DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter was created by JKR, I do not own the rights to any characters, nor do I pretend to.
Harry received some responses back from his close friends after a few days wait.
Neville and his grandmother graciously accepted the invitation. His grandmother was a very prominent member of society, and a potential target. She was stubborn but Neville insisted that he didn't want to lose his only family.
The Weasley Twins graciously declined. Harry knew they would, as he donated his Tri-Wizard winnings to their business, and they were looking for premises for a shop. They apparently already succeeded and had a building in Diagon Alley. It would take some time before they were ready to open, but they did have a flat above the storefront where they would stay. Apparently the Weasley's were not too happy, but since when were they ever happy with the twin's chosen life? They had a floo connection there so they would still be able to visit.
Hermione had a slightly more complicated story.
She somehow convinced her parents to move to Australia to wait out the war. Of course there was much more to the story than that and Harry had a feeling that a little magic was involved, but it wasn't his place to ask. She decided she would accept Viktor's offer to stay with him and his parents in Bulgaria.
Of course there was a twist. She thought they would be safe in Bulgaria. Of course she forgot that Durmstrang is considered a training ground for dark wizards, and consequently, potential followers of Voldemort. The Krums, naturally, were targeted for recruitment, as were a lot of others in their country. So Harry sent them an invitation too, and they accepted. So it turned out Hermione would end up staying in the castle along with the Krums anyways.
They luckily had easy access to international portkeys, due to Viktor's career, so they were able to escape relatively quickly. The rest were able to just floo in after they had all their possessions packed.
Of course he wasn't completely selfish and hogging all the guest rooms to himself. Sirius invited the other half of the Black family; the Tonks. He also probably asked Professor Sinistra, but Harry didn't get a response when he asked about her.
Harry also asked if Daphne wanted her friend Tracey's family to be brought in; after he was assured her parents weren't sympathizers. Of course Daphne had to remind him that Tracey was a half blood, and that her parents were more likely to be killed than asked to join. Tracey's family graciously accepted.
Harry held off for a day to let all the families get situated before he held a war council among his friends. The group was consisted of Viktor, Hermione, the Weasley Twins, Neville, Tracey, and of course Daphne.
"I got a few status reports and plans here." Harry started. "Death Eaters are on the move recruiting, obviously, both here in Britain and elsewhere. The only attacks so far have been against people who refused to join. There haven't been any killing sprees or open hunting like the first war. They are trying to lay low. Even though the Ministry isn't acknowledging His return, Sirius tells me the Aurors are going around warning families and handing out instructional pamphlets."
"On another note about half the castles' guest rooms are in use so we still have room for some more families. We could add more rooms, but the magic to do soy may tax our wards too much. We want the wards as strong as possible. As they are right now, nothing will be able to get in that we don't want in. I should point out that Draco and Narcissa Malfoy are currently here under the protection of Sirius, so don't panic if you see them. They have taken oaths to ensure their loyalty."
"Next order of business. I was thinking of asking Remus to starts a twice weekly defense seminar for the people staying here. It never hurts to prepared, and every little bit of training helps. It's mostly for the adults but any of your brothers and sisters can join if they want."
Fred had something to say. "We were thinking about starting something similar with the other shopkeepers in Diagon Alley. Start some sort of Weekly defense program so we aren't completely hopeless if the Death Eaters come to call."
"It's a good idea. Of course Daphne and I are going to be continuing our training and everyone here is welcome to join us. In fact, Viktor, you learn different magics than us at Durmstrang, maybe you could show us a few tricks?"
Viktor looked started for a bit then answered. "I vill hold no promises but I vill try."
"That's all that I ask, thanks."
Viktor gave him a nod.
"Ok one last note. Voldemort has been keeping himself alive with soul capsules called Horcruxes. They need to be destroyed in order to kill him. However, the threat within the government has to be waylaid first. Even if He were to die tomorrow, he has too many followers that would continue his work. We have to deal with his support base one way or another. If there are no questions, then let's go eat."
The next night was the full moon, so Harry decided to fill the promise he made to Sirius.
