Author's Note: None of the works here are mine.

Name: Potter, H

Location: Nighthaven, Northern Kalimdor (Warcraft Canon)

"So...tell me what happened. I don't remember anything after the worgen bit me."

Harry stood in front of the mirror, still having trouble understanding that the image of a grey-furred wolf-human hybrid in the reflection is him. His signature lightning-bolt scar was covered in white fur

Makale stood by the door at the other side of the room, massaging his throat after being lifted by it not a few moments ago. "And that's what did it. The worgen spreads it's curse via biting it's victims."

Harry turned to face the paladin. "You said there was a partial cure?"

"My uncle Vincent." Harry and Makale turned to see another worgen in tailored pale-blue priest's robes at the door directly behind the paladin. "Hiya Judas. Feeling any better?"

"Dryson? When did you get bit?"

Dryson let out a chuckle. "Not long after you. Mak was busy with a few beasts himself, and I got blindsided trying to heal some more of the wounded. Mak healed you a bit just before you transformed. When you did, you actually started ripping into other worgen, before turning on the guards. Mak here seems to think that you held onto enough willpower to keep protecting us, if only for a little while."

The paladin in question nodded. "I almost considered not healing you, though. Although, you did fend off four other worgen before one of the guards blasted you with that unusual weapon. Then you started savaging that Mark guy and anyone near him."

Harry looked down, hanging his head in shame. "And what happened with your uncle? I want to thank him, for doing this much at least."

Dryson looked crestfallen, "Well, good luck with that. Uncle Vincent jumped of a cliff not long after the incident. We didn't even have time to look for the body. We found you some time after he jumped, and we had to use his last notes to reverse-engineer the cure for you. That's why you didn't recover when I did."

The wizard nodding in acceptance. "Did anyone find my gear? I don't remember what happened to it."

Dryson reached behind the door and grabbed Harry's satchel. "You left it back at the training yard, and I went back for it after the events in Gilneas. We should probably head back to Stormwind soon. I have some studies to catch up on, and Aunt Diana should probably hear the news about us two first-hand."

Harry took the pack. Looking inside he found his collapsed halberd, hearthstone and everything else he had prior to the trip to Gilneas. "Would we even be allowed into the city? We could end up spreading the curse, right?"

The priest shook his head. "No. Vincent's cure prevents us from infecting others, and there's already a fair few worgen in Stormwind. Most are from Gilneas directly. We'll be accepted, and I haven't seen Aunt in months."

"Fine by me. Mak?"

The paladin nodded. "I see no problem. Judas, perhaps we will follow after you in a little bit. Dryson and I need to discuss a few things before we leave."

"Alright. See you later, then." The wizard pulled his hearthstone out of the pack and activated it.

Just as Harry disappeared, Dryson asked Makale, "Have you given my idea any thought?"

Makale turned to face the priest. "Yes, though I don't see why you would ask my opinion of it. It's your family's approval you'll need."

"Four of the five family Patriarchs in the Clan are fine with it."

"Well, there you go. Now, have you thought more about my suggestion?"

The priest shook his head. "I'm not doing it. Judas doesn't need that problem. He has enough already. Someone's gonna have to teach him how to shift back, and guilt isn't going to help that one bit."

The paladin sighed. "Very well. Just remember, he's going to figure it out eventually. You regained your memory of your feral time within three weeks. He might remember in less."

"I know, but how would I put that to him? 'Hey Judas, just letting you know, you're the reason people have been trying to turn me into a fur coat for the past several months.' Yeah, I really don't think that's going to work."

Location: The Blue Recluse, Stormwind (Warcraft Canon)

Harry appeared at the familiar bar to the Blue Recluse tavern. Looking around, he saw that things haven't changed much. Patrons drank, talked and danced in their usual levels of intoxication. Surprisingly, no worgen were to be found. The wizard shrugged and turned around to find Joachim absorbed in cleaning his mugs for service. A rather large draenei in red plate armor leaned on a post at the end of the bar, not saying a word. "Hello, Mister Brenlow," Harry said.

The barkeep looked up to see the worgen in front of him. "And who'd be ye? Not many from Gilneas here lately." Harry placed his metal hand on the bar. A look of recognition dawned on Brenlow. "Judas? 'S that you?" When the worgen nodded, Joachim continued. "Wow, tough break, friend. I heard you were traipsin' across North Kalimdor after the Bank Bombings. Didn't know you ended up in the middle of the Siege of Gilneas. When did ye...y'know?"

