DISCLAIMER: HP belongs to JKR. The story line and all new characters, new character development, new developments are my intellectual property.
Sorry, RL and its pitfalls are taking 90% of my time :(. Thanks again to all those who support my work. I am working to close all the open stories. Particular Thanks to Nacf for her assistance.
Changes everywhere.
Everyone was happy except one she-wolf. Fenrir was hers as promised long ago. So what about Diane? Not her fault, she needed to plan, not another outsider. Her mother was not her, and Fenrir was hers.
"No, no planning," Lear looked at her, "Your mother is gone, keep those thoughts, and you will be sent away. Sebus find her mate for her in..."
She cut him off, "I won't have another mate. You promised either you or Fenrir, long ago."
"Your mother destroyed our lives. I gave her chances in respect to my cousin's mate. A grave mistake because her actions killed many of us. I should have sent her away." Lear had lost his patience.
Lear shook his head, pointed his wrists, and where the beauty stood, a small pewter figurine was all left.
"In the warded safe until I decide." Lear ordered Fenrir, but he had other plans; this was all for show. No more enemies, she would be dangerous to his future family, and that was unacceptable.
Hermione saw the fast justice, and thought it a bit savage, "Why?" she asked.
"Because she was going to hurt you. This time around, I'll try to avoid mistakes; maybe she has a taint, and if so, it is better that way." Lear offered no other explanations.
Two days later someone broke thru the wards and took the miniature away from the safe. New wards were put in place, and one by one all wolves had to take an oath. Whoever took the figurine, would neither be able to restore, it nor do anything without disclosing the truth... or so they thought.
Hermione went to the ball, but Fenrir was shameless, he held her close at each turn the few times they danced. Tom laughed loud surprising everyone. It would seem whatever his daughter did was perfect by him. Fenrir was so handsome that most females' eyes were stuck to him. He couldn't wait for his grandchildren.
His wife was obviously unhappy with her daughter, "Tom, if she has decided, she shouldn't play with others' feelings."
"She is young, let her have some fun." Just like he was having fun watching the apple of his eye."
He heard his wife's growl, and his cock answered. He loved her anger, it did something to him; at once, his arm wrapped around her waist. "Let's find a secluded place." He whispered as he pressed his hips against her. "I must have you."
"Your daughter will kill us." They were only words because she couldn't say no, not ever.
"I know the place." He whispered.
He saw his daughter engaged in flirting, who saw them leave.
"Okay, we can go to the gardens," Hermione told Fenrir. "My father has left."
He grinned and looked for Sebus who was talking to the older Lestrange.
They went straight for the gazebo, stopping to kiss every few steps. Fenrir was nervous, Sebus could easily see them. He shouldn't be out here, but his body was aching for her touch. His dreams were all about her, last night he was back by the pond, his lips attached to her pale nipple, the air full of her aroused scent. Stop it, he told himself, he needed to calm down. He didn't, his hand was on her bum rolling the long dress up, seeking her sex.
He could see the gazebo, he walked faster, nearly there, he could see it...already occupied by a very amorous couple. Fenrir recognized the scent. Bloody hell, his luck had to be the worst. He didn't get a break. Time to cut his losses.
"No, I think I hear Sebus, we better go in."
Hermione accepted grudgingly. Why couldn't she have a normal life, she felt trapped in the 19th century, this stunk. "This is wrong, I am a modern witch, and I have to hide to make out. Whatever, welcome to my chaperoned romance." She huffed.
Tom became aware of the couple, listened, and decided that until Hermione was married, his job was to keep an eye on her. What were they coming to do out in the dark? Nothing he would approve of.
"Darling," he kissed Jean's shoulder. "I regret having to stop, but our daughter cannot be left alone."
Jean sighed, "She is twenty, let her be, I was younger than her."
"Exactly, that is what I am saying." Tom still lacked tact.
"So what are you exactly saying?" She didn't like the implications. She stood up from his lap and fixed her dress and hair with a sweep of her wand.
"I am saying that wizards cannot be trusted, neither can young witches."
