you know that, right?" Inuyasha commented as he entered the room.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried out, throwing her arms around her mate. "Where have you been? I've been so worried."

"Feh! Legolas and I were following the 'esteemed' visitors to see what they're planning for tomorrow." Inuai looked up sharply at her mate's name.

"Where is he now?" she asked cautiously.

"Said something about a court and that he'd try to hurry." Inuyasha said airily, as if it were no big concern.

"The Elvin Court? Oh, thank Kami." Inuai breathed.

"What's so good about the Elvin court?" Kagura asked curiously.

"Well, Legolas is the Prince of Mirkwood, which makes Siri a princess. So, if the Elvin Court comes and acknowledges her as an heir, our 'esteemed' visitors will have no say whatsoever." Inuai explained happily.

"So, when will they be here?"

"Soon, I hope." Inuai sighed. "But until then, we need to run interference with Reginald and Fudge."

"Any chance to mess with them? I'm in!" Inuyasha called as he led a very sleepy Kagome to bed.

"We're all behind you, little sister." Sesshomaru stated as Kagura gave a determined nod.

"Alright. We start first thing tomorrow."

"My lord."

"What news do you bring?"

"The hanyou has given birth to a girl."

"And what does this have to do with my plans?"

"The child is elvin royalty. Thus, protected by the whole elvin race."

"It does not matter. My plans will not be altered. Continue as planned."

"Yes, my lord."

A/N: I can't tell you when I'll be able to get the next chapter up as I have a lot of work to do on it, and I need my muse to hit me upside the head to get it all out the way I want it to look. I am not abandoning this fic. I'm just taking a vacation for awhile.

Blanket disclaimer for A Hanyou's Life:

I don't own anything you recognize. If I did, I wouldn't be writing on this site.