A/N: and here i am again with another chapter with the help form HowInMadeHowie.
As this chapter did also take its sweet time to finish, i think i owe you an apology. As in the previous chapter, this one is a big break from canon and some points just needs more time to make it fit in the narrative. And as i even had some ideas that just did not work out as intended and we had to scrab these ideas, HowInMadeHowie had his work cut out this time. Thanks once more for your patience dude.
I was also thinking that it will take more time in the future, so i cannot keep up with my target to update weekly, so i hope you are also patient with me.
Thanks to you readers once again for liking this story so far. Have fun and be safe
Arriving at the correct level, Geralt walked out of the lift and down the corridor to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. The trip inside the Ministry until now was uneventful, if you discounted the hateful glares Geralt had received from some individuals. Maybe it was because Witchers still had to fight the old stigma that they would do anything as long the price was right.
Geralt noticed the stares he received, but he was used to it. Back then, he could not walk through a city without being called a freak or mutant, while he carried a head from a monster he was hired to kill. As this situation in the present was not so different as back then, he just walked towards his destination.
Soon, he arrived in front of a door, where the small plaque told them that this was the office of Madam Bones. Asking the secretary, who sat at her desk before the door if Madam Bones was free right now, she looked up from her paperwork and noticed Geralt standing before her. Realizing who, or what Geralt was after she knocked on Madam Bones door telling her boss that she has a guest. Geralt thanked her and entered the office. Closing the door behind him again, Geralt walked to the desk with the bag in his hand.
"Ah, Witcher. How can I help you?" Amelia sat on her desk, folding her hands while placing her elbows on the desk. Geralt placed the bag on the desk, much to the curious look from the woman. She took the bag and opened it, suppressing a gag as she saw the head in it. Even when her work had her see so many dead people, she was lucky to never have to get used to it. Closing the bag again, she asked the Witcher who that was.
"This, Madam Bones, is all that is left from Fenrir Greyback. You had sent me a letter, asking me to go and capture him, but I had written back that I had already a contract to hunt him down. I tried to capture him alive, but he fought back too hard for that to happen. I had no other choice than to fight with the intent to kill, the result lies now on your desk. I do not need your reward, I was already paid enough by my employer, to which I promised not to reveal who it was. This is just for you to know that this monster has been dealt with. For the other reason I came by, I have found three children in a cave near where I had fought his pack and wanted to ask you to help us to find their parents and return them."
Geralt watched the woman tense in front of him, as she asked if those children had been bitten by the werewolves. As Madam Bones asked Geralt what happened with the rest of the pack, to which Geralt only told her that they were also dealt with. Geralt explained that they had made the mistake to try and help Greyback after all.
Wanting to return to the previous topic, Geralt told her that the children had told him that they were bitten before being kidnapped by Greyback, Geralt saw how Madam Bones lean back in her seat, rubbing her temple in frustration and sighted.
Madam Bones straightened up in her seat to look Geralt directly in the eyes. "I want to be honest with you, Witcher, my hands are tied about the issue with the children. I can point you to the families that were attacked and hope that at least one of the surviving children still has parents. But as werewolves are shunned by our society, some even saying that Greyback should keep those he had bitten, I am afraid that the parents would do the same. I would suggest that you and your people speak with the parents yourself, as your order can work outside the control of the Ministry and tell them what they could do to make sure that their children would not endanger themselves or others." Madam Bones shrugged helplessly as if to say "I wish I could do more." She looked the Witcher in the eyes, seeing a hidden anger for this information. She understood his anger a bit, but she now had her work cut out for her to inform the Minister and the Daily Prophet about the death of Fenrir Greyback. Speaking of the werewolf, she looked around at her desk for the report that her Aurors gave her on the attacks on the families, which contained the names and addresses of said families. Finding the relevant report she tapped it with her wand to make a copy and handed it to Geralt. "This is the Auror report that investigated the attacks on the families. Please understand, this is the limit of what I can do at this point."
