9Harry led the way into the kitchen, having to turn and catch Tonks as she tripped over the Troll Leg umbrella stand.
"Careful Dad," Hermione whispered, "that thing is hexed to trip the trippable. Tonks, due to her morphic matrix in flux, is an easy target. If someone is hurrying through here, it is a dice roll."
"And the reason it is still here?" the Dentist eased past the heavy object.
"It alerts those in the Kitchen that someone is coming." Harry sighed. "It explains why everybody uses Tonks as a runner."
Into the Kitchen Harry stepped, and into an ambush.
The whole House was in the Kitchen, having Breakfast.
They even had a Special Guest.
Dumbledore.
"Well Harry my boy, it seems like you had a full night." Albus peered over his half lens glasses.
Harry slowly adjusted his Leather Duster so that his 1911 strapped to his right thigh was not obstructed. His chin rose, as he stared at the old man. "Well Al, I did. I also heard that you had an interesting day, yesterday."
Albus smiled. "Yes, Severus was quite amused by that. I heard that Vold-"
"His name is Riddle." Harry sneered. "Tom Morvello Riddle. An over-inflated, self deluded, Half-blood bully. And He had a bad night last night. Lost some fifty new recruits, and two of his inner circle. I missed Bella, Malfoy and twenty others. The good thing about these people is, they will give you a second chance."
Dumbledore lost a few shades of colour. "You killed how many?" He whispered, horrified. "How will they learn there is a better way?"
"Albus, they were coming to kill Director Bones. They were there to kill Hermione and her Parents, and if everyone was lucky, Death would be quick and clean." Harry's hand tightened on the grip of the pistol. "Now, tell me St. Dumbledore, what makes them so much more important than her? Then the Director? Then Dan and Emma?" Harry sneered, showing his fangs. "Is it the little tattoo on their left arm? Or is that they kill and rape and torture muggles and their children for fun?"
"Shut up." Molly screached. "I did not raise you that way to speak to a great man like Albus Dumbledore like that!"
"No, Molly Prewitt Weasley. You did not raise me like that. Petunia Evans Dursley did." Harry never broke eye contact with Albus. "And that he is such a Great Man, only compounds his Mistakes, Errors, and Faults. But he is not a Great Man. Not anymore. He is but a shade of his former self. If he is such a Great Man, why am I willing to dive headfirst into the Veil then spend one more day as His Agent. Where is Black's Day in Court? Why are the werewolves being driven into the Arms of his Enemy, only to be murdered like Hogs to the Slaughter?"
Then Harry's stomach gurgled.
Molly jumped. "Oh! Let me get you something to eat." She took a step towards the stove only to freeze as two elves stood before her.
"Elves feed Great Wizard Harry Potter." Dobby glared at the witch.
"Brewing Breeder will not poison Master Black." Kreature was showing his teeth and not in a pleasant manner.
"Dobby, the Grangers and I would like Breakfast, please. Kreature, we would like coffee. Emma looks more like a Tea drinker. Dobby was trained to cook at the hands of the Malfoys, but he has not mastered the fine art of Coffee and Tea."
Kreature glared at Harry, before nodding and turning to the Stove, moving a copper kettle onto the back burner. Then began a controlled chaos of beans being roasted, ground, shifted and pressed. Something similar happened to a bunch of dried leaves and herbs. To both a selection of spices were added as they were dropped into ceramic pots. Hot water was added just as it was at the edge of boiling.
At the other end of the stove, three skillets and five spatulas were in motion. Three platters were catching the food as it finished frying. There was Bacon, Bangers, flat cakes, eggs, over medium, and toast.
As the three platters touched down on the foot of the Table where Black and Lupin were lounging with Emma and Ginny, Harry guided Hermione to sit before he sat beside her. Dan glided to Emma's side as Tonks sidled up to Lupin.
