More Than Just A New Beginning

Chapter 8


The following days were…like a dream to Harry, his soulmate never left his side, not even for a moment. Always there ready and willing to help, although it wasn't often, since Harry was extremely independent and even while injured could do most things himself, and if he couldn't he used magic. He sometimes asked Derek for help though, seeing that he was…eager to prove himself a capable mate. He wasn't sure Derek even realized this, but Harry could see the actions for what they were. If he didn't know…he had to wonder how badly Derek had alienated himself from his wolf, that he was ignoring his instincts. Ignore was a strong word, perhaps resisting them may be a greater and more accurate assumption.

There was a guilt and fear in Derek, and Harry…was unable to wheedle out of Derek why. He hadn't made a massive attempt so to speak, for worries that he would drive Derek away completely. It didn't take a genius to deduce that it was something to do with the fire.

Their little bubble was popped when Laura Hale called. He had heard the conversation, not at all feeling guilty about eavesdropping. It wasn't like Derek wasn't already used to it, having come from a family mostly made up of werewolves after all. The way she had spoken to him, demanding, curt, she sounded frayed at the seams. Demanding his return home immediately, that it was 'time to move' again. Derek seemed resigned, shrinking upon himself, not even putting up a little bit of protest. He seemed to age exponentially in front of him and the guilt tripled in the space of a few seconds.

"I have to go," Derek said, barely looking up at Harry, a desolate gleam entering his eyes followed with regret.

"Of course, your sister needs you, I understand that," Harry said soft and soothingly, he'd never keep Derek away from the only family he had left. Not without a particularly good reason, and there may be a reason she was that way at the moment…perhaps hunters? "You know if you need me, or have a need of my services I'm just a phone call away? Any threat, just report it and it will be investigated." Swallowing thickly that look on Derek's face…he had a feeling it didn't bode well for him at all.

Derek nodded, grabbing his belongings stuffing them in his backpack, still not looking his way before he fled as if the grim reaper was on his tail. Harry's words of "Give me a text to let me know you get home safe," ringing in his ears as he fled for home, his good mood he'd sustained for two days vanishing completely.

Harry frowned, just when he thought they were making progress…Derek completely shuts down on him. It was almost as if he refused to allow himself any measure of happiness, and the way he'd folded completely hearing Laura's voice…that was some sort of crushing weight bearing down on Derek…how much longer could he survive with that weight on him? He closed his eyes, vividly reminded of the weight that had been placed upon his shoulders. The entire magical world depending on him to kill Voldemort, prophesized to be the only one. It was…a horrific weight for anyone to bear, "What happened to you, Derek?" Harry wondered out loud, green eyes glinting sadly. Was it even possible for him and Derek to be happy? Would he even be able to pull Derek out of that dark place he visited frequently? He vividly remembered his own time in those dark desolate places and he knew it was possible to return, but it required willingness.

Sighing softly, the weight of the silence pressing on him, it was almost oppressive really. He'd gotten used to having Derek around, the quiet flipping or pages, the clicking of his laptop or the conversations they had, quiet or not there was always some sort of noise.

His phone ringing brought him jerking out of his thoughts, grabbing his cell from where it was wedged down the side of the sofa he answered it immediately. "We found her," three days it had taken them, but they'd found her, "She's alive."

Harry deflated in relief, he'd been keeping up closely with all the investigations coming in and out of his department despite his injuries. He still gave the final orders, and had the last say in everything, not that he'd needed to intercede. His guys had been taught well, and knew how to work whether he was there or not. "That's good to hear, what's her condition?" Harry asked, unconsciously straightening up, giving Zane his full undivided attention.

"She's dehydrated, dirty, in pain, we believe she was hit with a few spells, hungry and absolutely terrified." Zane explained, all of which was completely natural, she'd been away from her parents for four days, kidnapped and held hostage by her kidnappers. "She has a few visible injuries, she's being seen by the healer now, I'll have a record of everything they've done."

"They all alive?" Harry asked, lips pursed displeased by what he was hearing, but ultimately relieved she was alive anything else could be dealt with. Time and recovery was all she needed now. Zane had been quite correct with his instincts, the father had worked with these people, in the past, long before he had a family, and it was purely retaliation that led to them kidnapping his daughter. Money, it had all been about money, the family fall out was inevitable and he wondered if the girl would ever see her father again after this.

