Chapter Fourteen: Aboard the Hogwarts Express
Sirius is still in a bad mood even as he walked down the streets of Diagon Alley with Andromeda next to him, trying to calm his bad mood, and with Lyuben on his other side—with the Bulgarian wizard's eyes flickering around, assessing for threats. He after all isn't just here in Britain on official business from the Bulgarian Minister of Magic. He is also here as Sirius' official security; since Sirius is a Bulgarian citizen now, though he does still hold his British citizenship.
"Come on, what's the point of getting so upset over Dumbledore?" Andromeda tried to calm Sirius. "We know what he's like even from the time when we were children."
"You mean, you know what he's like." Sirius corrected Andromeda. Every single student who gets sorted into Slytherin have always been held in disdain by the Headmaster. It is only now as an adult when Sirius could see how wrong it is, and it is only part of the reason why he didn't want Hadrian to attend Hogwarts. "I didn't even see anything wrong until I was an adult and tossed in Azkaban."
Andromeda eyed her cousin knowingly. "You were never as taken in by his grandfather persona as you make yourself out to be," she pointed out. "Sorted into Gryffindor or not, you were still raised Slytherin, and you are the Black Heir. Grandfather knew this." She choked up slightly at the mention of their late grandfather. "It is why he never disowned you. Though I guess the fact that you ran off to Aunt Dorea is a bonus."
"Let's not talk about this anymore." Sirius grumbled. "I want to get my Bambi a present. Maybe a pet of some sort?"
"Eeylops Owl Emporium, then?" Andromeda suggested, leading the way to said shop where the majority of Magical Britain's citizens bought their owls from. There are always a few families that bought it from breeders overseas—mainly the pureblood houses. Thankfully, it isn't quite the time of the year yet where the Hogwarts students would be getting their supplies; thus, apart from the usual foot traffic, Diagon Alley is relatively quiet. "I need to stock up on some owl treats for my own owls as it is."
With Andromeda being a lawyer, she and Ted owned about five owls apart from the family owl that were specifically trained to deliver confidential mail or documents, and hence, were trained to attack on sight if someone was to try intercepting them.
Sirius' nose crinkled as the assaulting scents of all kinds of animals hit his nose.
"So what do you want to get?" Andromeda asked.
"Maybe an owl for my Bambi?" Sirius answered absently, his eyes drawn towards the adorable crup who had his front paws pressed against the cage, his short tail wagging frantically until it's almost a blur. "I imagine he'd like his own owl instead of always using my Artemis."
Upon hearing that Sirius is here to get an owl, all the owls currently in the shop sat upright on their roosts, trying to look magnificent. Lyuben tried hard not to laugh. All owls are proud and haughty beings, he knew from experience.
"It'll be nice if the owl would be able to bond with him as a familiar too, I guess." Andromeda smiled, thinking of the sweet boy who is her distant cousin's son. He deserves all the love and protection they can possibly give.
Andromeda is almost looking forward to the day when Hadrian would bring his first boyfriend home—more than likely an alpha, and watching Sirius have kittens over the fact that his baby is growing up. Ted acted the same way during Dora's Fifth Year when she and Charlie Weasley started dating, and both of them were betas.
As far as Andromeda is aware of, Dora and Charlie are still dating, though they have kept their relationship quiet. Apart from Andromeda and Ted, the only ones who knew are Bill, Percy, the twins, and a few of Dora's best friends from school. More than likely, they didn't want news of their relationship to reach the ears of Molly Weasley.
If anything, it seems to Andromeda like Molly Weasley's behaviour over the years had only grown worse, not better. Bill and Charlie, prior to their graduations and then getting their jobs, have all but lived at Prewett Manor during the summers just to get away from their mother. And so did Percy Weasley when he had ended up sorted into Ravenclaw instead of Gryffindor like his two older brothers, and then the Weasley twins who have ended up sorted into Slytherin.
