A/N: Sorry for the long delay in getting this chapter out. Looking for a new job before my lay-off starts is both time consuming and mentally exhausting. I've really learned to hate the whole process of reading postings, writing cover letters, and all the other crap. The good news is I think I've found something but the bad news is I have to relocate. Only about 100 miles but far enough that finding a new place to live and such will still disrupt my writing for a bit. Please have patience.
Here is a question I've been thinking about with JKR's recent announcement that she should have shipped Harry/Hermione. JKR has said she based Hermione on herself to a large degree. Now, she said her pairing of Hermione and Ron was "wish fulfilment" on her part. So, who was Ron based on that JKR was trying to get a literary second chance with?
Blood Moon
7 July, 1995
The pounding on the door just wouldn't go away.
"Harry, are you awake yet?" a familiar voice asked through the door. There was a pause and then the voice spoke again much cleared. The door was open now. "Honestly Harry, it is passed noon. It is time for you to be out of bed!"
Harry absently thought about hexing his best female friend. He loved Hermione but right now he was loving his bed a whole lot more! Idle thoughts transfiguring his friend into a bushy-haired nifler danced in his head.
"Harry James Potter! Get out of the bed this instant!" Hermione insisted. "We want to hear what happened last night at the werewolf Gathering. If you're not downstairs in five minutes I shall send Kalina up for you!" Then Hermione stormed out.
With a groan, Harry flung back the covers and forced his feet to the floor. Threatening him with Kalina was just dirty pool, not fair at all. How was it that he could be an Alpha with all the respect and fear that entailed and yet he still couldn't get a lie in after having the long day he'd had yesterday? It just wasn't fair.
Harry stumbled down into the kitchen ten minutes later. Yes, he'd missed Hermione's deadline but he needed the hot shower more than she needed information. At least, in his mind anyway. Harry was halfway through his cup of tea (Thank Merlin for Dobby!) when his mind started to register who else was in the room.
There was Sirius and Remus of course. And Kalina was feeding little Cassie. That is when he noticed Ron, Ernie, Hermione, and Padma sitting at the table around him. And sitting at the foot of the table was Dumbledore himself.
"'Ello," Harry muttered out around his tea cup. Padma smiled at Harry while the guys all laughed. Hermione simply looked impatient.
Harry was on his second cup when her impatience got the better of her.
"Enough Harry, we want to hear about the Gathering! What were the Alphas like? Did you get to talk to any of them? How many werewolves were there? August Gallope's new treatise expertly proved there can't be more than 75 in all of Britain right now based on his observations. Did you see the same thing? Come on, Harry! Tell us!"
"Hermione, how is it you're NOT in Ravenclaw?" the sole member of that House present asked. Hermione glared back at Padma.
"Well, if Harry would just tell us what happened I wouldn't have to ask all these questions!" she huffed.
"Where's Daphne?" Harry asked. The caffeine was starting to hit him now and wake him up
Ron frowned. "Her mum took her and her little sister on a shopping holiday in Paris. She won't be home for three more days." Ron shrugged. "I don't get it. Don't we have perfectly good stores here in London?"
"It's about being with her daughters, Ronald," Hermione replied in a disapproving manner. But that just caused Padma to grin mischievously.
"But the designers in Paris are just to die for!" she gushed. Then seeing the looks on her friends' faces she lost the air-headed expression and added, "Well, that's what Parvati tells me anyway."
Hermione opened her mouth to retort but to Harry's grateful ears, Ernie got in first. "I am sure we'd rather hear Harry's news than Paris fashion."
"Amen to that," Ron and Sirius muttered in a funny synchronicity.
"Why couldn't Remus simply tell you while I was asleep?" Harry grumped. The mentioned werewolf gave a cheeky smile that reminded he was a Marauder.
"But I am not an Alpha," the former professor answered. "It just wouldn't be proper." The gleam in the older werewolf's eyes said he was enjoying himself. Harry just couldn't that go unanswered.