"Almost as soon as I arrived. Me and Dryson Merrick both were turned trying to help the locals after the Wall fell." Harry shrugged. "Well, at least I'm here now. Is my old room still available?"

Joachim nodded. "Makale has been here weekly t'make sure ye didn't lose it. He picked up the bill since you left."

The draenei walked over to Harry and shoved him into a nearby table. Turning to the bartender, he said, "Surely you are not going to let this filth stay here? Just because he begs like a behaved mongrel?"

Harry picked himself up off of the table. "Excuse me? Just what is your problem?"

The draenei looked stunned. "My problem? Oh none whatsoever. Just the fact that some dog walks in and demands a place to stay. Tell me; what did you do while the human, dwarven, gnomish, elven and draenei armies marched on Outland? Chase your tail in the Silverpine Forest? I fought alongside my people to halt the advance of the Burning Legion. I fought, my fellows at my side, into Hellfire Citadel and laid waste to the fel orcs that resided there. Mutts like don't deserve to be in the presence of a warrior like me."

I just get back home, and the prejudice already sets in. I can only imagine what Lupin must've felt like, having most of the Wizarding world against him. "And this justifies you being cruel to those cursed like me? To believe us unfit because we couldn't fight alongside you? What kind of twisted world do you live in, to accept that as truth?" Harry tensed slightly, readying himself for a fight with the armor-clad draenei.

The draenei drew a broadsword out of his sheath. "Dogs don't yell unless they're smacked." The draenei swung from his left side. The wizard blocked the strike with his prosthetic arm. Engaging the blade-rails, Harry yanked his wand out of its slot and sent his assailant flying back with a hex.

"Tek, what the fel are you thinking? He didn't do anything wrong!" Harry turned towards the voice to see a gnome in deep, purple robes. He looks...familiar... The wizard turned back in time to see the draenei perform a vicious overhead swing at the worgen. Harry brought his arm up just in time to block again when the draenei let go with one hand and punch the wizard solidly across his elongated jaw. The blow sent Harry reeling into another table.

The gnome threw his hand out. "Kal'Azzah, stop him!" Blue mist began to form between Harry and the draenei. The mist began coalescing into the ghostlike shape of the Voidwalker. However, when the Voidwalker had fully formed, purple wisps began to sprout from its upper body. These wisps hardened into plate armor as the creature bellowed, "You called, Byron...AND I HAVE ANSWERED!" The augmented demon, the Voidlord, charged the draenei, slamming him into a nearby wall. The Voidlord continued the assault, using newly formed claws to shred the draenei's armor. The gnome yelled out "Enough!" and the Voidlord stopped, returning to the gnome's side.

Harry stumbled back to his feet, still reeling from the hit. The draenei pulled himself up as well, throwing off pieces of armor. The gnome signaled to the Voidlord to attack, but Harry bade it halt. "No. Allow me." The draenei charged the wizard again, swinging wide with his unarmored right fist. Harry sidestepped and caught the arm in his own. Harry then swung his metal arm around, bring the full weight of the prosthesis down into the draenei's trapped limb. The arm snapped with a sickening crunch. Harry let the draenei fall to the ground in shock.

The gnome turned to his familiar. "Kal'Azzah, toss him out of here." Looking back at Harry he said, "We need to talk." The wizard nodded and they left for Harry's room.

"Betcha didn't expect to see me again, didja?" Bryon Cogrunner asked as he shut the door behind himself and the wizard. The Voidlord Kal'Azzah stood sentry by a nearby window. "I landed a sweet mercenary job after I was pardoned. Wouldn't've happened if you didn't cut me down that day. I go by Maxwell Gearsplit now."

Harry looked at the diminutive person as he set his halberd against the wall near the door. The gnome used to sport a dark brown ponytail. Now, Cogrunner wore his hair in a platinum mohawk. "I thought I made myself clear when I freed you: 'Get out of Stormwind.'"

Bryon chuckled. "Yeah, I got out. I also got pardoned for services rendered at Netherstorm. I spent six months there with the Alliance Expedition Forces in Outland. Saved a bunch of recon guys that walked into an ambush and got recruited into a team myself. Good times had by all...well, me and Kal here." Cogrunner nodded to his demon familiar. "You must've been out for a while if you still think that demons are looked down on. Demonology is really starting to hit a vogue here in Stormwind. I'm sure the same thing is happening in Alliance and Horde cites across Azeroth."