Muriel Prewett is almost at the end of her tether, Andromeda is aware. In fact, she half suspects that her appointment with Muriel Prewett next week might just be about getting custody of her grand nephews.
Andromeda can hardly blame Dora and Charlie for not wanting the Weasley parents to know about their relationship. Arthur would never have kept anything from his wife, and Dora and Charlie's friends have helped them to sneak around during their Hogwarts days. Even after Charlie had taken on a position at the Romania Dragon Preserve as a Dragonzoologist, they have still kept in constant contact via letters, and later on, through the communication mirrors that have started selling like hotcakes throughout the world when Sirius had started selling it.
It had likely taken both Charlie and Dora nearly their entire pay for the month to get a pair of them; since Andromeda knew that it isn't cheap, with the amount of work that Sirius had put into it. Should Barty Crouch manage to recover, Andromeda made a mental note to Sirius to suggest bringing Barty on as either a junior partner for his business or even as a full time employee.
There is no way that Barty will be coming out of this entirely unscathed, and returning to his old job as a Healer might not even be possible. But from what Andromeda knew from her talks with Alice, Barty was a whizz at Charms. Professor Flitwick had wanted to take him on as an apprentice, but Barty had his heart set on being a Healer, despite his father's displeasure, as old Crouch Senior had wanted his son to follow him in the Ministry.
Poor Barty. His lifelong dream and career, and even his entire life ruined just because some lazy bureaucrats couldn't be bothered to give him a proper trial and questioning and even check his fucking arms?!
Hoot.
Andromeda blinked when Sirius walked down the aisle with the owls, only to have a pretty snowy owl flew down onto his arm, hooting haughtily. From the specks of black visible on the wings, it is clear that this owl is a female. Though snowy owls are really rare and even expensive. Andromeda wonder how this owl isn't bought yet, as the kids always want snowy owls these days.
"You want to come with me?" Sirius had a smile on his face as he raised the arm with the owl on it to his eye level. The owl hooted again. "You want to meet my Bambi?" Said owl gave Sirius a look rather reminiscent of the look that Lily Potter used to give the boys whenever she thought that they're being stupid.
Lyuben chuckled. "Seems like you've found your present for your boy, Sirius," he said, looking at the beautiful owl perched on Sirius' arm. "That's good. Snowy owls make good companions. Loyal too. She'll be a lifelong companion and friend for your boy."
Surprisingly, the shop assistant was hesitant when ringing up the charges for Sirius when he had brought the owl, along with a cage that he had picked out as well as some treats to the front counter. To hear the shop assistant tell it, it seems like this snowy owl had been brought back by customers several times in the past as she simply refused to work with them or listen to their orders.
It does explains why a snowy owl is still in the shop when normally, they get snapped up quick.
"All right, that's us done here." Sirius said cheerfully, even as he got a cover to cover the cage, but leaving a gap open so that the owl could look out of it if she wants. "I really want to get back home now, but let's just say our goodbyes to Frank first before we do."
XXXXXX
The owl, as it turns out, absolutely adored Hadrian, and it is apparent that she knew just what she was doing and who she would be going home to when she had flown down onto Sirius' arm. Crookshanks on the other hand, wasn't too pleased with having a new addition to the home, which had concerned Hadrian some.
Narcissa had to reassure the worried boy that Crookshanks will accept the new owl whom Hadrian had named Hedwig after looking through some of his new books, and that it will just take some time. For a long time, Crookshanks is the only constant in Hadrian's life. He wasn't too bothered with the owls that Narcissa and Sirius have, and even the eagle owl that Draco had received as a birthday present. But Hedwig is Hadrian's owl. And to Crookshanks, that means he would be sharing Hadrian's attention.
All too soon, it seems like no time at all before Sirius, Narcissa, Remus, and surprisingly, even Liese, as well as Marko and Anastasia were gathering to say goodbye to their children on September 1, as they got ready to depart for Drumstrang Institute.