"Oh really?" Harry muttered just before taking another sip of tea. "Well, the most unbelievable thing of the night was I managed to get Moony here a date."
"Charisa?" Sirius guessed with a wide grin. "She was kind of cute when we were at Hogwarts."
"It was not a date!" Remus growled. "She simply wanted to apologize to me and this little wanker stepped in and made it a dinner. Not a date!"
"I don't know," Harry commented in an innocent tone. "She seemed rather sweet on you and liked the idea it was a date. And since you did just say I was the Alpha…" That brought some laughter as Remus glared at the unrepentant teen.
"As amusing as this may be, could we perhaps discuss the matter at hand?" Dumbledore said. Out of a long habit of respect, this brought the mirth to an end.
"Some of it I can't talk about," Harry started. "There was an oath and I can't go into some of the specifics. But what I can tell you is there are more than 75 werewolves and yes, I got to speak to the Alphas, some for an extended time." Hermione made to ask a question and Harry raised a hand to stop her.
"Let me finish, Hermione.
"I can't give details but the Alphas decided to accept me as a member of the Packs after I told them the story we'd agreed on. Then they started debating the question of aligning with Riddle. Fenrir was winning so I …. I jumped in."
The group looked relieved at the first bit of news but the second part left them confused and more than a bit concerned.
It was Ernie that broke the silence. "And what does that mean?" he asked. "It sounds like a Gryffindor issue." Harry scowled as Remus snorted.
"That pretty much sums up the fix Harry's put himself in," the elder werewolf said. "Harry didn't like the direction the debate was going and jumped right in arguing with Greyback. It came to blows before the other Alphas stopped it."
"Oh Harry," Hermione sighed in a disappointed tone. "Only Alphas can speak at the Gatherings. Remus explained that all to you."
"Yes, well I got caught up in the argument," Harry admitted sheepishly.
"And how did the Alphas respond to Harry's interruption, Remus?" Dumbledore asked.
Remus looked unsure. "Publicly, they were all angry. Privately, it's hard to say; I think some of them welcomed it – or even expected it. They broke up the fight and tabled the decision…" Remus was interrupted as several started making comments about how wonderful the news was. Harry looked as though he wanted to melt into the floor. Remus tried several tries to get their attention back.
Finally he just yelled out, "Harry has to fight Greyback at the next full moon." Chaos quickly ensued. Even baby Cassiopeia joined in the noise as Dumbledore, Padma, Hermione, Sirius, and Kalina joined in telling Harry exactly what they thought of his thoughtless action
"I should've stayed in bed," Harry muttered as he eyed Ron and Ernie who seemed to be enjoying this entirely too much.
-I-
Harry's morning was not much fun.
It took over an hour for everyone to finish telling him – in detail – exactly how foolish, thoughtless, impulsive, and reckless behaviour. Harry endured it but he felt a bit resentful for the whole thing. They weren't there. The entire British werewolf population would have joined Riddle and then the trouble would have really broken out. He tried to explain that when he won Fenrir would lose status and at worst the werewolves would be neutral. Dumbledore pointed out Greyback was a much older and experienced werewolf and Harry's chances of victory were 'sub-optimal'.
"Well, if I can't take Fenrir than what chance do I have against Voldemort?" Harry shot back, his patience finally at an end. "I did what I had to do! Did you want to face the combined Packs of Albion, Hermione? Do you, Headmaster? The last war you just faced the Greyback Pack. I've read the reports! How would you like to face four more?!" Dumbledore paled as he considered the ramifications.
"Yes, what I did was reckless and impulsive, but what else could I have done? It is easy to sit here and tell me what I should have done. That I should have do nothing. Just sat there and kept my mouth shut. None of you were there but Remus and he wasn't able to do anything. There is an old saying, it goes something like, 'All evil needs to succeed is for good men to do nothing.' I saw a whole lot of people doing nothing growing up with the Dursleys. Teachers, neighbours, no one did anything to help me there. I swore that if I had the ability I wouldn't let evil just happen and pretend I didn't see it! My time at Hogwarts just made that all the more clear!