The wizard nodded. Now for the fun question. "Good to hear. Quick question: How long has it been since the Greymane Wall fell?"

Byron scratched his head. "Two years, I think? I'm not sure. The Bank bombings here were about two years ago, and the Gilneans say that the wall fell shortly after. Why do you ask?"

Harry's eyes grew wide, "Because I was turned just after the fall. What all did I miss?"

The warlock plopped down on a nearby chair. " Let's see...well, I already told you a bit about Outland. The Alliance and the Horde have a standing presence there since Burning Crusade got routed the first time. There was a bit of a territory dispute north of Gilneas. Still going on, I think. If my friends in Kalimdor are correct, there's a political fight over in Orgrimmar...er, the Horde capital. Who knows? We might see a new Warchief soon. That's about all. Kal, am I missing anything?"

The Voidlord replied, "You forget Northrend, Master."

Byron nodded. "Thank you. Yeah, Northrend's becoming an even bigger issue than usual. The Lich King and his Scourge are 'recruiting,' and any corpse is a potential ally to them."

Sounds like an army of Inferi...typical. "Well, what do we do about that draenei that attacked me? Tek, or whatever his name is."

The Voidlord cut in. "You should have let me consume him, Master...let him face the void..."

The warlock shook his head in mild disgust. "Typical of you, Kal. Tek'aru was a drunken braggart, and a racist to boot. Most worgen don't even walk in that bar in true form anymore. Fel, most anyone who isn't draenei or pure human prefer to stay at the Slaughtered Lamb on weekends, given the choice." Cogrunner shrugged. "No matter, Lieutenant Colonel Kaedrin has been looking for a reason to arrest him. Now, she won't be able to resist."

"Wait, wait, wait... Lieutenant Colonel? Diana Kaedrin? Last I heard she was a Captain."

Kal'Azzah let out a low rumble, an approximation of a laugh. "Time flies with the worgen's curse, Friend of the Master."

Harry threw up his hands in mock surrender. "I give up." Hold up a second...'true form?' "You mentioned a 'true form?' What is that?"

The demon laughed again. "It is the cloak of flesh you wear now, Friend of the Master."

The wizard shot the Voidlord a glare. "And for those of us who don't speak in riddles?"

Bryon let out a sigh. "I take it no one told you: worgen have two forms. Their true form is the one you are in right now, the wolf one. Worgen can shift back into a human appearance at will, from what I've seen. You should've been taught how to do it before you came back to Stormwind."

"Must've slipped my friend's mind. He was turned not soon after I was. I'll bring it up with him when he gets back."

Cogrunner began to pale. "Y-you don't mean t-that paladin, do you? I think he still holds a grudge against me, and having claws and razor-sharp teeth won't do me any favors."

Harry shook his head. "No, although Makale has been helping me out since I freed you. I was referring to a priest I know. He should be here soon." Looking at the clock hanging on a nearby wall, the wizard continued. "You should probably get out of here. When Dryson gets back, he'll be bringing Mak along with him. That's going to raise too many questions."

The warlock nodded. He then snapped his fingers at Kal'Azzah. The Voidlord began to disappear. "Ah...to bathe in the darkness...once more."

As Bryon went to leave, he turned to the wizard. "Me and my guild might have a job for you in Northrend. Consider it my way of returning the favor, for cutting me loose. You ever end up in Valiance Keep, you give the barkeep this." Byron tossed a small token to Harry. Catching it, he saw that it was a shield-like insignia with a horned skull surrounded by what appeared to be a scope's reticule. The shield had a sword and rifle crossed behind it. When Harry flipped the insignia over, he saw the letters "S. O. V." in block script.

"Swords could really use all the help they can get. We're looking to move on Icecrown within the next few months." With that, the warlock walked out into the hall and took off.

"Took you guys long enough."

Makale and Dryson had just then walked into Harry's room. The priest wore a sheepish face as he entered in his human form. "We had some things to discuss," Dryson said. "And from the bartender told us, you've had quite the run-in already."

