Harry-Cat stretched as he awoke. He rolled from his side to his belly and stretched out his legs and kneaded the blanket on the bed. His thick over and under coats had kept him warm throughout the night. The milking of his claws in this manner released triggered a flood of relaxation and pleasure chemicals in his blood. Stroking his tusks on the quilt also stimulated this process.
"What in Merlin's yeasty codpiece is that!"
Harry-Cat rolled onto his other side as he peered up at the two humans standing just inside of the door. "Yowl?"
"That is Harry in his Cat skin." Lupin grinned at Black.
"That's a cat?" The tall lanky man gasped."Granger has a half breed Kneazle and that beast is even bigger!"
"No…Cat."the grin grew into a full smile. "Cat with a capital C." Lupin hooked his thumbs into his belt. "If anything, Harry there, is a bit of a runt of the breed. And beware of the tusks. He keeps them sharp, and if they break, he can morph into a human and back to repair them."
Harry rolled to all four feet and stretched again before lunging into the air and shifting back to Human.
"And no sense of modesty." Black looked over the teen standing before him. Already, the teen was the height of James, but six inches wider and four thicker. "And if I was built like that, I would not have any either. And how does he handle the females?"
"Ah… He doesn't. Nor does he hunt the males. He doesn't show any interest in either just yet. He just hunts, kills, and skins…" Lupin trailed off as Harry picked up something dark grey and furry. As he slid them on, Lupin grinned. He knew what his cub was skinning vermin for now. The boy was making his own briefs out of the soft furred leather.
The lad then grabbed a set of leather trousers, and slid them on, buttoning up the outer thigh of his right leg. A scaled vest was shrugged on and buttoned, his muscles rippling under the scaled second skin. He slid his boots on, before checking his knife and the wand in each boot. He buckled on his belt and sucked the hip pouch to his thigh. He grabbed his jacket and looked at the men standing in the door.
"Padfoot, last night I met your Elf, Dobby." Harry smiled at the man. "I think I should introduce you to my little friend…"
"Say his name, and I will put you in a cage with him." Lupin snarled. All sense of joy and happiness vanished instantly, being replaced with fear and rage.
"Of course not." Harry patted the leather clad wolfman on the shoulder. "Last time I called him, he inverted that vampire and shoved it head first up that angle's…"
"Yas. That's why three archangels inverted him and shoved him into a hedron." Lupin hissed. "I still don't understand why you had to mix that thing up in the first place."
"It was a dare." Harry stepped outside the room, closing the door behind him. "The students from the House of Dimir challenged me to build a homunculus, and to fight with it. I used the bits and pieces from my time in Kissig and the Indatha Sanctuary. The Iron claws of the Tigerilla and the wings of the skycat. I used the Base form that they provided, and spliced in a few enhancements including the the vial of werewolf blood and the mane I scalped from that mongrel that tried to infect and rape Shawna. That is why he regenerates any combat damage, and cuts through all but the thickest hides."
"And why you are banned from Ravnica." the werewolf snapped. "You are the only one to control that bloody excuse for an aborted birthing, and even Nicol was afraid of it."
"That's just because he is tied to my life force and Spark." Harry spat. "They showed me how to power it without teaching me how to shield my core. They then cried Foul when my little guy shredded everything that faced him in the ring."
As they stepped off the stairs approaching the doors of the Hall and a group of Witches waiting there, Black clapped a hand on their shoulders. "Moony, you will take the boy and get a set or three of silk and three wool. Each. None of this shabby loner shit. You will dress as you should as a member of House Black… or are you a Potter?"
"Good Morning, Lord Professor Black." A white blonde stepped forward to intercept the three males. "Am I to understand that this … youth is your Heir?"
"Greengrass, Heiress of House Greengrass. May I introduce you to my Godson, Harry James Potter. Heir to House Potter, Heir to House Black, and if I remember correctly, your fiancee. Pup, this Daphne Greengrass. She is to be your wife. And if you play it right, one of many. I leave him to your tender mercies, Greengrass. He is going shopping with his Uncle. They will be met by my Cousin and taken around the Alley. Write a note to Cissi if you want to advise on his clothing options. Tell Draco to do the same if he wants to send word to his mother."