"Now, I am going to go take a shower. Feel free to continue your rants about how thoughtless, immature, and reckless I am. I am done here. Remus, feel free to tell them whatever the hell happened last night not covered by oaths."
Sirius Black watched his godson storm out of the dining room. He could almost see the Beast superimposed over the teen. He was still angry over the risk Harry had taken; it was an insane, thoughtless gamble he'd taken and it could still cost him his life. But he also understood Harry's actions. However, the thing that made him truly pause was the brief glimpse he'd just seen of Harry's true character. Not the traits that reminded Sirius of James, Lily, or even his grandparents but the true Harry. There was a fiery determination in there.
The imagery of a Black family trip to the magical remains of Pompeii when he was 12 came to Sirius. Magical images and ancient ghosts presented the last days of that Roman city. The mountain looked quiet, placid and beautiful until its eruption. Then its lava ran an unstoppable course that burned through walls and wards with equal facility. Nothing stood in its way. What the lava didn't get was choked to death under feet of ash. Sirius suddenly saw his godson as that mountain; hiding under a quiet, friendly, and jovial facade, but underneath a core of purpose that would not be stopped. Anything that stood in his way would be destroyed.
Sirius exchanged a glance with the woman who in a short time had come to mean everything to him. Kalina was a fire of a different sort; passionate and consuming. He'd teased James for falling for Lily so hard and fast but now he knew exactly how his best mate had felt. If Azkaban was the cost for having Kalina in his life, he'd do it again in a heartbeat. Her glance told him she would support him in anything he did.
"Harry's right," Sirius said. "He made the call. I fought some of Greyback's pack once and don't want to do that again, let alone with five times the numbers. Remus, tell us what else happened. Harry can re-join us when he is ready." Dumbledore seemed to want to protest but held it in as the rest acquiesced to Sirius's orders.
Remus completed Harry's aborted story going into much greater detail. He included almost verbatim recounting of everything that happened up until the Alphas' meeting started and was sealed under the Pack oaths. Remus did not discuss the proposal presented by the Alphas of the Alba Pack. That would be discussed in a smaller group.
Padma and Hermione were particularly interested in Colleen, the female teen werewolf that Harry had encountered. Remus described her and their encounter but was interrupted by a voice from the door.
"Think of Pansy meeting a 'mudblood' at a party. Then have her find out the mudblood is really the sole heir to a wealthy Ancient and Noble House. When we saw Colleen after the Gathering, I'd moved from the shite on her boot to some new piece of jewellery to be possessed. Not a great first impression."
Remus had to tentatively agree with Harry's rather harsh assessment as the teen returned to the room. "She now knows Harry is a potential Alpha. With most of the other Alphas being in their prime and in strong partnership with their mates, Greyback is the only unpaired Alpha male – unless they accept Harry as a new pack leader. I don't think she is quite as bad as Ms Parkinson, but I understand the comparison."
Padma gave Harry a dangerous smile. "So do I have competition?" Harry shuddered.
Harry's response of "No, no, you definitely do not," garnered some much needed humour in the room.
After the chuckles subsided, Dumbledore stood and said, "Mr Potter, you were correct in that we were not there and what the potential impact would be if all of the packs joined Tom. And there is indeed a great benefit if you are accepted as an Alpha. Understand that our words earlier were only out of our concern for you." Harry waved him off.
"I understand, professor," the teen responded. "I am willing to discuss things with all of you but I did what I had to in those circumstances. I also suspect that some of the Alphas engineered the whole situation to get exactly the results they did. They could use me to foil Fenrir without risking their own positions.
"But that is wrong!" Hermione protested. Harry shrugged.
"They will do what they have to to protect their packs. I am not part of their pack so they are willing to use me. I understand them completely. I'd do the same thing to keep one of you safe."
-II-
10 July, 1995
"Hey Harry, you back here?" Ernie called from just down the hall. A second later he stepped into the room to see his best mate sprawled out on a leather couch looking like one of his grandfather's ponies that had been ridden hard and put away wet. Harry just gave a vague wave from his place on the couch.
