Is This The World We Created
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Chapter 17
The doors began to slam shut, just as an alarm sounded, the noise cut off abruptly when the doors smacked closed with more speed and taste any human could conceive to close such a heavy door. Then they felt wards slamming up, if they weren't remotely familiar with Stiles magic they couldn't have felt it, but they were very intimately acquainted with magic, whether it was wizarding or spark.
"What's going on?" Peter demanded to know; claws unsheathed as he stared at everyone with suspicion. Crowding the rest of his pack behind him, almost crouched down defensively. Chris looked ready to break ranks and try to open the door. Hadn't he learned it would be a futile effort where magic was concerned? He'd had years to get used to Stiles' magic after all.
"We're going into lockdown," Harry reassured Peter, clasping his elbow and giving it a squeeze. "The room will be sealed against anyone being able to inform the public, if they're not already aware our time-travel. It will silence the room, prevent anyone from overhearing us…and nobody will be able to get in while we're planning everything."
"And the alarm?" Stiles asked, loathing how young he sounded, wondering if he could somehow age himself up. Then again, if he did that, he wouldn't be able to stay in Beacon Hills…and he'd never be able to be Stiles Stilinski again. He couldn't do that to his dad.
"It's calling all the Aurors in the building to a room adjacent this, they'll wait for their orders. Doesn't matter how long they have to wait, they'll do so. It's not one that's been heard in such a long time. All the Aurors actually, even those not on duty." Harry explained to them patiently.
"Nobody has sat at these war tables since the time of Grindelwald," Harry said brushing his fingers against the wood. "The end of world war two." He added for the werewolf's benefit. "It's where battle plans are drawn, decisions are made…such magic imbued within." He murmured, able to feel it all, including the emotions and desperation the wizards and witches felt.
"Not many are able to feel that," President Donovan admitted, "As far as I know, only four of us are able to." which included him, considering four of them were amongst high powered wizards, they reckoned it had something to do with that. Harry being able to came as no surprise to any of them. Especially if he had succeeded in coming back in time, not only himself but with others clearly.
Peter relaxed when he realized no attack against his pack was going to be forthcoming. Ignoring the curious looks he was getting from many others, a few were eyeing his hand as if expecting it to grow tentacles, hadn't they seen a werewolf before? Then again, no, not his kind, they were more familiar with a different kind if he recalled correctly. Did that mean they didn't even know about him and kind at all? He couldn't help but wonder idly.
Everyone began to claim their seats, transforming from terrified wizards and witches to determined battle-hardened warriors. They were still scared, the werewolves could scent it, but overall, that scent was layered over with steely determination.
"The Magical Congress of the United States of America often abbreviated MACUSA is the magical body in charge of governing the wizarding community of the United States of America. It was led by the President of the Magical Congress of the United States of America, President Donovan. Unlike the No-Maj United States Congress, which is divided into a House of Representatives and a United States Senate, the MACUSA was unicameral. MACUSA is located within the Woolworth Building in downtown New York City." Harry explained to them, "This is the governing body, and they're in charge of overseeing everything. Including its war council, each of these people have proven their worth to be here." He added respectfully.
They all gave a nod in acknowledgement to the praise from Lord Harry Potter.
"A Potter used to sit on this council, he was one of the very first Aurors as a matter of fact. He immigrated from the UK to the USA, Abraham Potter, unfortunately, he died bringing peace to this nation." Harry added wistfully, for all he knew he might be sitting on the seat that his family had once upon a time.
"Was this what my father was on?" Stiles couldn't help but ask, climbing onto the seat so that he didn't feel so bloody tiny.
The council gave the youngster indulgent looks, finding it amusing. Wondering on whether they should allow the boy to be here, then again…if he was one of the ones to return…perhaps he wasn't as young as his looks suggested.
"He worked directly under them, the boss of his department was the go between," Harry informed him seriously, "They will know of him, naturally. Council…may I introduce you to Mieczyslaw 'Stiles' Stilinski, Noah Stilinski's son."
"Noah?" came the murmured voices of at least half the people in the room, all of them with fondness and awe. "Is he well?"
Stiles startled, stared around the room, not even the officers at the station had that sort of reaction to his father. Then again, he had read the file, and knew a lot of what his father had done over the years and even he was in awe. At the end of the day…his father would still be just that…his father.
"He's currently in mourning, he lost his wife, much too young," Harry said with sympathy, "He actually unknowingly met the criteria of keeping his memories, his wife was from a magical family, the gift she had passed onto her son…Stiles is a Spark."
