The Leader

Chapter 35

Harry stalked up to the room the werewolves were currently using to recover, slipping inside to find that more than just Greyback was awake, but Greyback was the only one who was actually sitting up and scowling darkly at everything. When Harry sat down next to him his face wiped of any emotion, which did pique Harry's curiosity. The Alpha wasn't one of caring who he offended, the fact he was deferring to him made him realize that the likelihood of them staying here was quite big. Michael was awake but barely, he was exhausted and would probably fall asleep before too long.

"How do you feel?" Harry asked, gazing pensively at the werewolf.

"Like shit," Greyback grunted his blue eyes dark.

"What happened?" he demanded.

"We were attacked by Death Eaters, my guess is he's not too happy that I've abandoned the cause," Greyback sneered, as if he had ever given a shit about the cause. Well he had, once upon a time, but only because the Dark Lord had been winning and he realized it was inevitable. Join or be hunted down and killed, as an Alpha he couldn't do that to his pack, so he had reluctantly offered his services, both his and his pack. They were to be his 'secret weapon' used to bring terrified wizards and witches to heel, he had been sent out to turn children of wizards and witches who had turned the Dark Lord down. He'd done it all himself, his pack weren't strong enough to turn children, not for kicks of the Dark Lord. It was his duty as Alpha to take care of them, physically, mentally and make sure they slept with full stomachs and help them through the changes. Then just like that the war was over, a fifteen month old boy had caused his downfall. With little choice he'd taken his pack and gotten them as deep underground as possible. Then the worst possible thing happened, his son had been taken from him and used as bait. Forcing his hand, this time he hadn't done it alone, the others had helped just as desperate as him to get his son, their alpha's son back.

"I already established that," Harry informed him sardonically, "The only one unhurt by all this was your son, who's been pretty inconsolable. He almost became an orphan you realize? The spell you were hit with was a speciality and only a few knew the counter curse, you owe Severus one."

Severus himself twitched at that pronouncement, he didn't want anything from the damn werewolf or anyone for that matter. He regretted creating the bloody spell, and it was obviously in the hands of a Death Eater, although whom, was anyone's guess. He would have guessed Bellatrix Lestrange, but she wasn't alive, in fact she'd felled to that particular spell in the end - quite fitting considering the fact she'd probably killed a lot of people with it - violently.

"Thank you," Greyback's voice rumbled as he spoke, he was genuine in his thanks, and his son meant more to him than his own pride well most days. Then again it might have something to do with how mellow he was feeling due to the pain relievers in his system. He didn't take potions, he usually healed the hard way, day by day, and it wasn't as if he had the funds to get what he needed. His pack lived in the woods, not in little houses like a few pathetic werewolves he could mention. They weren't human and there was just no point to pretending otherwise.

"Who used the spell?" Harry demanded.

"Carrow," Greyback replied, blue eyes gleaming with malice, there was no doubt he would get that witch back and make sure she regretted lifting her wand against him. "Alecto Carrow."

"It makes sense, next to Bellatrix, Alecto is just as insane as her, they got on rather well while having fun," Severus grimaced out. "She probably saw her using it, now that Bellatrix is dead she's aiming for the number one spot." in other words she wants to be

"And does she stand a chance?" Harry enquired thoughtfully, rubbing at his chin as he observed Severus.

"No," Severus scoffed at the very idea. "She's mediocre in magical powers, unreliable and incompetent; it wouldn't be the first time her twin, Amycus has been force to clean up after her messes. It's not someone the Dark Lord would pick for his second in command; it has to be someone useful, smart, powerful and more importantly in a position of power."

"Lestrange wasn't any of those things," Michael rasped out, obviously still awake and listening to them.

"No but she did amuse the Dark Lord, and she was powerful," Severus pointed out, "She received personalised training from the Dark Lord and only a select few ever did in fact she's one of the few females that was marked and the only female trained which made her feel self important."

"We are getting largely off topic," Harry stated sharply, he didn't have time for that. "Who was part of the group?" it must be hardcore Death Eaters, the newer recruits probably wouldn't be as bloodthirsty, or eager to follow a pack of werewolves to attack it. It was time to

"Both Carrows, the Lestranges, Dolohov, Rosier, Rowle and Travers." Greyback said, he's scented them all out, and he didn't think he'd missed any but towards the end he'd only been able to smell his injured wolf pack, the smell of blood clogging up his nostrils. He would hunt them all down and kill them for what they did. He could smell his pack; he could tell they were all alive for now. If they'd survived up to now they would make it. They had to, if they didn't then their death would be on him, and he'd lost enough pack members to this fucked up war.