"Bloody hell, what happened to you?" Ernie asked. Harry looked as though he considered answering but just made a frown.
"Language, Ernie!" Hermione absently admonished her boyfriend as she entered the room. "Is Harry back here? … Harry! What happened to you!"
"Training …. with the Marquis de Padfoot," Harry muttered as he pulled himself upright on the couch. There was a small pop as Dobby appeared in the room. A steaming draught in his little hand.
"Your restorative, Harry Potter, sir," the elf directed in a concerned voice. "Drink it all down and then Dobby burp you like with Little Miss." Harry took the mug while glaring weakly at the grinning elf.
"No one likes a smart arsed elf," Harry grunted before downing the drink.
"Then maybe Harry Potter, sir shouldn't have taught me so well." With a cheeky wave the elf popped away.
"And you wanted to free all of the elves?" Ernie asked Hermione in a 'see what would happen' tone.
"He couldn't corrupt all of them," Hermione huffed back. That was when she noticed the images on the large mirror mounted on the wall. It was just like the mirrors at the last Tri-Wizard event but that is not what the mirror was showing now. "What is that?" she demanded.
Harry sat up feeling much better after the potion. "That is the result of Sirius and Remus's madness."
"That's the BBC!" Hermione protested. "They managed to get a telly working in a magical household! People have been trying to get modern technology to work in magical areas for decades with no success! Even the Wizarding Wireless uses antiquated vacuum tubes and windup batteries! How did they do it?""
"They didn't," Harry answered. "No Muggle technology included. The mirrors are the same as the ones at the Tournament. Sirius bought out a small cable service provider and Remus created an interface that translates Muggle RF signal to the Marauder Mirrors. He also signed a contract with the Quidditch league to cover all of the league matches and the playoffs for the next twenty years." Hermione looked stunned.
"That's brilliant!" she muttered. "Instead of forcing technology to work in a magical environment, make a magical device that mimics it!" Harry shrugged.
"Not really," he disagreed. "After all, a lot of technology was created to do the same thing from legends and fairy tales needed 'magic' to work. Think of it as full circle."
Ernie was mesmerized watching the strange antics playing out on the mirror. But old reruns of Benny Hill confused many people- not just Pureblood wizards. "Did they secure this?"
Securing a magical spell, potion, or other creation was similar to the mundane world's patent on technology and was managed by the ICW. The Security prevented anyone else from making or selling the same creation for a thirty year period. They could create a competitor product but not using the same magical processes without a licencing deal.
"Before the Tournament," Harry answered. "Four companies tried to get into the ICW Securities office even before the task was finished but the Marauders Inc. security was already in place."
"Marauders Inc.?" Ernie half-asked. Harry nodded and grinned.
"Padfoot wanted 'Black Ink' since Black Galleons are funding us but someone already has that name." Harry grabbed a small box on the couch next to him and pressed a button. Now the image showed a live picture of Diagon Alley from the roof of a shop. Gringotts was easily visible just down the Alley.
"This is from the shop they plan to open on August 1st. Five mirror sizes will be offered and three 'packages'. Wizarding content only, Wizarding and Mundane basic, or Wizarding with Mundane premium. There is even an optional illusion package that makes non-magicals seeing the mirrors think they are normal tellies."
"Wicked," Ernie said with a smile.
"Do you really think many Purebloods will purchase the Mundane content?" Hermione asked in a sceptical tone.
"The Wizarding-only option is the most expensive package," Harry answered with an evil smile. "The Mundane channels are partially paid for by commercials and such. If they want to be snobs they can pay for it.
"Well, even if they get the Mundane channels that doesn't mean they will watch them."
"Maybe the parents," Harry acknowledged her point. "But there is no lock out ability. Eventually their kids will sneak in and discover what's out there. Pretty soon you have Purebloods showing up at Hogwarts worried about the Manchester or Liverpool match they're going to miss at school or watching MTV Europe."