Geralt took the parchment and placed it in his coat's pocket and thanked her for the information while he told Amelia that she could keep the head, but she should use a spell to preserve it, as he would need the bag back for his work. Madam Bones grimaced, realizing that meant she had to actually pick up the head from the bag; looking up at the Witcher she asked, hopefully, that he can save her the trouble of handling the head physically. Geralt chuckled knowing not many people are comfortable handling this kind of thing with their bare hands. Geralt shrugged his shoulders and reached into the bag with one hand and pulled the head out by its hair and placed it on her Bones then tapped the head with her wand, casting a stasis charm to preserve the head. Sighing in relief, that she prevented filling her office with the stench of death. Geralt then left Madam Bones's office and left to return to Kear Morhen.
Amelia took out a small parchment the Ministry uses to send memos around in the Ministry and wrote on it that she needed to speak with the Minister about what was brought to her. Tapping it with her wand, it flew away and left her office, alone with her thoughts. She wished the Ministry was more humane to werewolves, but she knew she can't change how the Ministry has acted in the past. Shaking her head she thought to herself, 'Perhaps with Greyback dead the cases of new werewolves would drop.' Amelia then read the report once again, hoping that the families would take their children back and give them a chance. Based on the report, two of those children were muggles which meant a difficult life for them as the children got older. She knew some werewolves that tried their hardest to integrate themselves in the society, some going even so far to come to the Ministry and request to be locked away in a secure room, if they could not afford the Wolfsbane potion to keep their human minds as the potion suppressed the animalistic side so they could safely stay in their own home.
She soon was distracted by a memo flying in her office, carrying the signature from the Minister that told her that she should come to his office as soon as possible. She was sure that he wanted to know everything that the Witcher had told her, ready to spin it around that it was his idea to hire a Witcher and that the death of Fenrir Greyback was his doing when she told him why she wanted to meet him. She had suggested this course of action, Amelia loathed to use politics like this but she suspected this was the only way to get Fudge to agree to this plan as Fudge wanted to use this event to make himself more popular. Even if the main goal was to capture Greyback alive to use his trial as a showpiece that the Ministry would not allow for rogue werewolves to defy Ministry law for so long, she knew, at least, this was more about politics than actually adhering to the law for Fudge would be glad even if Greyback was already dead.. Amelia shook her head in disgust, "Dead or alive, for Fudge, he wins."
Amelia glared at Greyback's head; her gut told her that something or someone put Greyback up to this, but now she'll never know who or what that was. Sighing in resignation she conjured a bag and levitated the head into it, walked through the Ministry towards Fudge's office, planning on how she should approach this situation.
Soon she stood in front of the desk, where Mrs. Smith sat behind who promptly announced that Madam Bones was here. After receiving an answer, Mrs. Smith let Amelia enter the office and closed the door behind her.
Amelia noticed that Lucius was not here today, Amelia thought to herself, 'Well, that's one small mercy I can be spared today'.' Amelia could do without his sneering face. "Minister, thank you for granting me this meeting. As you surely read the memo I sent you, I got a visit from the Witcher I wanted to hire to hunt Greyback and his pack. As it happened, he was already hired by someone else and he felt it, as a courtesy, he wanted to tell me what happened. In short, had killed Greyback and his pack. Initially he was hired to capture Greyback but when Greyback refused to come quietly and fought back; the Witcher had no choice but to fight back in turn. For proof, he brought Greyback's head." She then placed the bag that she carried with her through the Ministry on Fudge's desk, who scrunched up his face at the sight of it.
"Please take that away Madam Bones. I believe you already checked if it really was Greyback inside and acted accordingly. Also, as the Witcher was already hired, I hope you did not pay him as he did not work for us. But this information is good news either way, so I will inform the Daily Prophet about this. I will inform them with a press conference, so maybe I will even invite some papers from the mainland of this continent. Greyback was a menace for all of us after all. The public will rest easy in the future, knowing that the darkest werewolf is dead now. You can go." Fudge pointed to the door as he stood up and walked over to his fireplace, making himself ready to travel to the offices of the Daily Prophet.