"I see, are you saying you did something wrong with me, and what does it say about me?" She sounded positively annoyed.
Tom, the evil mastermind, finally realized where this was going.
"What I am saying is that we cannot be trusted when we are madly in love, my dearest love. My beauty, do you want to dance"
She wasn't so easily fooled. "No, I feel a great headache coming. Go and spy on her by yourself!" With that said, she left him standing, totally perplexed.
Sebus who heard the entire exchange chuckled. Aha, that was the reason why he didn't want a mate.
Tom went in, he had a mission, to keep an eye on his daughter. Several times, during this ball, he felt eyes upon him. He looked carefully around, but he couldn't find the source. It wasn't the first time, and he couldn't say whether or not it meant danger. In any case, he thought he would look into it.
By the end of the ball, Rabastan had given up on Hermione although she danced with him most of the night, he could see that Fenrir had won. A day later, the wedding was announced.
Interlude - The Weak Link
Over the ocean, a middle age man sat by a lake, he missed his home, he missed magic. He had plenty of money; he looked at his home, a mansion, but it wasn't home.
He wished not have listened to Bella, not to have been her puppet. "Kill them, but first enjoy the goods, make that Muggle suffer, those were Bella's words when he was sent to the Grangers. The Muggle had been tasty but not worth the exile.
What if he told the Dark Lord a secret, something he knew, a trump card of sorts. During these couple years he had a lot of time to meditate. He had been Bella's minion since day one, she used many of them to keep tabs on the Dark Lord. She knew their weakness and exploited them, time to cut the ties.
He went back into his home and sat down to write. Maybe he could be a hero and be forgiven. He would uncover the ever present danger to his Lord because he wanted to go home. If he died, so be it, it was preferable to this life.
Coming Home - Family Reunions - Love Ties
The week after the ball, they held a small engagement party at the Manor.
Rufus, who had remained unconscious for weeks, regained his awareness in the middle of the night before. Zecke Greyback, Fenrir's distant cousin was watching him. Once that Fenrir was updated, Rufus invited Zecke to come along. Rufus was secretive and didn't share much; he didn't trust anyone.
They returned the next day during the middle of the celebration. Sebus was the first to scent the new comers.
Rufus stood holding the hands of two witches a little younger than Jean and older than Hermione, a third one walked with them. She, the oldest, held the hand of a toddler.
Jean was frozen, somehow she knew, "Chely?" She called to the one with the toddler, they both hurried towards each other. Everyone was talking at the same time. The other two witches were a mix of Jean and Sebus. Nevertheless it was clear, they were sisters.
"I am Adeline and she is Juliette, my mother's chosen names."
Rufus asked for silence when Zecke was telling Fenrir, "Yes, he carried the bodies..."
When he started talking all eyes were on him.
"I saw the baby thru a window, right before I had witnessed Albus' dark deed. I jumped thru the open window, casted a sleep spell on the child and hid her behind a tree. When I went in, I saw Albus bent, he was looking into a cupboard. I was shocked, "Albus have you gone mad? A family, you killed a young family." They looked so young, I couldn't believe it. Later I found out they were just shy of 25 years old. I felt so very ill."
Rufus was looking out of sorts, "Albus screamed, "They are his blood, they must die." I asked, "Whose?" He sounded like he was crazy, "Gellert's spawn, they are tainted." No, you cannot kill like that. Then he lied, but I had seen what happened."
The young witches patted his hands. They loved him, that was obvious. One rubbed his back, he look haunted. After all these years, the trauma remained.
"At that moment I understood the reality. It was clear that you, my lady Riddle along with your sister, would never be safe. I knew what to do." He looked at Zecke.
"Zecke is right. Alastor and I heard a noise, Lady Jean, your father wasn't dead. This happened later, after you had been taken away. I now guess that he survived because of his nature. We also saw that your mother was pregnant."
Jean shook her head, her mother wore formal robes, hard to tell if she was bigger. She was shaking and wishing she hadn't forgotten so much.
"We could see a babe moving in her own, and your father said that she was around her 5th month, but she was very large." He seemed far away.