Unlike Hogwarts that brings their students to the school via the Hogwarts Express that is a several hours journey; Drumstrang has designated areas in the individual magical districts where a teacher from the school would be waiting with a Portkey to bring the students from district directly to the school itself. Drumstrang, unlike Hogwarts, accept students from all over the world, from what Rean and Crow have told them. So no doubt that there would also be arrangements for students from other countries to head to Drumstrang.
Not even the parents knew the exact location of the school. All that Sirius knew from his talks with Marko and Anastasia when he was contemplating to send Hadrian and Draco to Drumstrang is that the school is surrounded by mountains on one side, and lakes and rivers on the other side. The only way to the school apart from Portkey is via boats or by bridge, as the only Floo connection is in the Headmaster's office, and it has a private connection. Unlike Hogwarts, there are always trainee Bulgarian Aurors as security detail for the school. It had become part of the trainee Aurors' training regime in Bulgaria.
Not only does it serves as extra training for the trainee Aurors, the parents' minds will also be put at ease for their children.
"You both have everything?" Narcissa asked, kneeling to Draco and Hadrian's eye level, and dusting off invisible lint on both their uniforms, and straightening out the coats. Bulgaria has cold weather as it is, but with the thick lining of the coats that is part of the uniforms, Sirius could guess that Drumstrang likely had cold weather all year around. "Books? Trunks? Uniforms? Extra cloaks? Quills? Owl treats? Parchment?"
"We have everything, Mama." Draco reassured, exchanging exasperated looks with Hadrian who looked amused. "If we've forgotten anything, we'll owl home."
"Very well." Narcissa tried to smile. "I expect weekly letters from both of you." She looked from Draco to Hadrian. "Study hard, Dragon, and try not to get into too much trouble."
"We will." Both boys echoed. "I'll take care of Hadrian." Draco promised.
"I don't need looking after." Hadrian grumbled, much to everyone's amusement.
"Can all the new first years gather around, please?" One of the professors from Drumstrang called out. It does seems like Drumstrang has more professors than Hogwarts, and more subjects as well, from what Sirius had seen of the syllabus. So that means the professors would be able to watch out for the children better than that of Hogwarts, and not as overworked.
"Children grow so fast." Anastasia sighed wistfully, watching as Viviane joined Hadrian and Draco, and even that of their other friends, as the professor read names off the list that she had in her hand. Once she is satisfied that every single child is accounted for, the professor held out a piece of long rope and instructed the children to hold tight to it, before they were then whisked off.
The same process was repeated for the other year groups, before all the students were soon whisked off to Drumstrang. The trunks and luggage belonging to the students would be collected by some of the school's house elves and delivered to their assigned dormitories.
"I'm going to bet that there will be quite a fuss in Britain by tonight, once people realise that Hadrian won't be attending Hogwarts." Liese pointed out to Sirius who looked resigned. "You best be ready to receive several Howlers, Sirius."
"I have wards around my property to redirect harmful letters containing hexes, curses and jinxes to a sub department of the DMLE here." Sirius reassured Liese. "That is considered criminal behaviour here, thankfully." The words unlike Britain went unsaid. "And Portkeys that aren't created by the Lord of the manor would be disabled once they go through my wards."
It is something that Sirius had gotten the goblins to put up around his property the first time that he had a visit from Lyuben years ago when he had first moved in. Like always, wards cast by the goblins and their cursebreakers aren't cheap, but are some of the best—hence, Sirius had paid for the cost with no complaint, and had even paid extra to have it put up as soon as they could.
"This is where the trouble begins for us, Siri." Narcissa sighed. "Andy is already prepared on her side, so we should be prepared as well."
"I've done everything short of locking Hadrian up in the manor to ensure that he is as safe as we could make him." Sirius sighed, agreeing with his cousin's views. "We taught both boys, and even Viviane to defend themselves—whether it by magic, or even pure mundane fighting."