Ernie laughed. "Unity through football? Dean Thomas would be so happy." Harry joined his laughter.
"Padfoot loves the idea that Black family money is being used for this," Harry told them. "He made himself, Remus, and I equal partners. He provided the money, Remus does most of the creation, and I get to …"
"Be our furry mascot!" Sirius announced triumphantly as he bound into the room. Harry threw his immature godfather a mock scowl.
"I was going to say be the voice of reason, I can always spank your furry arse too," he threatened. Sirius just laughed.
"Actually we are using a stag, a grim, and a wolf as our marketing symbol," Sirius admitted. "Tall dark and fluffy over there would scar people away." Before Harry could protest, Sirius tossed something into Harry's lap.
"Congratulations. Kalina loved it. Now she's on about opening a home products division along with entertainment and pranking. You're giving me even more work!"
"Don't blame me!" Harry protested. "Mooney gave me the assignment." Sirius merely gave a mocking wave as he left the room the same way he'd entered.
"What is it?" Hermione asked curiously. Harry grinned at her as he handed the small object to her. It appeared to be a thin metal cylinder with a three inch diameter and a metal mesh covering both ends.
"It's your fault too," he said as she examined the tube. "You know how you're always complaining that the Hair Drying Charms work too fast so it makes your hair all frizzy? Remus told me to come up with a product using the same type of techniques they used on the mirrors. So, I made a hair dryer for you."
Hermione looked shocked and touched a small rune on the side of the device. A soft warm breeze suddenly came out of one end but it was almost completely silent since no electric motor was used. She pressed the small rune above it and the air flow increased. Another rune saw the air flow get warmer.
"It's really just a warming charm coupled with a controlled Zephyr Charm using a mildly transfigured soda can as a shell. Since the warming charm isn't activated until just before the air leaves the tube, the metal doesn't heat up much even after running for a while. I tried plastic but it wouldn't hold the rune magic," Harry admitted. "It was my proof of concept piece."
"That's brilliant!" Hermione gushed. "It's so simple! Why hasn't anyone done this before?"
"Too simple," Ernie answered with a grin. "Muggle-born try to charm their technology to work on magic which fails and Purebloods simply won't admit Muggles might actually have something worth copying. Look at the dishwasher your mum showed me last week. Magicals either have a house-elf or they charm their brushes to wash the dishes for them. Same with the ice cases. Muggles have those refrigerators and we have ice cases that are simply wooden boxes lined with tin that has a cooling charm in place. But we've had those for centuries. Since 'we' thought of it first, our solution must be better. Most enchanters just recreate things we've already had but maybe with some improvements, like Harry's Firebolt. Looking at Muggle solutions and then recreating them from scratch just never occurred to anyone." Ernie grinned now at Harry.
"Maybe only the insane would've thought of it."
Harry laughed as Hermione huffed and glared at her boyfriend. Harry could see she was actually impressed with Ernie's comments. The Hufflepuff had a firm grasp of reality and knew enough of mundane culture to look at the one he'd grown up in. While not as book smart as Hermione, Ernie wanted to attend university after leaving Hogwarts and take a degree in Anthropology. Harry had to look up just what that was but thought his friend would be rather brilliant at it.
"Hmmm," Harry hummed in consideration. "That might be a good point, Ernie. Think what we would create with Luna's input!" The look of fear on Ernie and Hermione's faces was rivalled by the glee on Sirius's.
Hermione had finished her study of the hair dryer and announced the rune work to be 'adequate' and suggested he present it to Professor Babbling as extra credit towards the coming OWLS. Once she was done, Ernie asked the question that had been on his mind since they had arrived.
"So Harry, what is Sirius doing to you?"
Harry made a groaning noise and said, "Training. Getting me ready to face Greyback."
"What kind of training?" Hermione asked. "Wand magic is out since you have to meet under the full moon."
