"Bitch! Why am I chained here?"

"Because darling, I decided the pack would be better off with me in control and have taken it. The pack answers to me, and only me now, and you have nothing to say about it."

"You haven't the capacity to control this pack. You aren't even a wolf. You're only a mate and while that does give you some control, it doesn't give you enough." Greyback was watching Ginny closely as he tried to explain that she cannot take the control she wanted. He knew she was power hungry when he took her on, but hadn't realised until Little Whinging just how much she wanted that power. Now he was simply trying to save his pack from the barmy woman before him.

"If you'd birthed a cub for me, you'd be held in more esteem but as you have been unable to conceive, you lack that. I could drop you and take on one of the other women who have birthed cubs for me and they would have more power than you at this point."

Ginny was livid. Her power, such as it was, was boiling on the top of her skin and she threw curse after curse at her 'mate' until she could no longer think. When the smoke cleared, she found her wolf still standing, chains hanging from the wall and his wrists, and he was breathing hard as he tried not to allow his wolf to take charge. He did truly love Ginny and didn't want to hurt her.

"Ginny, I have taken you in and given you status as my second because I love you and wanted you here," he growled as his claws began to show and his legs began to change. "You have taken advantage of that and tried to oust me from my own pack. That is unacceptable. If you concede your position, I will allow you to remain alive and within the pack. I will not however, allow you to continue in your current position as my second. You have ten seconds to choose."

Ginny stood listening to the diatribe her 'mate' was spewing as she thought about how to get out with her life. When the ultimatum was given, she didn't hesitate, she raised her wand toward the barely control wolf and leveled it as she said, "Advada…" but before she could complete the curse, a large explosion rocked the cave and the ceiling began to fall around them.

Penny, Cho, Parvati Patil and a number of other women emerged from the side entrance with dozens of children in tow.

The Twins and Charlie helped the women and children get down the side of the mountain and to the river before blasting the side of the cave closed and headed around to the front to help the others with the fighting. They couldn't have arrived at a better time.

Severus, Percy and Ron were in a heated battle at the entrance to the cave with several large, fully change wolves and were barely holding their own. Charlie threw a stunner and binding curse at the nearest wolf and ran head long into the fight.

The Twins began to unload some of their favourite goodies from their pockets and began to help in their own way.

Ron saw the wolf on his left fall and sent a "Thanks" over his shoulder to his brother as he continued to advance into the cave. Severus and Percy on his right were doing the same and the trio met in the opening as the last wolf fell the Percy's well placed 'Advada'.

Theodore Nott pulled up short in cave entrance when he saw his former partner fall to the ground and began to retreat toward one of the many 'emergency exits' Greyback had set up in the cave system. He figured he'd grab Cho and his children and escape but quickly discovered his mate and children were gone.

Knowing he had only a small window of opportunity, he headed for Greyback's cell to release his alpha and help him escape. As he came up to the room, he heard the start of Ginny's curse echoing and ran into the room, stunning the woman from behind.

Greyback nodded at the younger man and stepped on Ginny's wand, breaking it in pieces, as he stalked out of the room.

"Sir, the front is cut off and the river entrance has been closed off. We need to use one of the emergency exits to get you out of here safely."

"Nott, where are the cubs?"

"I can answer that," Remus emerged from the shadows, "they are safe with as many of the women as we could liberate." He raised his wand and continued forward, "Where's Harry?"

Nott stood still and watched as the alphas squared off, wondering how he could come out on the right side of things here. Knowing which side his bread was buttered on, he pointed behind him as he said, "I left him back that way. He was in Ginny's bedchamber and he was acting weird. I took off to help when I heard the explosion and left him. I don't know where he is now."

"He's behind you." Harry calmly walked up behind the gathering and smiled at Remus. "Glad to see you made it in."

"Harry, are you alright?" Remus asked with concern evident in his voice. Harry appeared calm and at ease, and though he was glowing with an inhuman light, he had blood streaming down the side of his face from an open head wound and the bandage on his side was soaked through with blood.

Remus couldn't figure out where the light was coming from and confusion twisted his face. "I'm fine Remus; couldn't be better. Did Draco make it back safely?" Harry hoped that Remus would get the ulterior motive behind the question and smiled when he heard, "He was a little worse for the wear, but the Ladies will have him back to normal in no time."