Prior to this day, Sirius had even had goblin made amulets made for Hadrian and Draco both—though there are more protective enchantments on Hadrian's to ensure that he couldn't be taken advantage of sexually without his consent, due to his status as an omega. Even with Draco, Viktor and even Viviane at the same school, Sirius still worried for his child.
Children might be cherished amongst magicals, with omegas more so, but Sirius knew from personal experience that not everyone is that way. There are always those few who thinks that omegas are just born to be fucked.
Radoslav Kovarev is one such person that immediately comes to mind. And Sirius knew that his son likely is no better. In fact, Sirius had heard of Viktor complaining about the son more than once over the years; with said son having some kind of one-sided rivalry with Viktor. Probably, said son is the type that thinks because his father sits on the House of Lords in Bulgaria's Wizengamot, and he is also an alpha, that he feels entitled to anything that he wants.
Thankfully, Drumstrang has two person dorms; though it is only when students are in their Sixth and Seventh Years before they have private dorms to themselves. Though when students start presenting, that is when the arrangement of dorms will be rearranged once more.
The headmaster of Drumstrang, upon request by Sirius, had roomed Draco and Hadrian together; at least until one or both boys started presenting. From what Marko said, requests like that from parents aren't uncommon.
"They'll be all right, Narcissa." Anastasia reassured. "I went through it myself when Viktor went to Drumstrang for the first time. And now, Viviane will be joining him." She smiled at the worried mother. "It is never an easy matter to see your child off to school for the first time, and away from you. But it'll help them to grow and experience life, and grow up to be valuable members of society."
"It is never an easy matter, I agree." Narcissa smiled weakly. "Maybe I can arrange for weekly care packages to be sent to Draco and Hadrian both." She looked over at Liese. "Care to take me on a tour on what you have for sale, Liese?"
Narcissa eyed her cousin slyly out of the corner of her eye. Sirius would never admit it, but she knew that Sirius more than likely carried strong feelings for the other witch. Once upon a time, Narcissa would never have approved of her cousin marrying a bastard child, even if she is from a prominent family line. But the Narcissa of today wouldn't care after getting to know Liese better, and she admired the other witch for her internal strength.
"I'm sure that Sirius here would love to arrange for weekly care packages for Hadrian as well."
Liese had a warm smile on her face as she nodded; completely missing the sly looks that Narcissa exchanged with Marko and Anastasia, and even Remus. "Of course. If you're both free at the moment, we can head to my shop right now."
XXXXXX
Neville Longbottom is having a particularly enjoyable day.
He had an early breakfast with both his parents and even his grandmother before going to visit his greenhouse for the last time; with the Longbottom gardener promising him to keep the plants healthy and thriving until his return. Following that, his parents and grandmother have then taken him to King's Cross Station to catch the Hogwarts Express.
They have arrived nice and early; and thus, only a few students and their families were lingering about on the platform, also saying their farewells to each other.
"Now, remember what we said, Neville." Alice Longbottom said comfortingly, kneeling to her son's eye level, and arranging his collar. "It doesn't matter where you're Sorted—the House doesn't matter. You can be sorted into Slytherin for all we care. There are good things in each House. Just like there are bad things in each House. We'll be proud of you all the same. Just do your best in school."
Frank nodded solemnly next to his wife. "There will always be some students that think otherwise. But we know better, don't we, Neville?" He winked at his son who giggled, and Frank grinned. "We're going to miss you, son." Frank enveloped Neville in a hug.
"Going to miss you too, Dad." Neville murmured into the folds of his father's robes. "I'll have Susan and Hannah with me. I'll be fine."
"You will be." Alice said bravely. "Write to us every week. Use Sage as much as you want."
The Longbottoms' eyes went towards the cage that held a small grey and white scops owl that currently had his head tucked beneath his wing. A birthday present from Augusta Longbottom to her grandson, much to the boy's delight. The owl too seemed to like Neville a lot, and had spent the two months before the departure to Hogwarts with Neville in his greenhouse, bonding with the boy.