Stiles nodded curtly, as they gazed at him in wonder and fascination.
"Then you must bring him in at once," Daisy declared, "We can unlock his memories, he may need them." Especially since his son was a Spark! He would need protection until his magic matured. Plus, some supernatural might aim for Noah to get to his son. It was imperative that he regain his memories. To think they had not kept an appropriate look out on someone who had given years of dedicated services to them, it was unconscionable.
"We shall ask his opinion," Harry nodded his agreement, watching from the corner of his eyes as Stiles leaned into Derek. Overwhelmed in which the high esteem these people seemed to regard his father. The lack of friends made sense now, the lack of life his father had before his mum made sense.
"Did Noah ever allude to living nearby Supernatural creatures?" Peter enquired, glancing primarily at the ones who had vocally asked after Noah when they became aware of whom Stiles was. Wondering if they'd been that good at hiding what they were that Noah was unaware…or if he had indeed, been aware of their secret. He wasn't sure which one would reassure him the most.
"Supernatural creatures?" one asked, mouth twitching in amusement, they had never had 'creatures' coined as supernatural before.
"I think we should continue the rest of the introductions," Harry said inclining his head, "This is my soul mate, Peter Hale," touching his shoulder reverentially, urging him to sit, "Stiles as you know, his own soul mate, Derek Hale, Peter's Nephew…" continuing to go around as he introduced them, they nodded as they sat, "Peter's father, Jasper Hale, and Derek's father, Sebastian Hale, they are shape-shifters, werewolves. Last but no means least, Christopher Argent, human." Harry didn't touch him at all. "Debatable." Muttering the last part so low only the pack and Chris heard him.
Chris stiffened, just waiting for the inevitable disgust, rapid desire to kill him. Yet they all just stared at him for a few seconds in utter indifference. Chris blinked; they didn't know who he was. Then again, knowing Harry as he did…no doubt it would be known who he was. Harry had the ability to make him feel like shit without even trying.
It was as if Harry could hear what he was thinking, a soft chuckle left Harry's lips. He didn't remain standing at Chris' back, instead he moved back down towards Peter and slid into his seat.
"They all travelled back in time?" President Donovan asked, overwhelmed by the prospect of such a mass amount of people being able to collectively return to a different time. "Just how far back did you jump?"
"Oh, no, originally only Derek, Stiles, Peter and I were meant to return to a fixed point. The unpredictability of a Spark truly knows no bounds, and an extra mind returned with us, Chris. We also ended up much farther than anticipated…but it was a very advantageous time for us all. Jasper and Sebastian have come with us due to their importance in pack hierarchy and because they've been wronged and wish to see justice. We could not bring everyone else with us." they would never have left the children utterly defenceless and they could not come into this room, it was a war council, Stiles might physically look like a child but mentally he was so much older.
Wizards, officers of the law or not, no Alpha would just hand the pack Cubs over for them to protect. Not after such an attack and not a brand-new Alpha, Peter was straining with the desire to go back, to get his entire pack together safely under one roof.
"What year did you come from?" the President asked, eyeing them all, he could tell without having names named who had returned. Seeing such a young boy with such a dark haunted look in his eyes was horrifying. To think Harry himself had suffered at such a young age too…had his eyes conveyed such things too?
"2023," Harry said, causing them all to inhale in shock, choked 'how the hell did you manage to come so far back' was muttered by many people. All of them stunned, they'd expected a few years but 2023?
"The revelation began six years prior to that year," Harry told them, "2017,"
"How, how on earth did you accomplish that?" someone to the right rasped out, it was 2005, for Merlin's sake, 2005! They'd come so far…it was unfathomable.
"Sheer desperation, and what was left of magic," Harry told them seriously, "The world hadn't just been at war, magic was dying, the earth was dying. Someone had poisoned the Nemeton, and it had traversed through the others connected to it. Seeping into the earth until the damage had been at our point irreparable."
Peter glanced at Harry out of the corner of his eye, interesting. He wasn't giving anything away, why? Did he not trust them? Or just not wish to reveal the means of traveling such distance just to be on the safe side? They had been desperate but…not everyone was. The rest of the pack didn't seem to miss a beat at all.
"It was cut down before it was poisoned," Stiles chimed in, "A Druid cut it down and an ordinary human poisoned it. The poison happened over a year ago, while there were peace conferences being held in Beacon Hills…I reckon I know exactly who did it. Gerard." His tone grim, which just did not look right on his ten-year-old face.