Just as Fudge was about to toss the Floo powder to the fire Amelia's voice had him pause.
Amelia cleared her throat, "Minister, there's more I'm afraid."
Fudge slowly turned around with a frown on his face. "More? What more could there be?"
Amelia sighed as she knew Fudge was not going to like this. "The Witcher found three werewolf children, from the recent attacks, in a cave nearby."
That statement had Fudge grimacing. "Ah! But..but that's Amos' department, let him handle it." Fudge was about to dismiss the issue but Amelia wasn't having it.
Amelia shook her head grimacing herself. "Cornelius, these children are under age 11. Do you realize what would happen if their parents did not take them back?" Amelia asked pointedly. Amelia continued, "You have an opportunity here, Minister. Think about how the public will react if they find out that you left it to Amos' department, on our current anti-werewolf laws. They won't survive very long. On the other hand, if you advocate changes to the laws, you would be seen as more compassionate and more humane than Minister's of the past who just let Greyback keep the children he's bitten."
Fudge stood there thinking over what Amelia had said. "Hmm, you do raise a valid point Amelia. But this is not something done lightly." Fudge frowned in thought. "Where are the children now?"
Amelia sighed internally seeing she may have saved some people a miserable childhood. "The Witcher took them in to see to their medical needs. He was looking for information on their parents to contact them. I gave him the copy of the Auror report of the attacks. But we can meet him halfway by talking to their parents."
Fudge groaned at the possible political mess that could create. "I'll think about it, that's all I can do at this point. Let me talk to Amos when I get back and we'll see." Fudge paused in thought. "Let's hold off releasing news of the children for now until we talk to Amos. Thank you for bringing this to my attention."
Amelia took that as her dismissal as Fudge turned back to the fireplace and headed onto his destination.
As she left the office, Mrs. Smith was already writing some letters to people, surely telling them that their appointment would need to be moved to another date. Looking at the other woman apologetically, Amelia walked back to her own office, the bag still in her hand.
Two days later, Lucius Malfoy sat in his study and read this day's issue of the Daily Prophet.
Werewolf Menace Fenrir Greyback Killed by a Witcher hired by Minister Fudge
Yesterday, Minister Cornelius Fudge invited all the reporters from the different papers on the continent to a press conference so he could tell them that Fenrir Greyback was dead, killed by a Witcher. Minister Fudge explained his reasoning for hiring a Witcher, "After reading a report from different departments about the increase in werewolf attacks, I decided to seek out the Witcher who worked with the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures in some cases and hired him to hunt down Greyback. As this would have needed the agreement with the Wizengamot if I would have paid him out of the Ministry budget, I used my own money as I saw the urgency for this task to be completed. A few days back, I received the head of Fenrir Greyback as proof that he was dead and paid my debt to the Witcher. He then told me that there were 3 children in a cave where Greyback's pack was residing. As the adult werewolves helped Greyback fight the Witcher, he also had to kill them in self defense, so the children are without someone who could care for them. As those children are innocent because they recently became werewolves, just less than a month ago! It was that very recent attack that prompted me to take action. I will also push for a change in the law that involves werewolves. In this change, I want to have a budget for families to acquire a monthly dose of wolfsbane potion until the children would become of age. After this, if these now adult werewolves agree to get registered and come to the Ministry once a month if they can not get a wolfsbane potion for themselves, they would not be scrutinized anymore. Let's hope for the future of these children, that this law will be voted for." Minister Fudge did close off his announcement with a warning to rogue werewolves."I also want to make this very clear to any rogue werewolves who would follow Greyback's lifestyle. We, in the Ministry will no longer tolerate your behavior that endangers children. This your one and only warning."
When asked for proof of Greyback's death Fudge looked horrified. "You would want to show a picture of a head in your paper? Some children do read the Prophet, you know!"