Harry growled as he spoke, "Yes, and it looks like you might have neglected to mention something, hmm? Like the fact that I can go back to looking human and not have to deal with a drunken draenei with sword and a bad attitude. The id-"

Makale cut in before Harry could continue, "We were planning on teaching you how to shift forms when we all were back in Stormwind. And as for the draenei, I was told that a warlock had him thrown out after he charged you, yes?" When the wizard nodded, Makale said, "Well, then don't let it worry you too much. I've heard about that particular draenei, and he's a blight on his whole race. And as much as I still take issue with demonology, the bans surrounding the practice have been lifted. Most warlocks were eager to fight alongside the Alliance army in Outland.

"Now, Dryson here," the paladin nodded towards the priest in question, "Will teach you about switching forms...after we settle a few things. But first..."Makale grabbed Harry's halberd from its spot next to the door and handed it to the wizard, "Stress relief. And I want to see how much you have been able to retain since being cursed."

Harry let out a cross between a growl and a sigh as he took the proffered weapon. "Is this really necessary?"

"Well, yeah. You need it, and I want to see what a worgen is actually capable of."

As was typical between the paladin and the wizard, Harry landed on his backside in the dirt of the Stormwind Training Grounds. Dryson stood watching from outside the ring. This is ridiculous. I haven't used this thing in what, months? He knows I'm more awkward with this weapon than before Gilneas. Picking himself back up, Harry readied his pole-arm once again. "This is getting damn old, Mak. How long have I been gone? And I'm sure you've been able to keep up with your practice while I was running around the forest near Gilneas, chasing my tail."

Makale rolled his eyes at the comment. "I want you to get used to wielding that halberd in either form. Sooner or later, your life will depend on it. You need this, Judas." Readying his sword, the paladin nodded to Harry. "At you leisure."

Harry raised his halberd and charged Makale. The paladin hooked his sword into the halberd and threw the pole-arm out to his right. Harry used the momentum to rear back and smash the spiked haft into Makale's breastplate. Makale took a step back as the spike connected, adjusting his grip and thrusting into the wizard. Harry tossed himself backwards and swung the axe head of the halberd into Makale's legs, trying to trip the paladin. When Harry had hooked Makale's foot, he yanked hard enough to unbalance the paladin. Harry then followed through with a push of his pole-arm to knock Makale over.

As Makale landed on his back, Harry swung down with his halberd, holding the weapon close to the axe head for a more precise swing. The paladin blocked the weapon with his shield. The reverberation of the attack stunned Harry for a moment. Makale used the momentary distraction to plant his boot into Harry, directly in between the wizard's legs. Harry immediately stopped and used his halberd as a support as he fought off a retching fit. In between coughing spells, he said, "Low...blow...Mak. I thought...paladins...had a...code...of honor?"

Makale got to his feet. "Well, there's a few problems with that. One, you would've gotten that weapon a little too close for comfort. I'd rather keep my self in one piece...more or less. Two, I may have personal honor, but that doesn't mean that I have to fight fair."

Harry nodded, willing the pain to subside. "Fine, fine. Now, I need to stop and rest... and maybe start shopping for armor."

Dryson and Harry sat at the table to the wizard's room. Makale leaned against the wall near the door, chuckling to himself as Harry adjusted the ice pouch on his lap.

"I don't mean to pry, but I haven't ever heard you talk about family at all, Judas. Why is that?" Dryson asked.

"Not much to talk about. I'm by myself. Have been for a while." replied Harry. Besides, no need to tell him about my family back home.

"Well, I want to offer you something. For saving my life, repeatedly. How would you like to be adopted into the Merrick Clan? We are all willing to let you join us, and you would have people to fall back on should something happen." The priest let out a chuckle. "Even Gideon wants you back in Nighthaven, if only to apologize for his attitude during Lucas' wake."

Harry was taken aback. "Would they actually accept me? They weren't too keen on me being at your home, and that was before I went and got turned into...this." The wizard gestured to himself.

Dryson chuckled. "A good portion of the family was turned in the past few months. Even the High-Matriarch Corra became a worgen. She's the one who suggested adopting clan-less worgen into our family, and I'm the one who brought your name forward."

Well, I don't see the harm. And it never hurts to have family, wherever your are. "Alright, I can accept your offer."

Dryson got to his feet and hugged the wizard across the table. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. It is so good to hear you say that!" The priest hugged him even tighter.

"Dryson...can't...breathe..."

Dryson immediately let go of Harry. "Sorry, got kinda excited," the priest said, sheepishly. "Before I forget..." Dryson reached inside his robes and pulled out a small bronze pentacle and chain, handing it to Harry. "This is for you."