Harry sipped the coffee, before he even touched the food before him. The flavour, the taste, the texture… was perfect. It did not need sweetener or cream. He hummed. "Kreature, this is a perfect cup of coffee. Now you need to teach your successor." He reached out, and placing his palm on the old Elf's head. "You do the House Black proud. I will start looking for a select few for you to choose from."
The old Elf glared at the younger Elf. "Master not Choosing that… "
"No. Dobby is a Potter elf. Kreature is a Black Elf. When I have a chance to enquire among other Elves that would prefer to bond to a House and Family rather than the School."
"You would poach Elves from the School?" Albus sipped his cocoa.
"I know one Elf that is not only sad, but Heartbroken at landing in your Kitchens." Harry focused on his plate as he watched Hermione out of the corner of his eye. "Infact. Dobby, I am stealing Winky from Hogwarts right now. Fetch." Dobby's eyes widened before he popped away. "Lupin, invite The Director over. First try her at Home."
"Now why would you want to disturb the Director this early?" Molly asked sweetly as she looked at Albus in a panic.
Black shifted to Padfoot and laid his head on Tonks' Lap.
"One, I need to show her that I am okay." Harry sipped his coffee. "Two, I would like to get her take on the Coffee that I get here. If she asks nicely, I am thinking of asking Kreature to teach Tull his secrets of Coffee. As the Witch that oversees my safety in the Ministry and is going to be trying to get Black his Trail…" he ate a bite of sausage as he offered a piece of bacon to the bird that arrived with a scroll with the Gringotts seal. "And three, I am most likely going with her to the Office. I got some Legal forms to fill out. Animagus, Blood feud, and the odd marriage contract." A bite of eggs. "Oh yes, and I need to file a Wrongful Death Report." a bite of Toast. "Sorry, that is a Wrongful Report of Death." This time Harry glared at Dumbledore.
Black thumped his tail.
Tonks looked around at the Faces of everyone. The Grangers were confused, as Albus, Molly and Ron were showing signs of 'Not Happy'. Ginny was glaring at her mom. "Okay… I am sensing a Prank in the making."
Ginny spoke first. "It seems that promises were made involving the money and deeds from the Potter and Black properties. A good portion of the Potter estate would go to Ron through Molly's Prewitt Accounts. A good chunk of the Black Accounts would go to Fudge, as Albus claimed a small percentage of both for the School and the Order."
Molly's face soured further, as Albus looked disappointed.
But Ron just went Red with Fury. "Why can't you just Die? Everything was going perfectly fine with you dead. You-know-who was too weak to do anything, Our side was winning the War, and I was finally going to get to breed Hermione!"
Dan stiffened, as did Harry, before the Lad smiled as he felt some to his left. As Dan started to stand, Harry shook his head.
"Dan. Don't." Harry smiled at Ron. "And that's why you lose Weasel. Not even the Ferret is stupid enough to insult me without backup. He definitely doesn't offer that kind of insult to Her when I am anywhere nearby. I can deal with his Backup, but he doesn't have a snowflake's prayer in a volcano against her. And I am sorry to say… he is better than you are. Run. Hide. And you might see the Sunset."
Ron had only seen that look in Harry's eyes once before. Crookshanks used to look at Scabbers like that. Ron bolted.
"Now Harry, is that anyway to talk to your best mate?" Albus tried the Grandfather approach.
"Headmaster Dumb-ass, the only reason my Pussy here did not try to rip his face off is because I have her tail in a vice grip." Harry released Hermione's tail, before scratching just above it."The reason I didn't go for his throat is because you and Molly would move to protect him. And I don't need to pick your beard out of my teeth this morning." He smiled, flashing Knight's teeth. "Besides, Weasley has not been my best mate since he turned from me when I was Chosen for the Triwizard Tournament. I accepted him back because I needed my Pack, but he never earned back the title of best mate. That role is now either Hermione's or the Twins'. And they hold to the Code."
Harry handed Hermione the scroll from the goblins. With her thumb claw she popped the seal from the vellium without breaking it. As she unrolled it and read it, three things happened at once.