"Hastily, we made doubles using dead rodents, enough to fool everyone. We barely had time because Albus came back."
He drank water and tried to continue, "We were amazed when we found out that your mother was still alive, barely; thanks to your father who took most of the hit. Sadly, once she delivered the 5th month babes..." He stopped and swallowed and sounded very sad.
"My lady, she was carrying triplets, which makes it well, you know. The little boy must have been hit, he was dead, then came the two girls, and your mother died."
He remained silent, everyone was wondering how could Albus done such a terrible deed. He finally continued. "Shortly thereafter, your father gave up. He told us the names chosen for his children, he never learned the death of your brother. He also told us of his great love for your mother, apologizing that his life without her wasn't possible. Sorry, my Lady."
Sebus said, "If she were five months along, she was full term, we are different. A boy lost, another, I wish Albus was alive." He and others wished the same.
"That isn't all sir," Rufus wanted to finish his tale.
Jean was crying, and she wasn't the only one.
"I took the babes to my sister and her husband. He was also an Auror, they both were. They lived away near Scotland and were childless. So you know, they welcomed the children, they called them a gift. For years they hid, but somehow Albus found out about them. We think he spied on our minds." He was going to say something else, but changed his mind.
"Six years ago, he killed my sister and her husband; it was him, I am now certain. They had a plan in place, hid their daughters, but they had no time to escape. They would not betray their children, and... never mind. With my help, my nieces lived like Muggles."
Hermione couldn't take her eyes away, they felt like kin. Once again, she felt betrayed by Albus, but that was behind. It taught her to look pass the cover of people, of situations, and to be careful.
She no longer believed that magic was either good or bad, though she knew they were evil forces. She also knew that evil could be disguised as good. What bother her the most is that six years ago she was helping Dumbledore, she looked at Harry he was thinking the same.
Lear had not come since he was still recuperating, but Fenrir sent for him.
Sebus first looked at Celeste, Juliette and Adeline, them looked at Jean and Hermione. Once again tears ran down his cheeks, "All of you are my grandnieces. I thought you were all gone, first Jean and Hermione, and now all of you. I have a family, my own. So sorry that you had to live hiding, but now we have a chance."
"Tom, can we move in a more private setting, just your family and us?" Fenrir asked. Too many people listening, but it was done.
Meanwhile Lucius had seen Celeste, who blushed when she saw him.
Tom, who never missed anything, noticed Lucius' reaction.
"Lucius, my wife's sisters."
Lucius said nothing. His eyes were fixed on the young one. Although he wasn't sure of the sex because the short hair toddler wore muggle trousers, the child was a Malfoy babe, no question, but for the curly white-blond hair with some colored strands.
Lucius walked as in a trance and went on his knees in front of the child.
Tom observed with great interest, "Darling, what is your name?" Lucius asked, tracing the child's cheek with his knuckle.
"Millie," the squeaky voice answered.
"Ah," Lucius responded, he had hoped for a clue with the name. He still no idea whether the toddler was a little wizard or a little witch with adorable curly hair.
Millie narrowed her eyes and poked his cheek, "I'm a lit'e girl, no'a boy, but my 'coly' hair is 'shot.'" She stated after she had read him, Amazing, Lucius thought.
Hermione chuckled, the child was precious; she wanted to pick up the mini-Malfoy and hold her tight. The cousins loved each other from that day forth.
Tom read Lucius, and his eyebrow shut up. He remembered the baby promised in a contract long ago. At once, he made the connection.
"Lucius, Celeste is your witch. My dear, he had a contract with your parents. He took care of you many times, and one could see easily see the future." He held Celeste's hand as he told her.
Lucius looked at his Lord gratefully. So he had been right, Celeste had given him a false name when he was with her. She was the babe he thought long ago dead. He had not felt this well ever since.
Lucius had the young child in his arms, "A little witch, so few of them." He kissed her, and she wrapped her chubby arms around his neck. The Malfoy magic at work, they recognized each other.
She whispered, "I lov'u," and kissed him real loud. He answered softly, "I do too, I do." He held her next to his heart. His eyes were luminous, and his face glowed.