Witchers, in case you were not aware, are usually contracted to hunt down to capture or kill monsters. The one tell-tale way to identify a Witcher is their eyes. They do not have human eyes but cat-like eyes that allow them to see in the dark. There have been many legends and myths about Witchers so it is difficult to tell what is the extent of their abilities. But for a single witcher to take on an entire pack of werewolves? That speaks highly of their skill and training.
After this announcement, our journalist could hear a small outrage for allowing werewolves roaming free in the wizarding community, even if they would be registered and locked away once a month if they could not pay for the potion. But for the sake of the parents, who could now be reunited with their children, we hope that this change can come through. (Read more about werewolves and the criminal activity from Fenrir Greyback, turn to page 5)
With growing anger, Lucius thought that Fudge really turned this into an event to make himself more popular. But Lucius' anger was mostly concentrated on the fact that Greyback and his pack were killed by this Witcher. Thinking mutinously to himself, Lucuius thought with a grim look. 'If the Dark Lord was still here and he found out I got Greyback killed I would most certainly be Crucio'd like the Longbottoms.' Lucius grimaced at that close call, but at least this beast did not tell that he carried out these attacks on Lucius' behalf, only attacking families that got on Lucius's nerves. Yes, some muggles were also targeted, but traveling through the country the muggle way exposed him to some people. And his nerves were especially tested when he heard a boy cry that he did not get any more sweets from his mother.
But right this moment, this news that Greyback was dead could not come at a worse time, as his other plans also seemed to stagnate, as the letters from his son did not include anything he wanted to did not think Dumbledore would monitor students' mail or even go so far as try to alter it but he was still frustrated with lack of news from his son. Lucius had the sneaking suspicion that Dumbledore was keeping information from the board with regards to the attacks. He would give Dumbledore a few weeks longer until he would waltz into the school and demand an answer why the attacks on the cat and that mudblood were ever reported to the board of governors.
Lucius threw the newspaper into the bin and called for his house elf, as he felt hungry and wanted to eat. Lucius told Dobby that he also should call his wife to the table, as she had to eat sometimes to not get too thin that it would be obvious what he was doing to her.
In another place, a man was also reading the newspaper in a small café in a village in the french countryside. Halfway to his lips the cup of coffee paused when he saw the headline in the Daily Prophet. Slowly placing the cup back down he read through the article. He had to suppress tears of joy, as the monster who bit him all these years ago was finally killed as the monster he was. He quietly whispered to himself a single word only for him to hear, "Justice."
Knowing full well that Dumbledore would know something more about this, being the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Dumbledore would have to be informed about it by the Minister. Even if the news was true and Fudge paid it out of his own pocket. Picking his coffee back up to finish his drink he gathered his things to pay the bill; Remus Lupin stood up and walked out the café with a small hop to his step.
In a darker place the Daily Prophet was not delivered as regularly as others were used to, but this news was brought to the inmates of the magical prison Azkaban as some of the people in this prison had to put up with Greyback while they were active in the war. One man was especially happy that the monster was finally six feet under, though to read Greyback got his entire pack wiped out by a single Witcher was poetic justice. Sirius cackled in glee when he crowed to the Death Eaters around him. "How do you like that, you bastards? Your precious attack dog is dead!" Sirius' barking laugh filled the cell block to torment the others around him.
Bellatrix Lestrange shook her head in amusement while shrugging her shoulders. "Never did like that dog anyway. No big loss for me. Though I wouldn't want to be the one to tell the Dark Lord when he finds out!" Bellatrix cackled at the thought of someone getting Crucio'd.
Sirius shook his head at his insane cousin and continued reading through the paper, Sirius Black did not believe all what was written in here. After all, his visitors seemed to know what they were talking about and asked Sirius about the other inmates in this cell block. At least they did not believe that he sold the Potters to Voldemort, just like Dumbledore did. But as Sirius believed that he had killed Peter Pettigrew; in his mind his sentence was justified.
The visitor who brought the paper was walking past Bellatrix's cell as she called out to him softly. "Come to gloat too, have you?"
The man shook his head, "No, why repeat what Black has said when you know the news already? This 'attack dog' of your little group will no longer torment the innocent, and that is it."