One. Dobby returned with a drunk and disheveled Winky over his arm.
Two. Lupin returned to the Kitchen through the Floo with both Bones Witches.
Three. Fletcher crashed into the Kitchen gasping for breath.
Harry was quickly on his feet, his hand on the grip of the gun on his hip.
Black was a second behind him. Wand in hand. Only because he had to shift from Padfoot first.
Fletcher sprawled on the table as Harry took up a position behind the gutter wizard.
Black closed his eyes and brought the wards up to alert levels.
Director Bones drew her wand but held her attack as the black garbed wizards seemed to have things in hand.
Fletcher grabbed the closest cup and sucked it dry. "Dumbledore, I need to lay low here a bit, it seems that the questions you had me asking attracted the wrong ear and a few people decided that I was…"
"Three people just appeared across the street." Black had his eyes closed as he listened to the Wards. Two wizards, and a werewolf. Gutter class if I am reading things correctly. The Wolf is sniffing around and…" Black chuckled,"it seems like it was a good idea to have Moony and Padfoot mark the territory. The Wolf is nervous about following the scent of your rat further. Moony, take Knightfall for a walk. He needs to mark some territory as well."
Harry sighed, "This is revenge for the doggie wash, isn't it?" He turned to look at Dobby, "Put her on my bed, and let her sleep it off. I will deal with her when I get back. Then get our two guests a cup of tea. Ladies, it seems that I have a pack matter to take care of. Black, Dumbledore and his rat stay or the whole nest will burn." He pulled a lead from his pocket and handed it to Lupin. "Time for walkies." He shimmered into a heavily muscular panther.
Lupin clipped the lead into the collar and followed the massive cat out of the kitchen and out of the House.
HGWT
Two wizards and a werewolf jerked about as a door slammed and a wizard walking a hunting cat on a lead appeared from somewhere hidden from view.
The cat stalked the werewolf, slinking in a not quite straight line. At the werewolf's knee, he sniffed, before he stepped forward and pissed in the werewolfs boot. He stepped past the two wizards as they pulled short stubby wands and pointed them at the wizard walking the cat.
The Wolf froze when the raggedy wizard got close enough for him to smell. As they locked eyes, the gutter wolf turned his head baring his throat with a whimper.
"We hired you to track the rabbit, not roll belly up when we cross paths with a wizard walking his pussy." The wizard with the broken nose sneered.
"It looks like the rabbit found a deep burrow." The wizard with a rag tied over his right eye as an eye patch, spat "Just kill the Mudblood, burn the whole block, and we take the cat as payment." He shrugged,"as a bonus really."
The raggedy wizard smirked. "You are so close and yet so far off that it's almost funny." He sneered at the Wolf, "Knell. My Alpha will deal with you." The werewolf dropped to his knees as the raggedy wizard pointed a wand of his own at 'Nose'. "Now you have two options. You can tell us who sent you or you can scream."
Patch snorted, "And you can go f-..."
A gunshot rang out, as Patch's left knee exploded into a blood mess.
HGWT
Harry pulled the hammer back as he bumped the barrel angst 'Nose's skull. "Like my Beta said, tell us who sent you or scream.
"No idea. He wore a deep hooded cloak and gloves when he dropped a velvet pouch on the table and a picture of the rabbit. It was a copy of his DMLE file photo. Twenty Galleons to run the rabbit down, and to report back tonight."
"Wipe them, and send them to St Mungo's. His knee needs to be regrown. This one has earned a pass, but next time he crosses into our territory without a good reason, we either feed him to the Wolves or the Fish." Harry stepped back to let the professor handle the memory details.
Lupin wiped the last twenty minutes from both minds, before giving them a Portkey button to St Mungo's. As they vanished in a swirl of blue light, the two approached the kneeling man.
"How long have you been packless?" Lupin asked the young man.
"Three years. The bloody son of a bitch threw me out because I refused to run with the pack, preferring to lock myself away. My wolf prefers the cave over the hunt."
Harry frowned, as he looked at Moony.