Fenrir called again, "Please let's go outside."
Celeste asked, "Can he come in as well?" Her daughter seemed taken with Lucius. Seeing him filled her with hope.
Fenrir was adamant, "Maybe later, perhaps Lucius can take her out to the gardens?"
Lucius nodded, "It will be a pleasure, Brutus will keep us company."
"Goyle take a couple of your people to make sure Millie is safe. Assign some guards permanently to take care of the witches. I don't need to tell you that they are family." They all got the message more witches to protect.
Greg followed the scene with much attention. Hmm, Draco had lost his only child throne, at least it seemed so. Maybe it would do him some good. He missed his friend, but he didn't miss the one who couldn't share the limelight.
Greg thought that it was too bad that the witches were too old for him. Or better said, he wished that Hermione liked him, and had heard that Voldemort would welcome two husbands. No matter, he thought it a pipe dream. At least his position with her was secured. His father/brother Francois often told him, "Being at the right place is often all it takes." One could hope.
Rabastan who was in the room, was very disappointed of not having a chance with Hermione, until that moment. He'd noticed that the twins were not alike. Since the moment she came in, his eyes wouldn't leave her.
Adeline was more like Jean, interesting. He remembered the day he had seen Jean in Nürnberg, or the day at the Department of Mysteries when he saw Hermione, it was the same but magnified many times fold. Although both sisters were blond and similar looking, he found Adeline fascinating, true perfection. Something pulled him on her direction, while a wave of hot desire moved along his bloodstream, pooling at his now throbbing cock.
Rodolphus also found Adeline more than attractive, amazing. He was hard just imagining her naked and spread between Rab and him. A shudder made his stomach clench. Rodolphus looked at his brother, followed his eyes, winked at him, both grinned, and for once they agreed. He realized that he was feeling Rabastan, a complete connection, bloody hell.
Rodolphus had never felt such a strong call from other than Tom. He wondered if he had found what his parents had. Perhaps, nah, he was certain.
Without prompting, both brothers walked together to be introduced. They wanted to meet Adeline before the family adjourned to the other room, the chase was on. Rab held his hand as they used to before Rodolphus and Bella started. He squeezed twice, and let go. Meaning, let's go and do it. Oh, yes.
Sebus caught their grins; they were two hungry wolves going for the kill, who was the prey? Ah, Adeline, a good choice, the Lestrange were powerful warriors, a bit ruthless. Besides, Rabastan had helped save Jean. Great, they had a list of those they would make offer, so why not kill two birds with one stone. He walked right behind them; he didn't trust anyone with his nieces, no one.
Lear arrived as the family went into the other room, right on time. When he saw the newcomers and heard the story, to include the contract with Lucius, the weight of sorrow seemed to lift. He went to the sisters and held each to him. He would meet the child later. A pup, she would be converted first, he loved the pups. He would take her to haunt for fresh eggs.
"Six princesses, six, Gellert gave us a gift. As for you," he looked at Rufus, "I'd like to offer you to become one of us. Think about it. In any case, you will be amply rewarded, we owe you much." A warrior, hmm, Lear's mind schemed away. This time he would have an army, he'd be prepared. They wanted a life of peace and they would have one, unless their paws were forced otherwise.
"If I accepted, could I bring a wife?" If so, he had plans to ask his eternal flame, the one he had never pursued. To have the chance to live again, To have a family was appealing.
"Of course, who is she?" Lear asked Rufus.
"I tell you after I ask her. I intent to live another life if she accepts; I would be alone if not for nieces."
Sebus was adamant, his nieces would come with them; but a compromise was reached, they would relocate after the wedding.
Tom agreed since it provided another layer of protection. His enemies knew that the witches were his Achilles' tendon, they made him vulnerable, and he liked to be safe. Never mind he would be close to his Hermione, what else could he wish for.
It was disquieting, whereas Tom liked the new allegiance, the feeling of wrongness would not leave him. He would need to talk to his daughter, maybe she could advise him. He made a mental note mental to pay close attention to everyone around him. He wasn't sure what he felt, he needed to be alert.