"Except for what I suspect to be the main ringleader." Zane informed him, "He had a hold of her," he didn't add 'I didn't have a choice' because all of them would have done the same thing. That little girls life had been in danger he'd had a hold of her wand viciously thrust into her throat demanding they back off or he'd kill her, and he hadn't been prepared to risk it, in order to talk him down. He'd been desperate, sweating, scared, and that was a combination most dangerous.

"Good," Harry said, an innocent life was worth taking the life of a criminal who had chosen to waste their lives by doing illicit activities. Which meant he would be busy, Internal Affairs would need to declare it a just kill, and he'd need to go to therapy, which was mandatory after taking a life in the line of duty, which happened all too frequently. It was a good job he'd be returning soon, Zane wouldn't be able to go into the field again until he was cleared.

"Hey, how would you like some take out later all of us?" Will asked into the Zane's phone so Harry could hear him. There was a note of…hesitance in his tone, like he wasn't sure how welcomed the idea would be. Will was still the 'probie' of their group, and he was the only one who hadn't seen Harry's home, and was still getting used to speaking up, particularly around 'the boss' so to speak. "After we're finished, of course." He hastened to add.

Harry who glanced around at his empty home, the constant thrum of magic that had surrounded him with Derek's presence gone, leaving him feel rather morose. "You know what? That would be great, I'm starving."

"Really?" Will said, sounding surprised, "Alright, text what you'd like, we'll see you in a few hours?"

"You done?" Zane asked sounding amused, shaking his head.

"Yup," Will said cheerfully, you could hear the grin on the other end of the phone.

"We'll see you later," Zane said, amused, "Do you still have company?" he was the only one aware that Derek had been with Harry, due to the fact he had apparated to Harry's home while Derek was there, not that he'd met him, he'd been in the shower when he'd gone in to give Harry all the case files. He'd spoken to mid-air, reassured the 'presence' that he was a friend, that there was nothing to worry about, only then did he get the full story.

"He's returned home," Harry informed Zane, trying not to allow any sign of his internal conflict to infect his voice. He succeeded, he was too used to being professional to let it slip if he didn't desire it to be so.

"Alright, see you in a few hours," Zane replied, before giving their goodbye's and ending the call.

Harry stared at his phone, staring at nothing in particular as his thoughts mulled over everything.

With a plan of action emerging, Harry scrolled through his contacts until he found the name and number he was looking for, and hit call.

"Hello?" a voice asked five minutes later.

"Mike? It's Harry Potter, I have a job for you, it takes precedence over everything you've got going on, but are you free?" Harry asked, as always kind enough to hear them out.

"Well, I only have a few pieces of information left to write down for the MCD, but other than that my schedule is free." Mike revealed, the Major Crimes Department needed him quite frequently when it was magic they weren't familiar with or even runes and such.

"You know everything about Nemeton's correct?" Harry asked, listening intently.

"Of course, it's a massive source of power for Druids and creatures on the lands," Mike answered immediately, "Not just Druids of course, but yeah, they're extremely important nexus'." They were nothing to wizards and witches of course, wizards and witches couldn't harness any magic from the nexus' their magic wasn't compatible but they were important nonetheless.

"And if there was no pack or druid to keep track?" Harry asked in idle curiosity.

Mike inhaled sharply, "Merlin, no, it's extremely dangerous!" came his indignant and incredulous voice.

"It's also the biggest Nexus we know, it's connected to the ley lines and telluric currents." Harry informed him, knowing he'd need to tell him everything.

Mike mouthed wordlessly, a strangled sound emerging, "It's unprotected? Unmanned?" shock prevalent.

"The pack who was responsible for it perished in a house-fire that was entirely too suspicious, we have our suspicions on it, hunters I believe. Only one person actually survived the fire initially, and two pack members who fled to New York that weren't in it. I'm not even sure if any of them know about the nexus." Harry informed him seriously, "I need someone to keep an eye on it and make sure it's flourishing and untampered with, I'm gathering a team to stay there while I try to figure out what to do long term. I do believe though that it is Hale land and it feels wrong to invite another pack to tend to it and the territory but given the inevitable it's either that or clearing the entire town of mundane's in order to protect them." this was all something he wanted to push as far back as possible while he got to know Derek more and gain the guys trust enough to tell him what he was keeping secret.

Once again the idea of using the stone was…prevalent.

"You wish for me to go to California?" Mike deduced, yes, he knew where every single nexus was.