Seeing the look on his Alpha's face, Lupin sighed, "He is an Omega. A rare breed of wolf. He is the lowest of the low on the pecking order, but he watches and raises the cubs and is the only one who can tell the Alpha off. He is in charge of the health of the Pack. Physical and Mental. As s stray, his life expectancy is three years. The only reason I survived so long alone is I still had you."
"Is he a security risk? Or would he be an asset to our pack?" Harry holstered his revolver but then gripped the pistol at his hip.
Lupin spent a minute looking at the young man kneeling before them. "I want to say an asset, but I would want Padfoot to scan him." Looking at the man's face, "permission to stun you so our other pack member can scan your mind? If we find you worthy, you will be invited to our Pack."
"Please."
[Stupife]
Lupin turned to Harry. "If you can, spray the two trees and the stoops at the end of the block. The scent of a big cat will unsettle any werewolves that try entering our territory. As long as we keep only to the block here, any lone and stray wolves will hurry on through."
Harry shifted back to Knightfall and trotted off to mark the corners and trees of the block. He got back just as Lupin was walking up the stairs to number 12, the Omega over his shoulder. The two of them entered the house where Black was standing.
"I heard everything through the wards." The Lord of the House pointed to a room off to the side. As the youth was spread out on an ottoman, the Lord Black peered down at him. "I am only sensing an overpowering need to belong. He only works as a hound because he gets a feeling of being needed and belonging to his handlers." Black and turned to Knightfall, "Did you have to mark him? Once he hears Moony declare you the Alpha he interpreted you pissing on him as you claiming him."
Knight returned to human form, "I only meant it as an insult, but it can be taken either way. He has my vote to join, but this needs to be unanimous. Not an Alpha decision."
Moony inhaled, "Join." He sighed
Padfoot looked down at him, frowned, before shimmering to Grim form. He sniffed the young man's hair… before he returned to human form. "Join. If only to keep Moony company if Pad and Knight are not close enough to run during the full moon."
"Next question." Harry tucked his thumbs either side of his buckle. "Is the Pack Black or Potter?"
"Potter!" The two of them chorused.
Harry nodded and lifted his chin." Dobby!" A pop at his knee, "I expect my Elf heard the last few things we were talking about." Dobby looked down as his ears flushed. "Take our newest member upstairs to a bathroom and revive him. While he is getting clean, find him clean robes, and slippers. You then can polish his boots. Let me know when Winky is sober enough to bond. We will be in the kitchen." The three of them did just that.
As three of them entered the kitchen Tonks was debriefing The Director as Hermione was filling Susan in on the latest gossip surrounding Harry.
Ron was Glaring at the girls. Albus and Molly were Listening to Fletcher as he reported his latest gathering of intelligence.
"A 'snatcher' squad was tracking your rabbit, Albus." Harry spoke, slow and deep. "and he went to ground on our front porch. Now that is strike two. Strike three and I burn your nest!"
"Mr Potter." Dir. Bones took a step closer to him.
"Director, are we being Formal or familiar? I am either Lord Potter, or Harry." He glanced at Sue, "That goes for the both of you. Only my professors call Mr Potter."
"Lord Potter, just went on out there?" her Monocle gleamed.
"As I said we ran afoul a snatcher squad. While we kept to the SoS, we did end up sending them to St Mungo's, and learned that the person who hired them wore a deep hood and gloves. Gave them a pouch of galleons and Fletcher's mugshot. They tracked down, first by sight when he was sniffing around taverns that he had no business being there. Then when they sighted him, they had a stray wolf track him by scent. Then they crossed into our territory."
"Your territory?" The Director asked.
"Pack Privilege." Lupin answered. "Unless you want the deep details, please leave it at that. The Cub is our Alpha. And we just added an Omega to our numbers."
"Something else I will have to file when I get to the Ministry." Harry sighed as he sat beside Hermione, next to where Sirius was returning to sit. "Kreature, another Coffee and one for the Director. Sue?" At her nod, "and you can fix me a bacon butty or four. Dobby is taking care of our new rabbit chaser, and Winky is sleeping off her butterbeer."