Harry took the trinket. Along each of the five lines were a different name:

Deimos

Alexander

Syrisia

Godfrey

Crichton

Inscribed along the outer circle was the phrase: "Five strong, always shall persevere. Always shall thrive.

"The names of the five families in the clan. Mine is Alexander. Yours will be too, since I'm the one who brought your name forward. Judas Alexander-Merrick, it has quite a ring to it."

"So what does that make your name as?"

"Dryson Victor Alexander-Merrick. A mouthful, I know."

Harry chuckled, "I've known longer."

"Oh, really?"

Makale cleared his throat. "Stop competing you two."

Dryson stuck his tongue out at the paladin. "Buzz-kill."

Makale ignored the gesture. "Judas, we need to discuss some of the events that happened while you were indisposed. Northrend bears bad news for the Alliance."

Harry nodded, thinking of the crest Byron gave him. "I'm all ears, Mak."

Name: Rivera, N

Location: ICPF Headquarters (Intelligence Division)

"And you're positive this won't cause any undue stress on the canon timeline?"

The Special Weapons Commander Nathan Rivera was hovering over Agent Nimue Alban's desk, leaning over the Agent's chair to look at the computer screen before them.

Alban let out an exasperated sigh. "Yes, Commander. As far as I can tell, Jinx's assault on Gilneas only shifted a few events out of sync. It mostly just accelerated next second surge of worgen in the area. Everything else is lined up, exactly as documented. There's just one small anomaly..."

Rivera spun the Agent around to face her. "What?"

"This can't be Warcraft Prime. Certain events don't line up with Prime. Trainee-Agent Potter faced Hogger in the Stormwind Stockades. At the time noted, he should've found a human named Thredd. Also, outsiders to the Caverns in Tanaris shouldn't have had access to the Culling. The areas existed, but no one should have been able to enter them."

The Commander let out a soft chuckle. "Is that all?" When Alban nodded, he stood, saying, "There's a reason for that. I had Potter sent to my home Canon. I noticed the same issues when I first joined ICPF. Although, at the time I was rather distracted from events like the fall of the Greymane."

An announcement came over the department P.A. "Rivera to Training. Repeat, Rivera to Training. Urgent Attention Required."

Rivera buried his masked face in his palm. "That's it, I'm strangling the lot of them." Walking out the door, he muttered, "I swear, it's like running a kindergarten...without the pay..."

Location: Caverns of Time, Tanaris (Warcraft Canon)

A great red dragon flew into the main chamber of the Caverns of Time, landing next to the central dais. Chromie the gnome walked up to the dragon. "Welcome back, Alexstrasza. I'm sorry Nozdormu couldn't be here to greet you, but he's been gone for a while now."

The dragon nodded in acknowledgement and began to shrink. Smaller and smaller the dragon shifted into the elven form of Alexstrasza, the Life-Binder. "Thank you. I wish our meeting could've been under better circumstances."

The gnome waved dismissively. "It had to happen sooner or later with Nozdormu. My main concern is with Judas. Remember, you had Mak tail him? And we were supposed to look into him?" When Alexstrasza nodded, Chromie continued. "We've been looking into his future, and things are looking...unusual..."

"How so?"

"The most we can figure, this guy seems to be attracted to events in history. Whether it's his doing, or something else, nobody here is sure. Personally, I'm afraid for what might happen to him in Northrend. The Scourge are increasing in their ranks and actions. Most of Northrend will be under the Lich King's control within the next few months if left unchecked. And Judas' timelines all lead to Northrend. No matter what purpose, no matter what circumstances, he will end up in Icecrown. he will stand before the Lich King."

"Will this be for good or ill?"

Chromie shrugged. "It's a toss-up. Literally 50-50. Although, having Makale with him should tip the scales in our favor. This human, he's more powerful than you'd think. If the Lich King gets his hands on him, there will be nothing but problems for the Alliance and the Horde."

The red dragon sat on the dais, worried. "Well, our best hope is that Makale can keep him on the path." Chromie nodded.

Author's Note:

Well, I had intended for this to be posted on Feb. 17th, the first anniversary of this fic (I still can't believe it's been over a year), but I've got nothing. Work is kicking my arse, but I'm trying to not make that my standard excuse. In any case, enjoy.

As always, don't forget to read, rate and review this fan-fic (reviews are especially encouraged, if you didn't already know).

Until Next Time,

Master Merrick