Chris had to force himself not to give away any thoughts or feelings. He wanted to hide, to vanish, to slid down in his seat. He knew if he did so, he would be bringing unwanted attention to himself.
"How on earth would a mundane get anywhere near a Nemeton?" came the angry bewildered cry.
Sebastian however did cringe; his wife had well and truly failed her own territory. As much as it made him feel awful, he agreed with Harry, the Alpha-mate, it was true, she should have focused on her own territory more.
"You don't want to know everything that was done to her," Harry confessed shuddering. He'd had to tend to what was left, tend to a dying tree, that had felt so much pain and fear that its echo still haunted him. "Luckily for us all, a spark will be there to take care of her and a pack that will do right by her." she was gaining her former strength and would be able to take care of her territory soon enough.
"Yes, there is," Peter declared, eyes flashing red, showcasing his Alpha status unconsciously. He unlike his sister, would always put Beacon Hills and the people under his territory first before frolicking off to other packs and trying to sort out their messes. It was what Emissaries were for. Alpha's weren't meant to leave their territory for long.
"Why were we not able to contain this threat?" President Donovan asked, disturbed and disheartened that it could have happened under his watch. "Was I the president?" was it his failure? His fault?
Harry inhaled sharply, "You're not to blame, none of you are, this went beyond the few hours we could go back in time to fix it. Not helped that we couldn't find out the perpetrator before it was too late. You are all aware the advances the Mundane are making with their electronics."
"Dear Merlin, it was captured on TV?"
"Who do we have to kill to stop it?" came the calm collected voice of a woman that caused Stiles to startle at her matter-of-fact tone. Peter was impressed, the first impression hadn't left much to be desired…but now? Now he was beginning to see why they were readers.
"I like them," Peter muttered.
"Course you do," Harry snorted, smirking wryly at Peter, "They have to be this way…they're responsible for hundreds of thousands of people in their own territories, which culminates into hundreds of millions altogether."
"There are that many?" Stiles breathed?
"Between wizards, witches, supernatural creatures…yes, a great deal many of them actually include the Mundane population under their territory." He told them, "Many are married to wizards and witches, and are in the know."
"They do not include…what did you call them shape-shifters though, right?" Stiles asked, as always so very curious.
"As of right now…you bet they will fall under the jurisdictions," Harry said grimly, "There will be new legislations written up and yes, you'll all have to follow the law, MACUSA will make allowances with your history, your practices and your own territories."
"You mean we will be allowed our own place here on the council? That we will be policing our own?" Jasper asked with deceptive mildness, "After all it's only right that we police ourselves."
"That thinking is probably what got you separated from MACUSA in the first place," Harry said pensively, "But you're right, shape-shifters should be in charge of their own."
"As long as they don't become like an Alpha pack," Stiles warned, shuddering a new at the prospect at being faced with another Alpha pack. "Whatever you do, don't let Deucalion on the council."
Harry gave Stiles a pensive look, "The Deucalion you knew isn't the one I knew. I knew he had a bad past and was looking to atone, but he was very grounded, especially regarding humans, he seemed neither disgusted or surprised by the all-out war."
President Donovan cleared his throat, giving Harry an amused expectant look.
"My apologies," Harry said, "I am being drawn to my pack and finding it difficult to split my focus." He confessed.
"It's expected, you're the Alpha-Mate, Peter is feeling the same thing." Jasper said, squeezing Peter's shoulder, "It will fade given time, the bond just needs time to settle."
Now bonding was something the council understood, and it relaxed them somewhat and the irritation and indignation they'd felt at being ignored faded entirely.
"I will take your suggestions into consideration," the president promised them, speaking of the council of shape-shifters. It was a good idea; it would also allow them to understand them in a far greater capacity than they did at the moment. "So, what exactly happened in 2017?" tense and thrumming with energy. Sure, it was a long time until then, but any and all ways they can stop it now was vital.
"I was still in Britain when all this went down originally," Harry told them, which was true enough.
"Wait, what? Then how do they all know who you are?" Stiles flailed, "Are you really that famous?"
The woman who had asked who they needed to kill chuckled, "Yes, young one, there isn't a person in the magical society that doesn't know Lord Harry Potter's name." Patricia informed him, finding the youngster adorable, Noah's son was a cute boy. She couldn't wait to become reacquainted with the man.