"Well, we all know that this day is coming." Augusta tried to smile at her grandson.
It seemed just like yesterday when Frank had put her new grandson into her arms when Frank and Alice have first brought Neville home from the hospital. She had felt so guilty during Neville's early years due to her brother's treatment of the boy, and had all but barred Algie from her house. When Frank and Alice have recovered, it is only due to familial ties that had stopped Frank from severing their ties with Algie completely. But Frank as Lord Longbottom had made it very clear to Algie that he is on his last chance with them. That if he so much as lay one finger or his wand on Neville, that Frank wouldn't hesitate to sever their ties completely.
"Work hard, Neville. And write often." Augusta's eyes were shining suspiciously.
"I will, Gran." And then, much to Augusta's surprise, Neville hugged her around the waist. "I'm going to miss you."
"Write to Hadrian and Draco too." Alice said. "And remember what we said, Neville: people will be kicking up a fuss over Hadrian not attending Hogwarts. And due to our family's association with Hadrian and Sirius, they will focus on you."
"If Dumbledore tries to bring you up to his office, insist on having us there, and that you won't go until we're there." Frank said with a frown. He is not impressed in the least with Dumbledore's actions for the last couple of years, and had been helping Andromeda to build up her case. Alice too who had recently joined Andromeda's law office as a junior partner had been assisting too.
"I will, Dad." Neville promised. "I should board the train." He added, already starting to see that more families are starting to arrive. "I can probably get some good seats if I board now."
"All right, baby." Alice pressed a kiss against Neville's temple. "We're going to miss you. But I expect a letter from you at least once a week, okay? Study hard and enjoy your time in Hogwarts. We did." She exchanged smiles with Frank. "And if anyone gives you any trouble at all, let us know immediately."
"Okay, Mum."
Both Longbottom parents then watched as their son boarded the Hogwarts Express, dragging his trunk behind him—with there being in-built charms to make the trunk lighter and with also expansion charms on it. There are also anti-theft charms on the trunk that Frank had paid extra for to prevent anyone from rummaging through his son's things.
Alice sighed. "I'm going to miss him," she murmured, looking up at her husband. "I know that this day is coming, but it doesn't get any easier."
"He'll be fine." Augusta reassured Alice. "He's at school. He'll make friends and learn things to help him become a better person than he is when first entering Hogwarts' doors. If anything happen at all, we can always withdraw him."
"Of course." Frank nodded absently. "He's going to be fine, Alice. We'll see him at Christmas."
XXXXXX
"Neville, there you are!" Neville was startled out of his thoughts, having been particularly engrossed in a new Herbology book that his mother had gotten for him at the bookstore when they have gone school shopping a few weeks ago.
The train had departed from the station a few minutes ago, and Neville had the compartment to himself. Most of the older students wouldn't want to sit with a first year, after all.
Susan Bones was standing at the doorway with her trunk, smiling. Hannah Abbott stood next to her. And a boy that Neville only vaguely recognised as Ernie Macmillan stood on Susan's other side, looking really awkward.
"Hi Susan." Neville smiled, closing his book after slipping a bookmark to mark the page he was at. "Do you want to share a compartment?"
"Yes please, if we aren't bothering you." Ernie said awkwardly.
"Not at all."
Neville got to his feet, assisting the two girls with placing their trunks in the compartments above their heads, even assisting Ernie with his.
"I'm going to miss Hadrian and Draco. Even Viviane." Susan admitted once they were settled in their seats. "I mean, we know that they're not going to be attending Hogwarts at all, with everything that had happened."
"I promised that I'll write to them. Maybe you can do that, Susan?" Neville suggested, and Susan nodded, smiling.