Bellatrix hummed thoughtfully. "Yeah the 'news'. Something tells me you know more than what was in that paper. A lot more, like you were there too."
The man shrugged nonchalantly, "What if I do, what's it worth to you? And I am not good in the field, just for your information."
Bellatrix smiled seductively and purred while talking. "Why not come in here and I'll show you, what this would be worth to me?" The visitor heard a clunking from chains in another cell, where he knew, thanks to his earlier visits, the cell of her husband, Rodolphus Lestrange. He surely was angry at the tone his wife just had while talking with the visitor.
The man approached the window and shook his head. "Do I look that desperate to die?"
Bellatrix giggled madly. "No, but you do love to live dangerously, coming up here all alone. What's life without risk, eh?"
The man nodded slowly. "I can understand dangerous, but I'm not suicidal." The man slowly backs away from the mad witch to leave, but pauses at Bellatrix's last words.
Bellatrix pouted. "Oh? So you wouldn't let me out either if you won't come in and play? Shame, I could do with a shag." Bellatrix cackles madly as the sounds from the chains her husband was in could be heard again .
The man shakes his head. 'God I hate this place, it's a good thing I have the means to walk in here without getting accosted by the Dementors.'
Before leaving the prison the man approached the guard and handed back the enchanted medallion to ward off Dementors. The guard looked up from his copy of the Daily Prophet, "Done already then?"
The man nodded. "And I was never here." He hands over a bag of gold to reinforce that fact.
The guard shrugged. "Never saw you before, never will. I know the drill Smith. I know how to stay quiet if I want to keep getting these bonuses."
Mr. Smith nodded and bid his farewell, still thinking if it was a good idea to come here in the first place.
In Hogwarts, Dumbledore was reading the same newspaper with curiosity how it was written since he had already received a detailed report from Cortana, who brought him up to speed as soon as Michael reported to Captain Lasky what had happened in that forest. Dumbledore shook his head and sighed. 'At least, with Greyback's death there will be no more children intentionally turned into werewolves. Still, I have to wonder if Cornelius knows what he's getting himself into making this proposed change without thinking of the consequences. Such changes must be done slowly, gradually.' Dumbledore frowned as he thought of the lone magical among the three children. He made a mental note to talk to Severus about stocking up on ingredients for Wolfsbane potion when that young boy comes to Hogwarts. Dumbledore decided to wait until Lasky's people and possibly Yennefer meet with the parents before sending them a letter assuring them that their son would be welcome in his school, if the parents would allow it that is.
Coming to Hogwarts was not mandatory, so maybe the parents would decide to teach their own children or hire a private tutor to protect their child or there would be victims if he would lose control. Dumbledore paused in thought. 'Perhaps I can enlist upon Remus to speak to them. I shall write him a letter and see if he has heard the news. Perhaps meeting a werewolf who has graduated from Hogwarts might convince the parents that it is safe to enroll their son.' Dumbledore smiled at his own genius as he absen-mindly picked up a lemon drop.
As Dumbledore sucked on his candy he thought of the remaining two children. He wished there was a simple solution to help them but without a pack to help them survive they were, he loathed to admit, better with their families. Hopefully Doctor Halsey and Yen can help them set up a secure room. Either way he knew they were in for a difficult life ahead. Shaking his head to dispel the melancholy thoughts of young werewolves he pulled out a blank parchment to draft a letter to Remus Lupin.
Hermione was reading the headlines of this Daily Prophet like all the other students that had paid for the subscription. The news that the evilest werewolf known in the last few decades was dead spread like wildfire, just like who really killed this man. There was even more information that some well-known magical families were victims of his attacks. Hermione put down the newspaper she was reading and looked at Harry with a frown. "At least those families finally have some closure after his death. I only heard his name from rumors, but now reading about all his history makes me wonder why the others dared to speak his name, but for Voldemort they are still afraid to speak his name?" Hermione shook her head in bewilderment at the behavior of some wizards.