"The last of his inner circle," Harry realized thoughtfully.

"Mostly, yes," Severus nodded his agreement.

"I assume they wouldn't dare go back to him empty handed?" Harry mused, "So the chances are they've began hunting for your group again? It might be a good time to take care of the rest of the inner circle, without them he would be weaker, but it has its risk, I would go underground to regroup he would probably do the same thing."

"No, actually he wouldn't, he would still assume he can win, the Dark Lord is overconfident, reckless due to the fact he has measures taken to achieve immortality." Severus replied immediately, not saying anything about the Horcruxes in front of Greyback, he wasn't completely stupid. "He still has the Dark Creatures on his side, Trolls, Giants, and Dementors, probably some werewolves and vampires as well who knows what others? I unfortunately don't know due to the fact I hadn't been trusted for a long time before I was found out as a spy."

"There are no other werewolves, it's why he was desperate enough to take my son," Greyback told them through gritted teeth. "He needed us, and he was making damn sure he had us right where he wanted us." that and it was primary the reason the Dark Lord had him turn children and let them into his own pack. "When he learned about your pack he wanted them onside or wiped out, he didn't like the thought of the light getting their hands on werewolves as well, especially considering they were more numerous than mine."

"How did he find out?" Harry enquired, leaning back against the chair, fingertips drawn together and pressed against his lips.

"I have no idea," Greyback admitted grimacing in pain as his body protested heavily when he tried to shrug his shoulders.

"Do you?" Harry then asked Severus, he didn't know why he hadn't thought of it before but he hadn't he felt like an idiot. Just how the hell had Voldemort found out about the pack?

"I assumed Greyback and his pack found them one full moon?" Severus questioned, startled by the fact he'd been asked anything.

"No, the first attack happened when they were human, the following two as werewolves, and at the cost of lives on both sides." Harry said, deeply unimpressed even to this day and showing it. "Having their scents it would have been easy for them to follow once they turned into their animal form. Other than that when they became human and left the area they wouldn't quite manage to remember exactly where they were, and would think they moved from area to area when in reality it's just a spell - that they remain in the same place all the time."

"Wait, are you telling me they found the pack here?" Severus was very confused now.

"No, certain members of the pack hunt, usually getting enough meat to do them for a fortnight, but most only does a week now, the pack is much too large for any group to hunt enough for fourteen days." Jack said, the Alpha of the pack in Harry's territory told them as he entered the room, bowing in respect to his leader. "Which is where a few have gone, we need extra, a child found us last night, she's in very bad way." as always informing Harry with all relevant information.

"How bad? What age would you say?" Harry fired them off immediately.

"Not the worst I've seen, but it will take a while for her to recover, a year and half at the most to be as healthy as she should be. She looks to be around eleven or twelve, but I can't get an accurate look based on that, all people with the Lycan gene seem older than they actually are…" Jack replied professionally. "She's not woken yet, and might not for a while; I'll let you know the moment she does."

"Good," Harry stated sharply, nodding grimly. "Return to her, if you need anything you know where I am."

Jack nodded his shoulders unconsciously relaxing as he headed off to aid yet another child inflicted with lycanthrope. Every time he went to Harry about another joining the pack, he half expected him to say there were too many that they'd have to send whoever it was packing. It never happened of course, it was just a stupid fear of his. It was always the children infected that got to him, the adults he didn't mind so much, but the kids were always so confused, in so much pain that he could barely control himself to be the leader they desperately needed. The adults at least were able to control their emotions and understand things the children couldn't. It was going to be a rough few months, at least Reg was fully settled and healthy, and sighing in frustration he nodded to Rick as he passed making his way back to den where the little girl was currently resting.

"I've said it before, you're welcome to stay, but be warned if you inflict another person with lycanthrope I'll kill you myself. I will not tolerate any attacks, in turn from refraining you'll be able to walk free." Harry told him standing up, "That goes for your entire pack, am I understood? Keep them in line." without waiting for a reply - not really caring about one either - Harry turned and left the room.

"I thought he was supposed to be smart?" Wyatt remarked, gazing shrewdly.

"I thought you were one that didn't judge people?" Rick snorted wryly, shaking his head, it was none of their business but he had a feeling Harry wasn't going to wait around much longer. Heck he was surprised his leader had given Severus an inch of leeway; he wanted him badly yet was holding off. It was certainly something he wasn't used to seeing Harry do.

"Do you think we should tell him?" Wyatt asked, he would like to see his leader happy, he'd done so much for them all, and it was his turn to be happy.

"Are you insane?" Rick gave Wyatt a bewildered look.