Daphne purred as she looped an arm through Harry's and guided him into the Great Hall.
The entire Hall fell silent as every black robe turned to look at the muscled teen being led into the room. Several females licked their lips at the sight of the rippled body being displayed before them.
As a group, three Slytherins and a Gryffindor led the boy to the end of the Gryffindor table. The blond and a brunette with an upturned nose sat on either side of him as the Gryffindor witch and the brunette with the pageboy haircut sat opposite of the lad.
Remus and Black headed for the High Table, aware that they too were being stalked.
HATM
Daphne and Granger were conversing in whispers about where to sit. Daphne already was surrendering her position of Power, but was making Hermione work for it.
As the trio of men stepped from the Stairs, the witches came to an agreement.
"Good Morning, Lord Professor Black." Daphne stepped forward to intercept the three males. "Am I to understand that this … youth is your Heir?" Her eyes raked his sculpted torso with a hunger that even surprised her.
"Greengrass, Heiress of House Greengrass. May I introduce you to my Godson, Harry James Potter. Heir to House Potter, Heir to House Black, and if I remember correctly, your fiancee." Black preened as if Potter was his blood born child and that he had just spent the last ten years raising him. "Pup, this Daphne Greengrass. She is to be your wife. And if you play it right, one of many." He Clapped the lad on the shoulder as he moved past into the hall. "I leave him to your tender mercies, Greengrass. He is going shopping with his Uncle. They will be met by my Cousin and taken around the Alley. Write a note to Cissi if you want to advise on his clothing options. Tell Draco to do the same if he wants to send word to his mother."
Daphne purred as she looped an arm through Harry's and guided him into the Great Hall.
The entire Hall fell silent as every black robe turned to look at the muscled teen being led into the room. Several females licked their lips at the sight of the rippled body being displayed before them.
As a group, three Slytherins and a Gryffindor led the boy to the end of the Gryffindor table. The blond and a brunette with an upturned nose sat on either side of him as the Gryffindor witch and the brunette with the pageboy haircut sat opposite of the lad. As they sat, Daphne introduced him to Hermione Granger in the scarlet and gold trimmed robes. Besides her was Tracy Davis. On his left was Daphne, and his right was Pansy Parkinson.
By concession of sitting at the Gryffindor table, Pansy and Daphne got to sit beside the brutish beaut. And Tracy got the first question.
"So, Potter. What were you doing when you appeared last night?"
"Emma?" Harry looked from assembling his breakfast from the foods around his plate. "Oh… I had just finished dinner and we were fighting for the night's biscuit."
"Biscuit?" The witch introduced as Hermione Granger pounced on the question.
"A nightly ritual to burn off the last of our energy, and to improve our fighting skills." Harry speared a sausage in his fork, as he smiled at the frizzy haired witch across from him. "Lupin mainly taught me that fighting was for defense only, but that changed when I expressed an interest in hunting. I am faster than the old wolf, but he is still stronger and more experienced than I am. In our nightly contests, if I can get him quick enough, I can pin him. I win one in five nights." He grinned, "Just enough to keep me fighting."
"What do you know about your duties as Potter?" Pansy asked. Four eyes locked on to her, "What? He has duties to our society as he is Heir to two great Houses, and I want to know what he knows about them. As it stands, he is the most desirable male in the School. And once we see his magical abilities…"
"The details, not very much. I know enough to run a Sanctuary or Estate, but I know that beyond those skills, I will have to bow to my females."
"Females?" Granger asked. "As in more than one?"
"Yes. Now while a woman is only unable to do two things without a man, a man, more often than not, needs a woman for three. While both can survive without the other, women can share a man, but men will kill for the woman." He shook his head. "If I am reading my situation correctly, I have four beauties before me and if I play it right, my pick of the garden. Not saying that is the plan, but it is the possibility."
"First you steal my House and now you Take my witch!" A nasally voice behind them alerts them to another arrival.