"Sue told us a bit about what's going on over the summer." Hannah piped in, having been childhood friends and neighbours with Susan. With Amelia's work, there had been more than once over the years when Susan had spent the night over at the Abbott residence. Ernie too had been a childhood friend of sorts of Hannah's, and Susan and Neville in turn have met Ernie through her, though unlike Hannah, they didn't know Ernie all that well. "It's a bit of a surprise to know that you're friends with Hadrian Potter though."
"Our mothers are best friends." Neville shrugged. "Lily Potter was my godmother, and my mother was Hadrian's. When Lord Black went to Bulgaria and got his affairs in order, he sought to rekindle that relationship. If not for that, I would never have gotten my parents back at all."
"Don't look at me. I'm not about to say anything." Ernie raised his hands up defensively. "My family isn't a fan of Dumbledore either, especially with everything that was revealed over the years. My dad didn't say much, but he told me to be careful of the headmaster. Not that I'll be in his sights—being a Hufflepuff and all." He added. "My family have been sorted in Hufflepuff for generations. That will be where I will be going as well, no doubt."
Hannah was about to say something when the compartment door swung opened without warning, causing all four children to look towards the door immediately. A redhead with worn looking robes stood at the doorway, looking around the compartment as if in search of someone or something.
Neville recognised the redhead immediately as one of the Weasleys.
His parents had quite a lot to say about the whole Weasley drama over the years—starting from the time when Molly Weasley had sent a Howler to Hadrian when he was but four, only succeeding in frightening him and traumatising him. Then when Percy and the twins were sorted into Ravenclaw and Slytherin respectively, the way that Neville had heard his mother put it, Molly Weasley was less than impressed, and had all but demanded for resortings.
From what his father had said, it likely wouldn't take much for the Weasley children—at least, the five eldest, to go to their Great Aunt Muriel and take on the Prewett name. And if Molly Weasley anger Muriel Prewett any further, she might just run the risk of losing the Prewett family magic and name.
His father had also warned him about the Weasleys being staunch supporters of Dumbledore, and to be careful around them. The older kids should be all right. But Frank wasn't so certain about the two youngest kids; which from what is said, seems to have all but swallowed the doctrines that their mother is constantly sprouting.
"Can we help you?" Ernie was not impressed by the lack of manners. And neither were the two girls with them, if the frowns on their faces are of any indication.
"Harry Potter not here? The Boy-Who-Lived?" Ron Weasley demanded, looking in between them as if they might be hiding the boy. "I've been looking for him."
"He's probably hiding from you." Ernie said snidely.
"What's that supposed to mean, loser?" Ron demanded, a flush of red already rising on his cheeks and his ears. "I'm his best friend! Of course he wouldn't be hiding from me!"
Neville had barely been in the presence of Ronald Weasley for five minutes, and he's already getting a headache.
"As you can see, Harry Potter isn't here." Susan said, irritated. "Kindly leave our compartment. The seats are full anyway."
Ron's eyes then fell on Neville, and a sneer appeared on his face. "And these are the people you're hanging around with, Longbottom? A bunch of duffers?"
"Either walk out of here on your own power, Ron, or be hexed." Neville warned, flicking his wrist with the way that his father had shown him to have his wand be summoned from the wand holster on his wrist.
"What's going on here?" A pair of older redheads appeared behind Ron just then, looking vaguely irritated. "Ron, are you making trouble for them?"
"If you want to make friends, Ron, maybe you shouldn't be rude to them."
"Leave me alone, snakes!" Ron snapped at his twin brothers. Only Neville caught the brief look of hurt in the eyes of the twins. "You're no brothers of mine! No brothers of mine would ever be evil snakes!" The boy then stomped off.
The Weasley twins exchanged looks before shrugging and turning towards the gobsmacked first years. "Sorry for that, firsties." The first twin apologised. "Really wished that you hadn't seen that."
"We'll just get out of your hair now."
"Ta-ta."
The compartment door shut.
Silence reigned for several moments.
"Whichever house that I'll be in, I hope he isn't in there." Ernie grumbled, breaking the silence. "So those are the Weasleys, huh?"