"Lord?" Jasper, Sebastian, Derek, Stiles and Peter all echoed glancing at Harry in surprise.
"What made you come here?" Patricia asked, genuinely curious.
"I was being pulled here by magic," Harry informed them, "The Nemeton I believe…and my soul bond…which hadn't even been activated yet."
Choked sounds of shock, surprise and disbelief left them. The soul bond was that strong it had actually urged Harry across the continent towards his soul mate? Who he had never met? It was almost as if this time-travel had been…inevitable.
"We began building up sanctuaries, saving everyone supernatural that we could…and that is what we referred to everyone that we saved. Supernatural." Harry sighed, "It was…a horrific six years, and frankly too much happened to fathom."
"You will have to explain everything to us," President Donovan, "We need to make plans."
"Yes, I fully agree, but I wasn't there when it all originally went down." Harry told them, "It began in Beacon Hills…and everyone else here…were there for those years."
"I have a feeling that's not when it originally began," Patricia said shrewdly, much to the surprise of the werewolves, these people were good, really very good.
"You're right, what started the ball rolling, however, was the events of 25th of January 2005, yesterday." Harry explained. "Hunters targeted a family who were celebrating the wolf moon. The Nemeton cut down, poisoned, could do nothing to warn them and their Emissary unbeknown to them was a Darach. The hunters surrounded the house with mountain ash, human and shifters, trapped inside with Molotov cocktails with a fast-burning accelerant that burnt through metal itself thrown into their home. With children and babies inside, they didn't stand a chance…all but one died, Peter Hale rightly should be in hospital now after suffering from third-degree burns all over his body right to the bone. Before being left as an Omega by the new Alpha along with her ten-year-old sister."
Jasper swallowed thickly, the sickness threatening to swallow him whole. Circe help him, not just knowing what could have happened so bluntly stated…but the fact his grandchildren had abandoned not only his son by their own sister sickened him.
Sebastian gripped Jaspers hand, feeling just as affected as the other. Both had been Alphas, both would never ever, have done such a thing. The others…well, for them it had happened such a long time ago, it didn't have the same affect.
They did relax a little when they felt Peter grasp their necks, scenting them. Reassuring them wordlessly that they were all still here. They were alive and Circe help him, he was going to make sure they thrived.
The council members were horrified, "Hunters?" nervous, and caution getting the better of them.
"Unfortunately, it's not the first time they've done this, each time they do…they leave the territory in chaos. Nobody wants to move into an area where entire packs and been wiped out. So, they remain empty…and the humans pay the price for anything coming through, with a pack protecting its territory maybe 5 people in two three decades die…a territory without a pack to protect its boarders? Hundreds of more deaths…I've looked into it. Not only are hunters taking out peaceful packs…they're exposing magic a bit at a time and killing off hundreds of mundane's…when they're not killing them to take a place in society that is. Teachers, most likely."
"How is everyone?" the president looked over Peter, concerned. Deeply troubled by all he was hearing. This wasn't good, they needed to move fast.
"We survived, Harry and Stiles ensured it," Peter replied, "Any burns are already healed, we kept our human packmates as far away from the smoke as possible. Harry healed any remaining smoke inhalation from the children." The adults probably still had wolfsbane smoke in their lungs but one thing at a time.
"I'm going to assume it wasn't you whom exposed the supernatural world?" the president asked, eyeing Peter speculatively.
"In the original timeline, I spent six-years in a coma, slowly healing, enduring agony every day. Mundane medication doesn't work on us, our metabolism burns it out within seconds. All the hospitals attempts were for naught. I slowly slipped into insanity. The snapping of all my pack bonds and the final snapping of the last two tethers I had to my family leaving me Omega…I went feral. Trapped in my own mind and a body that didn't want to work. I could not move, despite feeling everything around me for six years." Peter said, laying it on a little thick, but he needed to, they needed to understand how dangerous hunters were. He deliberately didn't even glance at his father and brother-in-law. "My wolf took over, six years later…I only became aware again when Alpha powers surged through me, healing me properly…and I…to my horror realized that those alpha powers had come from my own niece."
"No!" Sebastian gasped, horrified at what he was hearing.
"Even then, Deaton was working against us, he convinced Derek that I had intentionally killed Laura for her Alpha powers. That somehow I had retained my right mind for six years…and planned all this elaborate scheme to draw her back."