Harry shrugged. "I guess you'd call it martial arts. Padfoot calls it 'Black-Fu'. I've never really seen really karate or whatever except the bollocks you see on the telly so I don't know what to compare it with. Most of it is for dodging spells, anticipating where they are going; that sort of thing. The rest is what to do if you lose your wand and the enemy is in close. Quick and dirty ways to take someone out. Go for the soft tissue, joints. Using the elbows and knees; some throws. My cousin Dudley is on his school's boxing team. The mildest of Black-Fu would get me tossed out of every match.
"I don't know how it's going to help with Greyback but I reckon Sirius needed to do something. He's been a nervous wreck," Harry confided. "He said he would have probably taught me anyway. His grandfather taught him, his brother Regulus, and his cousin Bellatrix."
Ernie went pale at the mention of the witch's name. "Bellatrix was almost as feared as V-voldemort. My dad told me once that you knew Voldemort would kill you and you might escape Bellatrix but were likely to be missing limbs or vital organs when you did. Never heard of Regulus."
"According to Sirius, his brother was killed by Riddle six months before he killed my parents. He'd only left Hogwarts the previous June but was close to the Inner Circle. No one knows what, if anything, he did to make Riddle kill him."
"So, do you think it will help you?" Ernie asked returning to the original topic.
"Maybe," came the answer. "Greyback isn't like fighting a human. Wolves do have the same instincts to go for the soft tissue. As for the rest, I guess we'll just have to see."
-III-
12 July, 1995
The sun was hanging low in the sky as the Range Rover pulled into the same lot it had two weeks before. The two occupants once again climbed out and without a word started walking again in the same direction for the gathering. This time however they saw several others arriving and congregating in small groups before heading in the same direction. Their conversations tended to stop and wait until the pair had passed.
Harry was used to the same reaction from his time at Hogwarts. He barely even noticed now. Instead he noticed the mixed looks of fear, anticipation, and … hope. He distracted himself by thinking about the timing of this night.
Contrary to popular belief, the rising of the full moon was not what triggered a werewolf's transformation. Today was a super full moon. This meant the moon was at its closest approach to the Earth and at the same time was also a full moon. By the logic of a moon trigger, all of the werewolves should have been transformed at the point the moon rose, correct?
Wrong.
The moon rose that day in Britain at 5.15 in the morning and would set at 12.48 that night. The peak of the full moon had already passed at 11.49 that morning. So, it couldn't be the moon itself that triggered their transformation. The werewolves themselves weren't sure and wizards generally didn't take the time to study the why of the situation. It was just known that about 60-90 minutes after sunset on the night of a full moon, the change would happen. Tonight that put the transformation at roughly 22.30 to 23.00.
Harry's musing were interrupted by the approach of six men. Each looked aggressive and surly. None were dressed particularly well and were in need of a bath. Werewolves were not bothered by natural scents but these six took it to a whole new level.
"Potter," one of them snarled, "you actually had the stupidity to show up."
"Maybe Greyback will leave us something to play with?" another suggested with an odd giggle.
"Even if by some chance you win, boy, think you will survive the rest of us coming for vengeance?" the first one asked. "You only that traitor" he indicated Remus, " to watch your flank."
Harry smiled. "I'd take Remus over any of you anytime, but I think six on one is rather unfair. So, I brought a friend." Unseen, Remus pressed the hatch release on the Rover. The back had obviously been magically expanded as what emerged was much too large to fit in the back of a normal muggle vehicle.
"Say hello to my little friend," Harry offered in an odd accent.
The giant three-headed dog known as Fluffy had the build of a mastiff hit with an Engorgio spell. Each head was meaner than the next and sized to snap a human in half with a single bite. Thick leather studded collars protected each throat removing a canine's favourite target from harm. Fluffy was a ton of lean canine that had been living near feral in the Forbidden Forest surviving on Acromantulas, deer, and other creatures of the forest. The only contact the dog had with civilization came from Hagrid and Harry's visits.
All three of Fluffy's heads let out a growling snarl of their own at the six werewolves. All of them took a couple steps back and the four looked ready to run.