"May I introduce your cousin, and rival for House Black, Draco Malfoy. He is under the impression that he has or rather had a chance to claim the Heirship and then me." Daphne sneered.
Harry nodded. "Something similar happened in House Falkenrath. The fallout was rather bloody." He set his fork down, and wiped his mouth, before standing and stepping away from the table. "But then they are Vampires. Everything they do involves blood somehow." Looking at the boy and two goons at his back, Harry sneered as he shook his head. "Okay shorty, you had your fun. Now run back to your mommy and hide under her skirts. I see you when it's time for me to hike them up."
"That reminds me." Daphne spoke up, before Draco could respond to the insulting insinuating comment that Harry was going to use Draco's mother. "Granger, I need to borrow a quill and a page of parchment. I need to write Aunt Cissi a note." Turning to peer past Potter's perky ass, "Malfoy, Harry here is seeing your mother in a bit. Lord Black has asked him to carry any notes…"
"Are you trying to distract me, Greengrass?"
"No. I am wanting to wait until Dinner for Potter to slap you around." Daphne smirked at the white haired wizard. "This morning we are waiting for Weasley and Longbottom."
Draco nodded, "Give me twenty minutes." He retreated to his table to write his note."
Harry was able to sit and eat another sausage when a redhead in a worn robe stampeded into the Hall. Harry grabbed the two witches at his side pulling them down. "Stampede!!!"
What's even funnier was Lupin's reaction, as he body checked Black under the High Table as he ducked into cover.
Three steps into the Hall the raging bull that was Ronald Weasley came to a full stop as he stared at the witches wearing green on his turf.
"Just what are you slimy snakes doing at our table?" Ron snarled as he puffed up to look bigger.
"We were invited." Daphne sat up out of Harry's lap, as Harry slowly stood and climbed over the bench, until he stood over the huffing red faced rouge.
"Is there a reason we can't eat here?" Harry grinned at the boy.
"You are welcome. You are my best mate. The bitches in green aren't." Ron glared at the witches.
Ron never saw the punch to his jaw coming.
A deep voice rumbled behind him, announcing the arrival of another heavy weight. Granger stood and patted the arm of the lad who made blacksmiths apprentices look puny. "Heir Potter, allow me to introduce Heir Longbottom. Neville, Heir Potter."
"Heir Potter-Black." Daphne looped her arm through his left, hugging it to her young budding breasts. "Thanks to Lord Malfoy, I am contracted to him, to continue the Greengrass line."
"And thanks to Draco, we were talking about getting a similar contract for House Parkinson." Pansy leaned on his right shoulder, but left his arm free.
"You are one lucky guy." Neville extended his hand, but Harry clasped his forearm.
"As the Sargent always said," Harry grinned as he hooked his thumbs into his belt, "A beautiful woman is both a blessing and a curse. And now I have four of them. If they stay, I am blessed by their company. If they leave I am blessed by their absence. Either way I am Blessed."
"Good answer." Daphne murmured. "And the curse?"
"You ladies are looking beautiful this morning." Harry answered with a straight face.
"Are you avoiding the question?" Hermione asked.
"Yes Dear." A face that could put Daphne's ice queen to shame.
"See." Pansy patted the shoulder she was hugging, "He is already half way trained."
Draco stantered up with his arrogant swagger. "Potter. I thank you for the service of delivering this letter to my Mother." A scroll was handed over. Harry slid the scroll into his hip pouch.
"Mister Potter, why are you assaulting my student?" The prime and Primal Headmistress was there.
{Hearth Queen.} Harry nodded at the witch. {Your cub roared at my Queens and interrupted our feeding. I only responded in the manner of the Men of my village. He claimed we were Pride, I was welcome, but they were not. He was very insulting to me and my Queens.}
McGonagall's face twitched, before Harry heard, {Repeat the words, Aloud.}
Harry snarled, "You are welcome. You are my best mate. The bitches in green aren't." Harry breathed deep, "That was when I hit him. I don't know this brain damaged poster child for abortion, I don't want to know him, and if he so much fails to keep a civil tongue in his head, I will remove it."