"I do, as soon as you can," Harry revealed, "All expenses paid of course,"

"You do know I could be there for months? Magic can't be used to find the nexus, I'll have to find it on my own. Fortunately, if I knew where the pack stayed, it will shorten the radius down, they wouldn't be far from it." Mike's voice came through the phone.

"I understand completely, and we'll give you all the information you might need." Harry promised. "I'll be sending someone along with you, to go undercover at the local Police station, there has been a lot of magical shenanigans happening…I don't even want to try and guess at the death tally in the past two years."

"Two years?" came his strangled voice. "Okay, I'll get the orders filled, and the portkey ready, have whoever's coming with me, meet me at the entrance of MACUSA ASAP." He wanted to find the nexus as soon as possible, two years! It was unheard of. Surely the pack on such a massive source of power had allies who knew at least? Why hadn't the allies came to offer aid? Why had the two remaining members fled? It was beyond his scope of understanding, truly.

"I'll let you know when they're on their way," Harry informed him, he guessed interviews would have to wait, and Jordan and Mike leave immediately.

"Thanks," Mike said, "I'll talk to you later."

"Done," Harry said, listening to Mike rushing around, clearly busy, "Bye for now," with that he hung up, time to talk to Parish.

Fortunately, he had saved the guys number in his phone.

Harry called it.

"Hello?" came Parish's voice, calm, collected and soothing.

"Hello, Mr. Parish, it's Harry Potter, I'm calling regarding the interview I had set up earlier this week," Harry explained to the half-hellhound.

"Do you need to cancel again?" Parish's voice asked, still calm and understanding. What had happened to Harry had gotten around, so everyone knew why the interviews had been cancelled.

"No, in fact, I'd like to ask you a few questions…how would you like to work undercover?" Harry asked, too busy and the case too urgent to really care about trying to find the best person for the job. To be fair he believed Jordan might well be. He was raised normal, unaware of the creature inheritance, been in the military, and well, yes, he'd be absolutely perfect. If he could lie worth a damn he supposed. If he couldn't well, as dulled as an Ordinary's senses were…they could tell when they were lied to, especially cops.

"Undercover?" Parish asked, "Where and why?" curiosity peaked. Wanting to get every scrap of information he could before he agreed or declined what Harry was offering.

Harry summoned the paperwork, flipping through it to find exactly where Parish would be going if he accepted the assignment. "California, a little place called Beacon Hills, and you'd be employed in the Beacon Hills Police department. There used to be a pack protecting the town, what do you know of Nemeta's?"

"What's a Nemeta?" Jordan asked, confusion lacing his voice.

"It's a very powerful sentient magical beacon that gives the outward appearance of a tree, the strongest one we have, that those of supernatural inclination are drawn to. Unconsciously and through greed in order to have that power at their fingertips. It leaves the ordinary folk in extreme danger from those of those that do end up drawn to it and thus the town by proximity." Harry explained, not all 'supernatural' creatures were peaceful ones. "A lot of the cases in the station will be supernatural in nature. I'll be sending a group down at one point, to protect them until I find a pack that can take over from us or have us settle down there permanently."

"You have someone in mind?" Jordan queried, if that was the case then he wouldn't be undercover long.

"I do, but I am unsure of how she will react to the news," Harry admitted, and he didn't want to do it any time soon but time was of the essence. "I will need to know all suspected cases, you'll be given everything you need in order to complete your task unhindered. In the coming week others will be joining you in getting wards put up so you will be able to track down supernatural's and deal with them."

"Deal with them?" Jordan asked, caution in his voice.

"Yes, make sure they're not a threat to the population," Harry explained easily, "Warn them that the territory is under new management and if they behave they can remain. If not they will be arrested and ensure they realize it wouldn't be an ordinary prison which they could escape."

"Yes, Sir," Jordan answered, "I accept the job," it would be his first official job since he joined MACUSA and begun learning about his new powers. It wasn't exactly what he'd had in mind, but he rather liked how important his first mission was. He'd expected – quite naturally – that he would have to work his way up again. Instead he was getting to prove himself right away, and he was determined to ensure it went smoothly.

"My advice, get on well with your team, become a cohesive unit and you'll do well together." Harry said honestly, he tended to keep groups together that work well, it meant a more efficient workforce. "You'll not be working with them full time yet, you're focus will be at the Beacon Hills Police Department I'll send you a more detailed report of what's expected of you. When can you pack?"