"You can't bring that beast here!" the first werewolf yelled. Harry suspected he was Michaels, Greyback's Second.
"Feel free to tell her that," Harry cheerfully offered.
"Really, Potter?" Harry turned slightly to where Dyfed, Alpha Male of Glyndwr Pack now stood.
"She followed me home from school. Can I keep her?" Fluffy's left head stopped growling, turned towards Harry and gave him a big, wet lick. Only the grumpiness of the coming change allowed the older Alpha to supress a laugh.
"She is a canine," Dyfed admitted. "Wolves and even some dogs have been allowed to join in on the hunts in the past. I don't know anyone had the nerve to bring a hell hound before though."
Dyfed turned back towards the watching werewolves. "We have a trial to attend. Get moving, now!" The last was a command that snapped out. The werewolves, even the Greybacks, responded instantly to the Alpha's command. Harry and Remus followed them and Dyfed fell into step with them. Fluffy reverted from attack mode to a curious puppy following along but dashing off to sniff whatever caught her attention.
"I've never seen a hellhound before but I've read on them quite a bit," Dyfed admitted as he watched Fluffy dash over to smell a particular boulder and mark it as her own.
"I understand they are rather rare," Remus commented.
"They were purpose bred as guardians by early Greek wizards," the Alpha supplied. "Cerberus was the most famous of the breed. He guarded the home of a particularly Dark and powerful necromancer. Several attacks on the wizard's home were destroyed by Cerberus alone. He was almost as feared as his master. The wizard became the basis of Hades, Greek god of the dead and the underworld. Cerberus became the guardian of the underworld.
"The ancient magics created a bond between the hellhound and its master, much like the bond between a pack and the Alpha. With you being an Alpha also, the bond may be even stronger." Harry considered the Welsh Alpha's information.
"I can see that," he said. "My First year at Hogwarts Voldemort was possessing my Defence professor. Fluffy ripped him to pieces. When I'd go run and hunt in the Forest, Fluffy would always show up eventually. I just thought she'd adopted me." That brought a laugh from the two older wolves.
"Will Fluffy interfere in the fight?" Dyfed asked. "Outside interference could cost you the decision."
"She knows not to," Harry answered. "Fluffy has three really large brains so she understands. Only if someone else gets involved will she act." Dyfed nodded in understanding.
"This should be a fascinating night," was his last comment.
It was the same clearing as before but now it was devoid of the bonfire and party atmosphere of a few weeks previous. The tents and tables were done to be replaced with a large circle of waiting werewolves. In the centre of the circle waited the 'neutral' Alphas. Harry could see Ian, Oliver, and Mac standing there simply waiting not speaking at all. Fenrir stood halfway between the Alphas and the ring of watching werewolves; his own pack stood in the ring directly behind the Death Eater werewolf.
Dyfed started talking in low tones as they approached the circle. "I am sure Remus has already informed you of the protocol here but he hasn't been amongst us in some time. He and your 'pack' must take their positions on the outside of the circle. You move to the position opposite Fenrir while I join the other Alphas. Once the change happens the Alphas back off and the fight for dominance starts. You must either submit to the greater wolf or kill him."
"And if he submits to me?" Harry asked. Dyfed frowned.
"I doubt that will happen. He's already submitted himself to another," came the answer. It somewhat confirmed to Harry that at least some of the other Alphas were looking to have Fenrir removed as a pack leader.
They reached the circle where there was an opening for Harry's 'pack'. It was somewhat amusing how the werewolves were eyeing Fluffy in some concern. For her part, Fluffy seemed to settle down with a surprising level of seriousness.
Remus stopped Harry at the edge of the circle.
"We don't have any time now," Remus said. "Be careful and don't underestimate Greyback. Finish it as soon as you can."
"I will," Harry promised. The two men embraced briefly before Harry turned as resumed his walk.
Dyfed was now a bit ahead and reached the other Alphas as Harry reached his designated spot. The full moon was low in the sky but it lit the field in a brilliant light that bled colours away but everything was clearly visible. Harry waited watching the Alphas and Greyback for several moments before Mac, Alpha Male of the Brotherhood, stepped forward.