"I'm going to kill him," Jasper snarled, his fangs elongating at the table, he was going to rip him to pieces.
"Six years only takes it up to 2011, so it cannot be that incident that causes our world to be exposed." Confusion prominently expressed, "Is it?"
"Inevitably," Stiles nodded, glancing at Peter, who he thought of as a father figure alongside his actual father, "Peter may have become online so to speak, he still wasn't entirely healed. I heard on the radio that half a body had been found in the preserve, I took my best friend to look for it…so if anyone is to blame it isn't Peter…it's on me." Stiles heartbeat remained steady, he truly believed he was ultimately to blame.
"My father is the sheriff now," Stiles went on to explain, a few chuckled and nodded, none surprised that Noah had gone on to do the same work again even if it was Mundane police work. "He and the other deputies had the dogs out searching for the other half of the body…"
"I know werewolves are strong…I can see decapitation…but half?" it was said with an adequate amount of sympathy.
"Oh, no, I did attack her, and once I regained my senses and realized what I had done…I fled." Peter confessed, it was cowardly of him, he knew, but he'd been running on instinct. "The hunters cut her in half, in order to lure her brother, Derek back to Beacon Hills."
"Wait, I'm confused, why were there still hunters in Beacon Hills? If there were no werewolves?" another asked, glancing at the time, it had been one hour in and they were still beginning the story…this might turn out to be an extremely long day.
"Curious isn't it?" Harry said with a touch of fury, "Hunters weren't there to save the humans from being killed off, but were there at the right time to try and cull the rest of the Hale pack. How many humans were killed in those years by hunters themselves I wonder? The secretary and the headmaster of Beacon Hills themselves as well…who had families but it's all for the 'greater good isn't it'." His eyes boring into Chris' he hadn't been personally affected by it, but he was still furious and honestly, he still wanted to kill the fucker.
President Donovan inhaled sharply, "You did not bring a hunter here into MACUSA?!" in a sharp echo of Harry's own reaction when he found out shape-shifters had brought a hunter into his own sanctuary.
"If you're not happy at the end you can Obliviate him," Harry replied stone faced, facing the judgement he was receiving with grace. "Let's not pretend we don't know what's going to happen here…he'll agree to give you every piece of information he has on the hunter council, in order for his and his daughter's survival. Including the whereabouts of his own father and sister. Who believe me have a big part to play in the events that occur. Gerard Argent trains the one who exposes the supernatural himself." It was a leap, but Harry reckoned he was right about it. "Kate Argent herself, and her accomplices set fire to the Hale mansion yesterday with more than just Arson in mind. That is not all…she's a serial sexual predator of young underage boys."
That caused an uproar everyone speaking over each other, demanding that she be dealt with immediately. Declaring that they'd let the hunter remain alive if he gave them every single one of them.
"They seem more enraged over the sexual assault than murder…well attempted murder." Peter said, bemused.
"That's because they are," Harry murmured quietly, "Children are…normally protected above all else. Any crimes against children are punished most severely. They're the next generation, even the death of one…especially if they're an only child you'd receive a life sentence…sexual assault is punished even more so, they're sterilized and then imprisoned for life."
Peter's eyes widened, mouth open in shock, too bad the ordinary justice system didn't have that sort of code. There would be fewer sick individuals in the world. Worse still, let out of prison in a few years, to continue. He'd never have thought his own pack, his own family would fall prey to such disgusting practices.
"Justice," many muttered, staring at Jasper and Sebastian in sudden understanding. Especially if a young member of their pack had been targeted.
"Not that it matters, she won't live long enough to be sterilized." Harry said darkly, even if he had to hunt her down himself and kill her if MACUSA didn't take a stance on hunters they hoped.
Stiles and Peter gave him a look, both of them thinking the exact same thing as him. They would act themselves if they had to, even if it took them a decade to save everyone.
Chris flinched when movement startled him, "Write down everything you know, do not leave anything out. Names, locations, houses, hide-outs, meeting locations, any meetings you are aware of, absolutely everything is that understood?"
"And torture cabins," Harry added, "We might end up finding dozens of werewolves being tortured all over the world."
Chris wanted to protest, that's not how hunters work…but he knew it was. He could say he hadn't kept a werewolf prisoner and tortured them; in fact, he'd helped them out. Just two young teenagers, younger than his daughter…he'd hated his father more than ever then. For making him side with werewolves. It hadn't been fair.