"Uh," Jordan was clearly taken off-guard at the swiftness of it. "Right now if you like?"

"Then pack your bags, Mike will meet you with a Portkey to Beacon Hills, ASAP." Harry informed him, "Mike will be hunting down the Nemeta and checking on it, by this evening you'll be officially a member of BHPD."

"Sir," was all Jordan said before the call ended.

Harry sighed, leaning back, he probably should have done this days ago regardless of his injury. Although, he wouldn't have been much help to anyone, between the potions and the pain he wouldn't have been coherent much let alone enough to do what he was going to have to do to set everything up for the guys in Beacon Hills.

A notification informed him he had a missed call from Zane.

Arching a brow, confused, he'd literally just been talking to him a while ago, had something happened to the girl?. Heart pounding with worry, he called Zane back only to be met with a voicemail.

"Zane, it's Harry call me when you get this," Harry said into his phone after the beep prompted him to do so. Staring down at the phone, he pursed his lips, but set it aside, even they abided hospital rules, which meant no phones on. Picking up his ordinary pen and paper, he begun to write out a list of orders for Jordan, beginning with the most important and working his way through things that could be done when he had a moment to things that can be done when he had free time.

While doing that, he begun writing everything Jordan would require to make everything easier. Due to the fact that he didn't have magic per se, he would need magical items that would perform the tasks for him until he found the appropriate group to head to Beacon Hills until the place had guardians – Were's – protecting its boarders again. Which would be very soon, wards must be erected to help Jordan do his job, there was no other way to know supernatural's were in the town.

A text message interrupted his work, a small smile appearing on his face, hope budding within him. If Derek hadn't planned to return at any point of time…he wouldn't have sent that message. He would have probably just ignored his request.

I'm back at the apartment, remember to take your potion.

It was by no means a long text by any stretch of imagination, but Harry didn't require one. It was simple care that he relished. Derek having remembered when he was supposed to take his potions, and had reminded him. It's not as if he actually needed the reminder, the pain did that for him, although it had reduced significantly since.

It was two hours before he heard from anyone, as he worked diligently on his plans, then read through the case files and wrote adjustments and such when required. Signing off on things that required his attention and needed his signature. No doubt, when the others came they'd have another load of stuff for him to look at, staved off the boredom though.

Merlin only knows when he'd see Derek again.

Zane it seemed was here, but without any of the others. The wards had alerted him before the first knock on the door. The door opened on Harry's command, peering up at his friend – and he was a friend as well as his employee, although one could argue he was more like a co-worker. "Zane, is the girl alright?" he asked immediately, holding his breath as he waited bated breath for an answer.

"Hmm? Of course, why wouldn't…she's fine," Zane said, realizing that his phone call could have been construed as bad news considering he'd rang only ten minutes earlier. "I remained in the hospital to get a statement from the young girl, with her parents and a lawyer present. It ran on longer than I thought, then I returned to MACUSA to have everything written up. The others will be joining us in twenty minutes."

"Alright, help yourself" Harry said, quickly taking his potion, giving Zane a speculative look, Zane meanwhile had went straight for his bar and helped himself to a fire whiskey. "So why is it you called?" if not for an update on the current case and in the middle of a working hour. Yes, he'd called to make sure he was fine, but that was outside of work hours unless he called first for an update.

"I got an update on the Hale case," Zane admitted, turning around staring at Harry grimly, sipping the drink without so much as a grimace.

"Okay, go on," Harry said, closing the folders he had open in his lap.

"I don't like loose ends, so I wanted to find out more about the Hale family, particularly Peter, so I asked Maggie at the tech department to dig deeper." Zane admitted, he'd been too busy to look through the information himself.

"What did she find?" Harry asked, Maggie was one of their best, but then again, everyone in the tech department had been hired because they were 'one of the best' they needed the finest and brightest working for them in order to keep up with the caseloads.

"Two things," Zane sighed, wandering over and seating himself on the sofa, fingers drifting around the glass absently. "Peter Hale survived the fire, and it still alive."

"What?" Harry asked alarmed, "But they've been living in unsuitable accommodations, especially if they have a burn victim with them, two bedroom properties and Derek hasn't mentioned Peter at all, only Laura." He'd assumed Peter had not made it passed being rescued out of the fire.