He made his way tentatively to a room in the lower reaches of the castle nicknamed 'The Wolf Room' Harry entered and saw Remus leaning over a desk, facing away from him. There was a goblet in front of him.
"Oh hi Sirius, I didn't think you could come tonight." Remus asked without turning around
"He can't but I can." Harry responded.
Remus turned around real quick with wand out. "Oh Harry! Sorry…"
"Good reflexes."
"You shouldn't do this, it's dangerous."
"I will do this. You don't deserve this and I will do anything to make it more bearable. Besides, unlike a dog, werewolves are under me in the food chain."
"True" He said with a feeble laugh. "Lock the door if you plan on staying, I feel it coming."
As Harry secured the large padded room, Remus drank from the goblet that was on the desk. "One would think I would get used to the taste… urg."
Remus' hair was growing right before Harry's eyes and he took it as the cue to transform. He slowly focused on only himself and ignored the groans of pain coming from the room. He focused solely on wanting to be a large cat. He focused on all the anger he had towards Voldemort. He focused all his love on Daphne. He felt his human form slowly mold itself into a nundu.
In front of him Remus was still in the process of transforming. There was no glowing light to signal an animagus change, just that man's body rippling and distorting and tearing the clothes off himself. The cries he was making was not out of viciousness, but out of pain, as he felt all his bones lengthen and muscle shift.
As Remus' started to finish, the cries of pain turned into cries of rage, at his life being so unfair and uncontrollable. The werewolf yelped and began to run around the room and smashing the little amount of cheap furniture that was already in the room. He scratched at the walls but even with the wolf's immense strength the magically reinforced walls didn't even notice.
Harry's role was to subdue the anger out of Remus so he didn't hurt himself in his blind rage. Harry started prowling around and swatting at Moony's tail to get him to notice. It wasn't working so he swatted at the werewolves back, and that got him to turn around very fast. Harry was a lot faster though, as he was the predator king.
The werewolves eyes were still blazing with unbridled anger as he charged at Harry. The wolf started swiping, and Harry started dodging. Using his super quick reflexes he pounced on the wolf in between swings. He pinned the wolf's two strong arms to the ground. The wolf howled in a way that didn't translate to defeat, but to being pissed off.
In response Harry gave a mighty roar that silenced the wolf and actually penetrated the unbridled rage. The wolf began to whimper and Harry noticed the red tinged disappearing from Remus's eyes just to be left with the unnatural yellow. Harry took this as his signal that Remus was now winning the internal battle with the wolf and should be mostly himself for the rest of the night. Harry slowly got off Remus.
Remus gave a whimper in response and curled up into a ball. Harry stretched out and curled up into a ball not too far away and kept him company that way the rest of the night.
Meanwhile, at Voldemort's base of operations.
"Avery. Your mission tonight is very simple, if you fail, do not bother returning. The wards on the house are substandard and should not pose any threat. Do not destroy too much, but you can kill the girl. The Father. Must. Be. Brought. In. Alive. I expect him to be in the dungeon, untortured and alive when I get back from Germany. I have to have a chat with a wandmaker there."
"Yes my lord. I will not fail you."
"No you will not, need I remind you what happened to Snape?"
Avery seemed repulsed at that memory. "Of course not! I will be successful."
An hour later, at a tower-like house outside Ottery St. Catchpole.
"Bole, go through the back, Patterson you're with me." The death eater in the silver mask ordered to his two underlings.
A minute later the sound of broken glass was heard.
"Run Sweetums! The Death Eaters are here!" a man yelled. It was probably the most sane thing the man has ever said in his life.
This was followed by a few shouts of incantations and sounds of breaking furniture.
"No Daddy!" a girls voice was heard.
More explosions and screams.
"DADDY! NO!" was heard after a particularly bright flash of light.
More frantic crashing sounds were heard inside the house.
Then silence for a few seconds.
"HUMNAM SOLIO ORBIS TRABAS NEMUS CROCUS!" an ethereal voice incanted.
The whole ground shook and rattled for a minute, the heavens poured rain down from the sky, and flowers blossomed before your eyes. Then all was silent once again.
Humnan solio orbis trabas nemus crocus – bunny cap circle table tree yellow