When he had lost Allison, he'd adopted a werewolf as his son, not officially. That's when he realized everything his family instilled in him was nonsense. Finally saw what Allison saw in the supernatural world. It helped him make peace with it.
He had chosen his side long before the war broke out.
He frankly didn't consider himself a hunter, not anymore.
"And I have your word my daughter will be left alive and unharmed? She isn't aware of the supernatural yet, or aware of her family history. If I have anything to say about it…she never will." about her family history, not the supernatural. If they killed him here, at least he knew Stiles and Derek would ensure she was raised right.
"If your help proves to be invaluable, then you and she will both be left alone. If we find out about any deception…" the President declared, leaving the threat unfinished. Boring his gaze into the hunter, unspoken it might be, but nonetheless the hunter felt himself swallow thickly at the purple eyed glare. Were they contacts? He'd never seen anyone with purple eyes before, he didn't think it was possible.
"I need more than just a maybe," Chris argued, "I can't just put my daughter's life on the line for a maybe." Stiffening, fearing the worst, but refusing to back down.
Despite is fears, there was no derision, anger at speaking to the President of MACUSA that way. Instead, there was naught but respect, as they'd already knew, children were important to these people.
"Come forward," President Donovan gestured for the Mundane to come to him as he stood.
Chris glanced at Harry – despite Harry's utter distaste for him, he knew he could get the truth – he was given one single nod of the head, in reassurance. Standing up, he moved around, tense and alert in a way that hadn't stopped in all the years he'd been in a war-ravaged world.
"Clasp my hand," Donovan stated, hand held up, Chis glanced at the others again before raising his own hand, heart pounding.
"Do you, Chris Argent swear to tell us everything you know?"
"Yes," Chris tried to yank his hand back as soon as the magic lashed around both their arms.
"If you do so, I, President Donovan so vow, that you and your daughter will walk away untouched if you still to your end of the Vow." Donovan declared, as another lash appeared this time Chris didn't try to yank his hand back.
"If you do betray us, your death will be the punishment, magic will see to it so, as this is an Unbreakable Vow, I declare it so, so mote it be." Donovan declared, "You must say so mote it be in turn to finish the vow. But be warned, Chris Argent, the magic will hold us to our word, Mundane or not, magic is never to be trifled with. It will stop your heart if you deceive us."
Chris was more nervous than worried, "So mote it be," he said, his voice steady and strong. He had no intention of deceiving them, he wanted a life for himself and his daughter when this was all said and done. Plus, he had a feeling they had a way of getting answers anyway, this, this whole show seemed geared towards calming him down he reckoned.
The magic flared drastically, before sinking into their skin, and he felt it. He could feel the magic in him. Inhaling sharply, was this what Stiles felt? What every Druid, Darach, Wizard and Witch felt? He felt rather…bereft when it left him.
"Awesome!" Stiles proclaimed, causing the tense atmosphere to break and many to laugh lightly.
"Now if you please the names, dates, locations…everything," Donovan asked, letting the Mundane go, gesturing for him to sit back down. "Let's get back to the matter at hand. First things first, do we consider the attack on the Hale pack a separate incident and deal with that first…or do we collectively go after everyone."
"There is only one perpetrator of the attack on the Hales left, well, one direct perpetrator." Stiles informed them solemnly, "The others are already dead." The satisfaction in his voice, coupled with his young age definitely made them all a little uncomfortable.
"What age are you, young Spark?" Patricia asked, observing the youngster.
"Mentally I'm…" Stiles actually had to think, its not as if he'd been keeping track of the days let alone the years. "Uh…twenty-seven or twenty-eight. My physical age is ten." Staring down at his body huffing, as if it had betrayed him.
Derek smirked, he knew the feeling, the smirk didn't sit well on his young face either.
"How did they die?" another asked, "Do we have to send in people to clean up magical exposure?"
"No, I ran them over trying to get to the Hale Mansion, they just happened to be in the way." His tone entirely innocent, almost as if he hadn't intentionally sped up the car so that he actually killed them.
None of the wizards and witches bought it for a second, nor did they really care.
"A decision must be reached regarding her involvement especially those affected," Donovan said, staring at Peter, well aware that he was the Alpha, he'd flashed his red eyes. Then to the others, then it dawned on him, the affected party might be here. "The injured party must decide on whether she lives or dies. There is a special kind of hell to knowing that she's alive and suffering one must admit. Amongst all the supernatural people she so hates."