"Leave it be," Caron stated surprising both of them by his sudden appearance, but considering he was a spy and spied on werewolves and vampires without getting caught - he was able to muffle his scent and hide from view. "It never goes well trying to interfere with other people's love life."

"I didn't want to," Rick muttered dryly, "That was solely Wyatt's idea," he poked at the half vampire causing him to lash out at him but it barely tickled causing him to laugh.

"It was just a suggestion," Wyatt argued, as he climbed off Rick, feeling petulant that he wasn't as strong as the others. Then again the others were envious of his more human traits, since he was a half vampire he could actually eat food if he wanted to - but he didn't he had no interest in being 'human' he was were he belonged end of story.

"Leave it, if he doesn't get a clue soon, Harry will make his move," Caron said with a vindictive smirk, "You of all people should know that." Caron scolded Rick without any real bite to it.

"Again it wasn't my idea," Rick pointed out, "So how's it going?" they didn't see Caron very often; he was always away doing business for Harry.

"Same as usual," Caron replied smoothly, "Nothing worth reporting, they're all behaving and abiding by the rules." some were a little restless, but they'd been that way for a while and Harry already knew this. He'd just said that his plans were moving forward without specifying but that wasn't unusual he kept his cards close to his chest. Now it was his turn to hunt and rest before he was watching over them again. If his leader said plans were moving forward then he would bet they were, things were going to change and quickly - he was looking forward to it.

"It's weird isn't it?" Wyatt said looking off into the distance.

"What?" Rick and Caron asked in unison.

"A few years ago there wouldn't be a day that went by without reports of humans being killed or turned, or worse people being bitten and going underground only to be killed by bigger packs." Wyatt sighed, "Who would have guessed it would be our leader that would bring us back to what we should have been? I mean seriously, would you have thought this would be our future seventeen years ago?" Wyatt might look young but he wasn't, he had stopped aging when his vampire inheritance had kicked in.

"Kai wanted it, more than anything else in the world." Rick said his voice subdued as they were forced to think on times that weren't so good but firmly etched in their minds - vampires forgot nothing, not even the mind altering 'Obliviate' spell worked on them. "He raised Harry on those views and when the coven came…it changed him and he did what he had to."

"Do you think we'll ever get to where Harry said we could be?" Wyatt wondered.

"Definitely," Caron stated, "And soon." excitement coating his voice.

"Do you know something we don't?" Rick asked, noticing that more than just he and Wyatt were listening now and not even pretending otherwise.

Carson just smirked at them before tipping his head and Apparating away.

"He definitely knew something," Dale mused wandering up to the two.

"Aren't you supposed to be working?" Wyatt asked confused.

"Day off," Dale explained. "Alex and Ruby wanted to see the others," pointing his thumb in his children's general direction. They were human, he'd been all they had left, his wife had died giving birth to Ruby, he worked his arse off to give them the life they deserved, and then he'd been bitten. He'd been alone, trying to get work to keep his children from starving. It hadn't been going well; he resorted to stealing just to feed them, unable to stay around them for fear of draining them dry. Then he'd bumped into some of the others hunting, he'd fled, but he wasn't quick enough, the others kept tracking him, he couldn't risk going home in the end he'd given up only to end up with a whole knew opportunity. His kids were being raised by him and everyone, while attending school and he worked at Gringotts. Their lives were a little out of the ordinary but he wouldn't let anything get in the way of raising his kids, he'd promised his wife and he'd be damned before breaking it.

"Those kids get bigger and bigger every time I see them," Rick said, hell Alex was turning fourteen soon if he remembered right. Ruby was a little younger than that though, she was a sweet little thing, so brave despite the fact to her werewolves and vampires were things of nightmares meant to scare children - which weren't the case at all anymore.

Dale grinned proudly, he might not be human like they were, but he loved them with all that he was. "Yeah, Ruby will need a wand soon and I can actually pay for it myself." it didn't mean he wasn't grateful to his leader and everyone around him still; he would serve them for as long as he was able.

"The girls going to teach her as well?" Wyatt summarised.

"Yeah," Dale nodded, the girls (Sara may, Rachel and Rachel two werewolves and a vampire) educated all the children, from ten years old to eighteen, both magical and muggle education. Although Alex and Ruby didn't learn Muggle stuff from her, since they attended primary school.

Their conversation cut off with three loud blasts from the warehouse, they didn't panic due to the fact they could sense their leaders magic in it. Obviously he wanted them, curious now, they all began heading that way, Dale moved off to make sure the kids were fine "I'll be back in few." he added to Rick, who nodded his understanding before disappearing into the warehouse itself.

R&R please