"Auntie warned me about them." Susan said carefully. "Said that they're the headmaster's biggest supporters. Told me to be careful."
"My parents told me the same thing." Neville admitted. "I can just imagine the first letter I'm going to be sending to Hadrian. Let's see." He cleared his throat, seeing the amused looks of his companions on him. "'Dear Hadrian, today, I met Ron Weasley on the train to Hogwarts. Not only did he accuse three of my companions for being losers, he even claimed to be 'Harry Potter's' best friend. Whoever this poor guy is, I pity him for having a best friend like that'."
"I want to see Hadrian and Draco's expressions should they receive a letter like that from you." Susan said with a grin, even as Hannah seemed to be dying of laughter next to her, and Ernie is trying to stifle his chuckles. She sighed. "I'm going to miss them."
XXXXXX
Remus Lupin was extremely nervous even as he followed Rean and Crow into an enormous circular chamber-like room where half of the seats were already occupied. Today, Rean and Crow were dressed in formal cloaks, bearing the house crest of Clan Armbrust.
It is the yearly Downworlder Council meeting held once a year, from what Rean had said. And it is high time for Remus to start understanding and involving himself with Downworlder affairs. Whether he wants to admit it or not, Remus is a werewolf, and is considered one of them. The more he denies himself and that he is a Downworlder, the more he is going to upset the Downworld, and especially the Shadowcloaks.
Even as Remus took a glance around the room, he could see Downworlders from different clans gathered. Werewolves. Vampires. Elves. Fey. Gnomes. Hags. Even the goblins were here. Though mostly, these are representatives from their clans, from what Lord Crow had said. Like how Crow and Rean are here as representatives of the vampires, along with a few of the other vampire lords. Though from what Remus knew, Crow hails from the most powerful and influential vampire clan.
The mentioned vampire really doesn't often show it however.
The room is starting to fill up. And when a beautiful vampire countess with platinum silver hair strode in, the room fell in hushes. This woman, Remus knew, is the current leader of the Shadowcloaks, and also a powerful vampire countess in her own right.
A small and petite girl followed by her side. From the scent coming off her, clearly also a vampire.
"Calm yourself. We can scent it and hear it if you're afraid." Rean murmured to Remus in a voice low enough that only the after mentioned werewolf can hear it. "It's just the yearly meetings, and to understand the status of each clan territory, that is all. And also to highlight problems that we might have with wizards and mundanes alike."
"The werewolf packs have the short end of the stick, especially those still in Britain." Crow leaned over Rean to speak to Remus. "We already have requests from more than one of the packs to help them move out of Britain. Not to mention that with the current laws over there, it is not a crime to kill a werewolf—whether they be in wolf or human form, unlike other countries."
Remus tried to choke down his anger. The more he worked in the Archives for the Bulgarian Ministry of Magic, the more he had realised that there is a lot that Magical Britain did to disadvantage the 'creatures' and even the Muggleborns. Is it any surprise that there is a blood war that is so bad that it nearly wiped out half of their population?
"Who's the representative of Britain's werewolf packs?" Remus asked, curious.
"It's—"
"Are we all present?" Aurelia Le Guin's sharp and crisp voice cut across the room just then.
"Not yet. We have one more coming." Towa Herschel reported, eyes flickering over the clipboard in front of her. "It's—"
"Sorry that I'm late." The double doors of the chamber opened before slamming shut again. Up in the seats with Rean and Crow, Remus felt all the blood almost drain out of his body. The new arrival is clearly a werewolf, who seemed uncomfortable in a shirt and pants, with a loose gray jacket around his shoulders.
"State your name and position."
"Fenrir Greyback. I'm the Alpha of the Greyborne pack, and representative of Britain's werewolf packs." Fenrir Greyback's golden eyes flickered around the room before landing on Remus, and his eyes widened a slight fraction. "Pleasure to be here."