"Professor." Greengrass spoke up. "Weasley interfered with House Business. This is the first of our courting. Two of us are talking about Line Continuation and we were talking about the other two holding the positions of Ladies of his House. The only outsider that has any voice in these talks is Malfoy, and only because he is third in line for the heirship. The second is not interested in taking a wife or three."
"Do we have to invoke House Privilege or…" Pansy asked from Harry's shoulder.
"You taking my rejects too, Potter?" Draco sneered.
"More like I am collecting the treasure you scorned as worthless." Harry looked over his shoulder at the white haired wizard. "And She has declared you undesirable."
"I think it is time Potter and I leave for Diagon Alley." Lupin appeared over McGonagall's shoulder. "Kiss your girls goodbye, and put your coat on. We have a little walk and then I will show you the magic of this realm."
Harry released his hold on the witches. "Was he speaking in hyperbole, or what?"
"Milord, shut up." Daphne kissed his check and allowed him to kiss hers.
Pansy did as well.
Tracy and Hermione just patted him on the shoulder, and exited after the two Purebloods.
Harry and Lupin nodded to Black and McGonagall and exited the Hall.
At the Gate, they just jumped over it. Lupin using his werewolf strength and agility. Harry flickered into a Hawk, touching down beside Remus, almost in lock step. By the fifth step they were walking abreast in lock step.
They walked through the Village to the Three Broomsticks, and entered. A sickle, borrowed from Sirius, for the Floo, and they had traveled to London.
Stepping into the Leaky Cauldron, Harry looked around…
"Where are we?"
"London." Lupin frowned at the lad. "Why?"
"My Spark allows for better Navigation and Astro-navigation. I always know where I am and where I am to where I was." Harry shook his head. "I know I have traveled three days as the Wolf runs. I know where we are in comparison to Kissig, Ravnica, and the Indatha Sanctuary. I can step out that door and step into Innistrad or Ikora."
"Let me show you the greatest Feat of Magic outside of Hogwarts." Lupin the way out the back door and drawing his wand from where he kept it… tapped a pentagon on the wall. The wall drew away…
HATM
Steward Narcissa Black, former Lady Malfoy, and current 'Woman in Disgrace' of choice. As a Witch Divorce, she was whispered about, and to. While she was never one to share and spread gossip, she did collect it. And like her Great Aunt Cass, she would store it in her 'little black book'. Okay, she thought to herself, it was now a small library.
This morning, she has received a very impertinent owl demanding that she, and only she, take the note tied to its leg. A little put out that her Lord and Cousin had asked, and only by use of his Ring, demanded that she meet two persons unknown at the top of the steps of the Bank.
As she pondered the best way to strike back at 'Lord Black's for this insult, she noticed two persons walking towards the Bank. By not being dressed in robes, they were not of Brittons Elte Magical Society. But muggles no longer dressed all in leather. Then the younger male looked her way and she saw his forehead.
The lightning bolt scar was now bracketed by an upside down bastardized Omega. The green eyes burned with a liquid fire, and the gait of a natural predator.
But what she found enticing was the older man. He was both superior to the Lad, and inferior. His hair was pulled back to his crown and braided into a rope that fell to his mid back. His gait spoke of stalking his prey was a way of life for him. She found she had a desire to be his prey and for him to catch her…
She wretched her mind back to what she was doing. She was here to oversee Heir Black and his taking of the Ring.
"Narcissa Black." A voice that was both worn and gruff at the same time called her attention to the Man in leathers."Sirius sent us." His wolfish smile sparkled in the morning sun. "I believe the code phrase is, 'Dogs breath bays in the night. "
The witch turned her head and made a show of looking the man over. "And just what is your business with me?"
"I am here to present Heir Black for his rings and stately robes." The man… no Werewolf. She now could see the beast within. He was not as tainted by the Beast like that Brute Greyback. No this was a Master of his Wolf, a Hunter and Hound made one.
"So, Where is my Draco?"
"I do believe that he is still at Hogwarts." The youth turned from staring at the Honour Guard at the doors of the Bank. He offered a scroll, "He sends his love." As she took it he pulled another scroll from his hip pouch, "Greengrass sent a few choice words herself." no sooner were the scrolls in her hands, he was looking at the goblin guards.