Noticing the sudden silence around them, Hermione looked around, asking what was wrong. Seeing everyone stare at her in shock Hermione frowned at them, "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You spoke his name Hermione. How can you be so indifferent to his evil deeds and not fear him?" Ron leaned closer to her, his knife and fork still in his hand as his breakfast was still on his plate.
Hermione scooted away from him, closer to Harry who was sitting on her other side until she was almost on top of him. Staring at Ron, she asked. "Why do you still fear a dead man? Rather you should say his name out loud for the history books, just like they did with Hitler for the muggles and Grindelwald for the magicals from the nationalist party in Germany during the second world war." Seeing the questioning look from the children that grew up in magical Britain, she wondered why they were not in kindergarten or preschool or heard about those things from their parents.
Harry, who sat still and looked over Hermione's shoulders to read the paper, was almost caught by surprise when she scooted closer to him when she evaded Ron leaning in. Harry shook his head at his friend and calmly spoke up, "Ron, back off, I'm not afraid to say Voldemort's name either and I won't start being afraid now that I know how much an evil git he was."
Harry took the newspaper from Hermione so he could read over it. He wondered how Geralt had handled these things back in the old days, as he knew thanks to Callie what really happened in the forest.
Harry's dry tone about the Minister had people around him snickering at his sarcasm. "Really, this Fudge is as competent in this job as a dog giving you a lesson table manners or charming a poodle. How someone like him could hold himself so long in this post without being voted out still eludes me, to be honest." Callie talked in his mind, telling Harry that she also had thought about this.
Harry mused to himself as he thought over his words regarding Fudge. 'Maybe that is the reason; he is easy to control from the shadows. So, the ones who want something done, just must pay him a hefty sum and then Fudge would do what he could to make it succeed. But that also means that to not be noticed by other people that he is corrupt, he needs a good image in front of others to still trust him after all this time. Something I am sure is also paid by these men in the shadows. How was that summary from Yen, Callie?' Harry grinned internally, as he saw the smile on his partner's face.
Callie changed the viewing angle on her avatar again so Harry could see her whole body, giving him a side glance. "Well, at least you listen to Yen. Honestly, what can a girl do around here to be noticed by you? I mean, look how close Hermione is sitting now. She is almost on your lap because Ron keeps pestering her." Harry looked at her confused while turning his head towards his friends, causing Callie to think that she did not look forward to having "the talk" with Harry.
Hermione, noticing Harry turned towards her, used this opportunity to ask him if he had already selected his electives for the third year. Just as Harry was about to answer, they heard a scoff from Ron, telling them that they still had a few months until they had to decide. Ron pointed out to them, "So why even bother choosing now what we want to get for classes in our third year. Either way, we have Herbology class soon, so I guess we should go now."
Ron surprised them by remembering what class they had this morning, as normally they would have to tell him what books he had to carry. Neville was happy as this was his favorite class, and it meant that he could talk with Hannah again.
On the Infinity, a scientist from ONI worked with his colleagues with the samples they had received from Doctor Halsey and prepared the flash clone tubes they usually needed for making replacement organs for their wounded. But this was the first time they used them on this mission and for all purposes a mythical creature, they had to check first if they worked properly, and with these samples it would be a good test. Hearing the door opening, the scientists turned around to see Captain Lasky walking towards them, only separated from a glass wall to make sure that their compartment was clinically sealed.
Just as they were about to greet him, Roland announced that he was successful in making an AI from the scans of Greyback's brain on an isolated matrix. Roland's announcement came with a frustrated sigh as he relayed the good and bad news of this achievement. "And it seemed that we successfully retained the memories of the donor, but what I got until now is just angry growling from him. He is not talkative right now."
Lasky hummed thoughtfully as he placed his hands in his pockets as he thought about this problem. "Can't say I'm surprised, he did give into his animal side for so long. Let's give the dog some time to realize he's just a little puppy compared to us." Lasky grinned as he looked at the scientist. "Think we should tell this puppy Greyback that we are positioned behind the moon?"