"I like you," Peter replied, eyes glowing red, he wasn't one for suffering fools or allowing anyone off lightly. He'd never been one for shying away from informing people that he approved of them, which is exactly what he'd done.
Donovan's brow dipped, the only show of emotion he broadcasted to the other Wizard and Witches. The werewolves? However, they felt his bemusement and a little bit of bewilderment at the suddenness of such compliment. He glanced very briefly at Harry, wondering what the Lord would think of such a thing.
Stiles grinned, recalling the 'I like you, Stiles' he'd received, of course, he'd been beyond terrified at the time. So, it hadn't exactly been something he'd wanted to hear.
Derek swallowed when he noticed the expectant gazes of his grandfather and father boring into him. A look that suggested he better pick death, because if they found her first…they would kill her themselves. Like hell would they all her to live after what she had done.
Stiles leaned against Derek, brushing their jaws together, in a purely comforting gesture. Despite all the years that had passed, Derek had never been able to get over what had happened. Moving on wasn't the same as getting over it, there was no real getting over what had happened…well, perhaps now he could.
The council were far from stupid, and they realized the significance of the glances Derek was receiving. He looked to be about fourteen or fifteen-years-old. It made their stomach's twist unpleasantly.
"She used you to get to your pack, didn't she?" Patricia asked solemnly, connecting the dots, asking what they were all thinking really.
Derek gave a jerky nod, yes, she had.
"It's not the first time she's used this tactic," Harry informed them, "I had a list of all the packs decimated in similar Circumstances, a great many of them haven't happened yet, but there are some out there. Probably many that I didn't find out about, unfortunately, everything went down, TV, Radio, Phones, Internet, and I only found the ones I did because I raided the libraries. The world went dark."
"We'll need all the memories we can get, especially of anyone seeing the televised events. Did any of you see them?" the President asked, leaning forward.
"I…we…we were there…my dad…he was murdered by…" Stiles could barely get the words out, the urge to go home ever so strong. "He was trying to stop it, trying to stop Scott." Closing his eyes tightly, over six years ago it had happened, six years, yet he couldn't deal with it.
Derek wrapped his arms around Stiles, bringing his mate into his arms and hugging him tightly. Burrowing his nose into his neck, "He's here, he's alive, it won't ever happen." It was a mantra he had been repeating to himself for hours since the fire. 'they were here, they were alive and it won't happen again' he barely had time to think of anything else.
"The platform, when you stand on it, think of the memory you want to play out, and it will play out like a video or DVD." President Donovan said quietly, it was like a pensive really, but it latched onto a specific memory, and played it out regardless of whether your memory of the event was blurred, hazy or choppy.
The purpose of the glowing white platform was finally answered. Although, all the pack was certainly surprised Stiles hadn't asked before this. Then again, they were all still adjusting.
"If you two weren't there for the whole thing, it's best Stiles goes," Harry told them, "And Derek…when they say you're in charge and have to give an answer…they expect one. However, if you cannot do it on your own, you have your pack with you."
"I should be able to," Derek bit out, she'd caused him pain more than once. Deceived him more than once, caused everyone he knew agony. They hadn't even been the ones to kill her, no, her own father had from what Chris said.
"No, Derek, that kind of trauma never leaves us," Harry said quietly, "We can never really get over it. All we can ever do is make the best of what time has been given to us. To move on. You've got the very rare chance of doing both, don't allow fears to hold you back. And decide what you want, in here," Harry said pressing his and Derek's hand to his heart.
"Absolutely nobody will blame you for wanting her dead," Harry vowed vehemently. "Likewise, nobody will blame you if you want her to live and suffer for years before death is granted to her."
The rest of the hunters though…would die. Kate was just a special case due to what MACUSA had just learned. They understood pack justice, even if nobody else outside of the room would.
It was time for a new Era to begin, one free of the radical hunters.
The very real, and very terrifying bogeyman of the supernatural world.
Now this is much better! Instead of having MACUSA like squabbling children they're doing what must be done for their territories and people they're the magical council they have to be tough, willing to listen and adapt! I'm really pleased with this chapter! Hopefully I can continue this trend! So will Kate Argent die or will she be imprisoned? Will MACUSA deal with Eichen House? (I don't want it to become repetitive in all my stories) or will they just take over, arrest all the humans and begin to deal with the occupants finding out slowly whether they're guilty or innocent etc... would you prefer it just happening in the background? Also the Dread Doctors what would you like to see happen to them? R&R please