"Members of the Packs of Albion, the change will soon be upon us! Tonight shall determine who is the superior, Fenrir, Alpha of the Greyback Pack or the upstart rogue called Harry." The words were insulting to Harry and indicated siding with Fenrir. But Mac kept talking.
"Once the upstart is dealt with, then we, the combined Packs of Albion, shall hunt! Let all of Albion tremble with fear of our hunt!" A shudder seemed to pass though the biker Pack leader. That shudder was mirrored by all of the other werewolves save Harry.
"The change is NOW!" Mac roared even as his body started to morph.
Even for Harry there was something frightening to watching nearly two hundred werewolves changing at once. Harry made his own change and then watched as Greyback completed his own.
The transformed Fenrir Greyback was the closest thing Harry had seen in a werewolf to his own form. The older werewolf was slightly taller but with sparser grey hair rather than the think black fur pelt of the Beast. His head was also close to Harry's form but with long blackened teeth that seemed to jut out in odd directions. It was intimidating to look at but not too practical for eating. But Harry guessed Greyback was only really in this form once a month.
Harry's brief period of observation was ended as Greyback completed his change and with a roar charged the younger werewolf.
-IV-
The attack came in low and vicious.
The older werewolf went from a standing start to a full out sprint in an eye blink. He dashed forward on all fours leading with his jaws aimed at Harry's lower leg going for the tendons. It was a classic wolf tactic.
When Harry moved out of the way, Greyback swung a taloned claw in a slashing move. Harry dodged the blow, grabbing the wrist and pulling with all his might. Greyback's momentum threw him off balance and allowed Harry to score his own slash on the Alpha's ribs. That momentum then threw Greyback to the ground but he was up in an instant and turned to prevent Harry's approach from the rear.
Many of the werewolves howled at the sight of first blood being drawn. The wound was not enough to hinder Greyback but it was embarrassing for the Alpha.
Harry smashed into Greyback's chest lifting the older werewolf off the ground. One hand grasped the feral werewolf by the throat and slammed him down to the ground hard. Harry moved to slash Fenrir's throat but the dark wolf lunged his head forward to bit down hard on the Beast's foot. Harry howled in pain and for a moment instinct took completely over.
The Beast's jaws snapped down on the exposed throat of Fenrir Greyback. With a vicious wrench the powerful jaws and wickedly sharp teeth shredded the windpipe and blood vessels. Another wrench ripped the very flesh from the Greyback Alpha's throat.
The Beast stepped slightly away and glared down at the fallen form of his enemy. Then he turned his blood soaked jaws to the sky and let out a howl of victory – and a particular anguish. The Beast had killed and in the most personal way possible. For a not-quite fifteen year-old boy this was a defining moment.
The surrounding werewolves released their own howls. Howls of victory as an opponent Alpha was slain and a new one rose. Howls of loss as a pack lost their Alpha.
The Alphas converged on the Beast and the fallen Greyback. Harry backed off slightly at their approach as he prepared to fight again if necessary. The Alphas took turns sniffing the body After sniffing the body each turned and kicked their legs back sending dirt spraying back at the body. The final Alpha, Harry suspected it was Ian, paused and urinated onto the dead Alpha before kicking the dirt back. Harry suspected this last was a final insult at a fallen enemy.
The Greyback pack observed this with some furry but the numbers against them and the looming arrival of Fluffy in the centre of the circle made up their minds. With final barking snarls, the disgraced pack ran from the circle and into the night.
Moony approached the Beast and made a submissive gesture indicating his renewed acceptance of the Beast as his Alpha. Then surprisingly Fluffy moved next to him and repeated the gesture. The watching Alphas seemed to accept this further break with tradition of the Marauder Pack.
The Beast now moved forward to face the Alphas. On some unseen but sensed signal, the Alphas turned as one and led the combined Packs of Albion out into the night to hunt.
A/N: Hey look, no cliffy!