Kreature gave his twisted Igor smile as he shuffled over to the stove, and began to work his literal magic.
"Rabbit chaser?" Hermione asked.
"Oh that's a perfect name for him." Sirius grinned. "Bunnybane."
The rest of the room groaned.
Then Harry started to chuckle. Then he began to laugh. "Our names have more than one meaning." Harry said when he regained control of himself. "My Father, Prongs. Both his animal form, the Stag, and I know he was a bit of a dick. A Prong. Moony, his wolf, and mopy demeanor. Have not completely deduced Padfoot, but Wormtail; rat form and is a true worm, in every sense of the word. And I am Knightfall. A black gryphon, my Hero complex, and just for fun, throw in my luck." He scratched Hermione above her tail. "I move to dub Hermione as Cheshire for her cat form and her knowledge. I would like to add her smile. It is her best feature."
Hermione purred as she rubbed her forehead against Harry's jawline. Harry began to rumble himself.
"And can anyone join?" Sue asked.
Lupin inhaled, looked at Harry, and exhaled. "The Marauders are open to those who hold with our beliefs. A key trait we all have is a second form. It is not a requirement but we do ask that you try." He picked up his tea cup and sipped the cold tea inside." As to joining the Pack… you are going to need another form. The Wolf will attack any humans around us. But other animals are safe."
"Sue, do you want to join Harry in his adventures?" Ginny asked, smirking. "Last time I followed him, I ended up fighting Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries. We ended up trashing the Hall of Prophecies."
"Yeah, Antonin Dolohov caught me with a cursed fire spell." Hermione exposed her shoulder to the witches around her. "Ron got attacked by brains in a tank, and Sirius ended up falling through the Veil."
Amelia Bones' eyes went wide and her eyepiece dropped to hang by its chain. "How are you sitting here, now? " she exclaimed.
"Dumb luck, good friends, and a shit ton of Magic." Padfoot preened.
"I followed him in and down that rabbit hole." Harry sighed as his cup was refilled and four bacon buties appeared before him. "Other than the landing, it was not a bad trip."
HGWT
Snape was not happy.
Neither was Tom Riddle. In fact the Dark Lord was pissed. The only reason he was not Crucioing Lucius and Belly was because his arms did not work. He had dropped his wand, when he was shot. Being raised in the Orphanage, he knew what a pistol was, and was insulted that Potter had used such a muggle weapon on him. The loss of fifty new recruits was the hardest pill to swallow. He was really pissed because He and Bella were showing the lambs the power he offered them, when first Potter killed everyone that followed him to the Bones Manor, and only a handful stayed when Luscious returned from the attempt to kill the muggleborn's parents. Then he lost Crabbe and Goyle, and their money.
Then to rub salt in the wounds, he had to have Malfoy Floo Snape and request his assistance with the removal of the bullets. He was claiming that it was a magic that he and Snape had studied together, and only they would discuss it.
Snape was called in the middle of the night, to aid the Dark Lord. Nobody bothered to ask him if it was convenient, no, they were just 'get your arse here now!'. It just so happens that he was brewing something for the Dark Lord. And now it was ruined.
Seeing what was wrong with the Dark Lord, he waved everyone from the room , had Tom lay back and bite down on a belt. First he expelled the bullets from the shoulder wounds, cleaned the wounds and closed them up. He then poured a blood replenisher potion and a pain killer. The gave him a pepper-up potion for the Dark Lord to visit his displeasure on the masses
Tom Riddle summoned his inner circle by the use of Wormtail's wand and left arm.
As they all knelt before his throne, Wormtail kneeling at his side as Snape was at his shoulder, on the other side was his coiled serpent, as she basked on the heated footstool beside his chair.
"Lucius. Bella, approach."
He raised Peter's Wand and hissed...
CLIFFHANGER
Tbc