Greyback growled quietly, shaking with fury, and glared at Remus, "Interloper, am I to understand that my Cub is alive?"

Harry's magic flared and hit the walls and men hard, knocking them forward as the walls shook. "He is not your cub and despite what Lucius told you, he never would have been given over to you."

Greyback stood, arms lengthening and fur beginning to show as he faced Harry, "So you say, I believe that mark on his arm says otherwise. As long as he's marked, he's mine. That mark…"

"That mark is gone now. It began to fade when I killed the snake that dared to mar his skin with it and disappeared completely days ago." Harry strode forward and helped Nott to his feet, "Theo," he began holding the boys left arm in his hand, "you are unmarked and therefore can make this choice yourself. You were never his and your loyalties cannot be transferred unless you choose to. I will give you one chance, because you were a friend of Draco's, however, the choice will not come without consequences."

The battle continued to rage around the quartet and Remus could hear bodies falling but couldn't move or even care at this moment. He was watching something he never thought he'd ever see. Harry and Draco had found a way to link themselves together and Draco was feeding Harry his magic!

Draco sat in the bed and watched through Harry's eyes as his lover confronted the werewolf and his former friend. He couldn't hear what was being said, but could feel everything Harry was feeling. It was a heady feeling knowing he was helping his mate take down the only person he'd ever truly been afraid of.

He watched as a flare of magic flew from Harry's body and collided with the men and the walls and prepared for the pain as chunks of the ceiling fell around Harry. He felt a chunk hit his shoulder and another piece from the wall hit his leg and waited as Minerva began to catalogue each injury as Poppy began to heal his injuries.

Draco sat up straighter as he watched Harry talking with Theo. He could tell by the look on Remus' face, that whatever was being said was something he likely would not be happy about.

"Harry, what are you doing? Nott helped to hurt Draco while he was here. You can't be seriously thinking about letting him go?"

Harry smiled serenely, "Don't worry Remus, if Theo chooses to take our side in the fight, he'll walk out of here under his own power, but will walk into a cell in Azkaban. If he chooses to stay and fight with the wolves, he'll die. It's really quite simple."

Theo was more afraid of Harry then he was of Greyback and quietly said, "I'll choose Azkaban. I don't want to die. I have a cu…" Theo's head hit the ground before he could finish the sentence. Greyback took it off with one swipe of his clawed hand.

Before Harry or Remus could react, they were distracted by a loud rage filled scream from behind them and turned to see Ginny storm out of the room Greyback had been in. "YOU FLEABAG SON OF A…"

"Ginny," said as he held a hand in front of himself putting up a ward between the men and the furious woman.

Ginny hollered and tried to run forward but was thrown back by the ward Harry set and only when she hit the ground did Harry and Remus turn toward Greyback to address him again.

Draco felt a burst of magic explode from Harry as he heard and enraged scream echo in his head and he collapsed onto the infirmary bed.

Harry felt the magic drain from him as his rage rang through the cave. Greyback had managed to transform and escape while he'd been distracted with Ginny. He fell forward as Severus and Ron came running up.

Remus cast Incarcerous at Ginny and bound her unconscious body and picked her up while Severus picked up Harry's unconscious body and they ran out of the cave.

"Is he alright?" Charlie demanded when they exited.

"He's drained and we need to get him back to the castle now," Severus explained. "Bring the girl and we'll interrogate her when we get back. Leave the rest for the Ministry."

Charlie fired off his Patronus to the Ministry to alert them about the den and they apparated to the first safe house before heading back to Hogwarts.

"Severus, where are all the injuries?" Charlie asked as he watched Severus carefully laying Harry on the bed in the last safe house.

"I don't know. He's got bandages here that are blood soaked, but nothing below to indicate why and there was blood on his face but again, no wound. It's as though he healed them himself."

Laboured breathing behind them signaled Remus' arrival, "He and Draco were sharing their magic during the confrontation, could that have something to do with it?"