"He's spent the last two years in a comatose state in the long term care ward at Beacon Hills Hospital," Zane informed him with a grimace, unable to help himself but harshly judge Laura and Derek Hale, victims or not…leaving behind family for any reason was…despicable.

"I'm sorry, what?" Harry shook his head, as if trying to dislodge the words and make them arrange in a different way that didn't paint such a bleak picture. Peter Hale, youngest sibling of Talia Hale, uncle to Derek and Laura Hale.

"There's more," Zane added darkly.

Harry inhaled sharply, "Let's hear it," disbelief coursing through him.

"There's another survivor, Cora Hale, she's in New Mexico, of all places, it's been confirmed that it's the same girl that's supposedly dead."

"Merlin," Harry breathed, blinking rapidly as he processed what he was hearing. "What the bloody hell is going on?"

"There is another Hale," Zane added rubbing his face tiredly, "Malia Hale, there's an adoption form for her, but illegally done we suspect, the mother didn't sign it and the father's signature doesn't match…it was evidently falsified, but the handwriting matches Talia Hale. Malia Hale's father is Peter Hale, and there is only one child with the same DOB and name Malia Tate…presumed dead, body never found. Her adopted sister and mother were in the car accident the entire family mundane."

"What the fuck?" Harry grimaced as he stood, pacing as he processed all he'd just heard the potion thankfully preventing him from feeling pain. His thoughts whirling, did Derek know his younger sister had survived? Why let her go to New Mexico at ten years of age? What about the daughter? Why would Talia falsify legal documents and keep her brother unaware of his daughter? The family was becoming more and more screwed up the more he found out. "Merlin, I'm going to have to talk to Laura Hale aren't I?" he wasn't looking forward to that at all.

"More importantly we need to find out if Peter Hale is a werewolf, because if he is…he could become aware at any given moment and completely out the supernatural community. I'm sorry boss but I cannot keep this quiet." Zane said, he would not risk the supernatural world being revealed by a werewolf in so much pain he didn't realize what he was doing.

"I wouldn't expect you to," Harry confessed tiredly, swallowing thickly, mind muddling over the more important things. "I already have Jordan and Mike heading to Beacon Hills, in fact they're probably already there. Mike can do the test and let us know quite quickly."

"And should he be a werewolf?" Zane asked cautiously.

"Then we get him to one of our hospitals, we heal him and do what we can for him," Harry said subdued, shuddering anew, it was like the Dursley's they would have abandoned him in a heartbeat too. Was that the kind of mate he wanted? That ran at the first sign of trouble? Was that what Derek was always going to do? Was he better off cutting ties to Derek before he got his heart broken? Or invested too much time and effort to be let down? No, he couldn't do that, it just wasn't in him to give up. Plus, there might be an element here that he wasn't seeing yet. He tried to remind himself that Derek was young, eighteen-years-old, but by the time he reached that age…well, Derek wasn't him, he couldn't set that sort of standard.

"Shall I call Mike?" Zane asked, as Harry paced more erratically, clearly distracted by everything he'd learned.

Harry waved his hand, giving Zane the go ahead, before staring out of the window, so much for a simple courtship. Then again, it was never going to be a normal simple courtship was it? "I think you should remain in charge for a few weeks Zane…I'm going to take on the Hale case on a full-time basis and solve it." which meant approaching Laura and Derek in an official capacity, and he didn't know how Derek would react to it at all.

"A few weeks?" Zane echoed in amusement, snorting, "You'll have it solved within a few days." Harry was like a dog with a bone, he wouldn't let up until he had every single loose end tied up, as he always did with every single case he took on.

Harry sighed, the wards alerting him to the others coming. "Set the files aside, and call Mike, the others are coming up."

Zane was quick to do just that he was starving.

Harry on the other hand...not so much, the next week was going to make or break his and Derek's relationship. Not that there was much of one to begin with right now.


HAPPY NEW YEAR GUYS! Thought I'd get this chapter posted for you all before the new year! So, will we see a reasonable and contrite Laura or will she lash out at the condemnation that Harry will unleash upon her? Will he confess about Cora or try and find out why the girl went to New Mexico first? And yes! Peter will be in the story soon! Will he be as angry as he was in the original series? Or will having someone in his corner make it a little easier to bear? Will there be a potion to bring out the Alpha in someone? So that Peter could become an Alpha and lead the charge to protect Beacon Hills along with those Harry sends? R&R please