She hissed at the man, "Does he think so little of me, that he can ignore me?"
"No. He knows that you're a deadly snake. He is trusting me to handle you if you turn violent. No, he is watching the guard. He is appraising their armor and weapons. Across three categories."
"Five." Harry answered, his eyes not leaving the beings before him. "Craftsmanship, Overall strength, Coin value, mobility, and KEAL value."
A nearby Goblin raised an eyebrow. "Explain."
Harry bobbed his head, never taking his eyes off them. "Craftsmanship: the hours spent making the weapon. From shaped bone to hammered Star Steel, a Masters skill will always shine through. "Overall Strength: The upper threshold of tolerances of the weapon. Coin Value: How much would my coin pouch bleed for me to get one… commurly. Mobility: ease of carry and wield. A Great Sword might be bigger and stronger than a Gladias, but the shorter sword is better in the tunnels, and brambles. And KEAL. Stands for Keep Everyone ALive. It is based on damage, ease of use, and overall lethality."
The goblins nodded back in respect.
"So he sees the goblins as the bigger threat?" The witch was both relieved and insulted.
"No." Again the lad spoke up. "Overall, you are the greater threat. That is because you are a woman. Not because you are a wanded witch." He eased his thumbs into his belt. "They are more numerous, and with their weapons, armor, and training, they are a threat that needs to be watched, respected, and to the unwary, feared. By their very being, they are Warriors, not Hunters. That means they have an Honour code. You said that they are Bankers. That most likely means that they have traded their axe for a ledger. And by doing so have become that much more dangerous. One of the most dangerous Guilds of Ravnica was the Church. They traded in coin and souls. They followed the golden Rule: those who have the Gold, make the Rules."
The goblins snorted.
"And why are you so focused on them?"
"So I can deny seeing my Uncle humping your leg like a puppy."
Remus cuffed the youth with a snarl.
"Explain." It was not a request.
"As we approached the steps, a breeze blew by you, and we caught your scent. While I doubt that I was the subject of your thoughts at the time, years of traveling with him, I noticed his cues that he has an interest in hunting you." Harry turned to look at her. "Never run from him. His Wolf also likes you."
She took a minute to read her scrolls, before tucking them into her sleeves."This way." She led the way to the cue. "Heir Potter, when was the last time you were in the Bank?"
"His First Birthday." Lupin spoke softly. "That was when James and Lily filed their wills, and blood sealed him as Heir. They also locked down the accounts, so
That the bloody vultures would not be able to pick at the carcass of the Potter Estate."
"Well there goes your morning." Narcissia sighed.
"Next!" The Goblin Teller sneered at them.
"Greetings." Narcissia was polite to the Teller. "Heir Potter to see both the Potter Account Manager and Ashraq. Please relay that the Heirs have come for their rings."
The Teller turned and snarled in the Goblin tongue, [Hey Snotnose, run and tell Barchoke and Ashraq that the Black Slag has brought the Heirs for Black and Potter.]
Faster than any human could move, Harry had the goblin by the throat and drug over the Counter. [You will apologize for your disrespect to a member of my Horde. Both to me and Her. To think you would speak so to an Auntie!]
Three guards and a suit appeared at Harry's Back. The guards had their Halberds points at his spine, right at the T3 and T4 gap. "Wizard, what are you doing with our Teller?" The suit was polite in that way that was more 'civilized insult' than a request.
[This Gold licker was insulting to and about the Grand Auntie of my Horde. The only reason I don't rip his head off is because she won't like his blood in her silks.] The Lad snarled.
The Goblins around them hissed in distaste.
[He is my wife's only nephew. I have to ask you not to kill him. Otherwise I will not hear the end of it.]
Harry threw the goblin to the floor. "See that he is shamed for his conduct." Harry bowed his head to Suit and brushed past the goblin steel points inches from his shoulders. Narcissia was quick to lead him to a bench where she sat as the men shifted to parade rest standing guard over her.
TBC