Severus whipped his head around, eyes wide and demanded more information. "I don't have any more information and I don't know for sure that's what was happening, but Harry was glowing with an inhuman light, rocks seemed to bounce off him, his power was amplified and he intimated that there was a link."

Severus turned back to the prone, unconscious body and smiled, "Time to get him back to Hogwarts." He gingerly picked up Harry's body and told the rest to follow as he apparated away.

The Infirmary was unusually quiet as Minerva, Molly and Poppy all watched the floo and the door waiting for the men to return. Narcissa was sitting beside Draco's bed, holding his hand and humming softly while tears silently streamed down her face.

Poppy had told her that Draco would be fine. The minor wounds had been healed as they occurred and the deeper ones had been cleaned and dressed to be magically closed as Draco's strength increased. As worried about Draco as she was, she was more concerned about Harry and why they hadn't heard anything yet. If Draco woke before Harry returned…well, she wouldn't worry about that now.

The doors to the Infirmary were kicked in as Severus strode through with Harry's limp body cradled in his arms. "He's had some blood loss – though we can't see from where – and he's been unconscious for about an hour. He seems to be feverish as well."

Poppy had Severus place Harry on the bed nearest them and began to run diagnostic spells over him. Confusion compounding the frustration she was already feeling as she could find nothing physically wrong with her favourite student. With Severus' help, they gave Harry some blood replenishing potions and something for the fever, then tucked him in to await their awakening.

The rest of the battle weary group gathered at a circular table in the Great Hall and began the debriefing. Charlie explained to Minerva and Molly about the women coming from the cave with the children and let them know they were all making their way to a rendezvous point where the men would meet them the following morning. "There were too many children to simply apparate with them Mum. We would have lost or splinched them if we'd tried. The women are more than capable of taking care of them for this short time," Ron explained.

Molly bristled a little but relented, "Well then, we will all go to help tomorrow. If Harry and Draco are awake, Poppy can come as well and check them out. And we will bring them all back here regardless. I will not have innocent children – regardless of their parentage – sitting in Ministry cells."

Minerva nodded her agreement, adding, "There is plenty of room here for the children until we can find suitable residence for the orphaned ones and sort out loyalties."

"Now, what of Greyback and my Ginny?"

Charlie sighed and Ron grimaced, but it was Remus who took Molly's hand and answered, "Molly, Ginny's been taken by the Ministry and will be charged with Kidnapping, violation of the Muggle Protection Act, the Wizarding Secrecy Act as well as the use of the Unforgivables. I don't believe she'll be leaving the Ministry's hospitality anytime soon. I am sorry."

Molly, silent tears streaming from her swollen eyes, nodded and patted Remus' hand. With one final sniff, she straightened her shoulders, nodded her head and stood, "Fine then, this family will not harbour a criminal. The Weasley family will help those who deserve it. What can we do?"

Severus smiled at the woman he'd come to have very strong feelings for, as he watched her adjust to the idea that her "baby girl" no longer existed and felt tightening in his chest at the thought that her hurt should continue any longer. "Molly, maybe you could help with the youngest of the cubs when we get the children in the morning. Many will not have parents any longer and I doubt we will have enough able women to take care of the number of children there are."

Charlie jumped on the idea, "Mum, Severus is right. There were only about 6 or 7 women that made it out with the children that we trusted, and there were dozens of kids. They must have been breeding the women like animals."

Molly nodded as Severus' arms enveloped her in their warmth and strength, "My Love, you will be fine; I'll make sure of it. The children will fall in love with their Nana," he quietly reassured. "I'll take you to see Ginevra if you would like?"

"I have nothing to say to her or about her," she said as she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest.

Severus placed a gently kiss on her forehead and dipped his head so only she could hear him, "I am in love with you Molly Weasley and will do whatever is required to make you happy again so I can see your beautiful smile."

Molly lifted her head and placed a soft hand on his cheek, "I love you too." The smile slowly bloomed on her face as she heard the muffled groans of her children behind her.

"Snape? Really?"

"Ronniekins…that would be Professor Snape to you wouldn't it?"

Ron punched Charlie in the arm and grimaced and shrugged, "Well, at least she's smiling again."

Molly turned her head, "Boys, you know we can hear you, right?"

Both boys turned a bright red and ducked their heads.