Chapter 1849 - Ch: 16-17

Chapter 16

November 20, 1994

-o-

DAILY PROPHET

TROUBLE AT HOGWARTS

By Rita Skeeter

With only days to go before the first event of the Tri-wizard Tournament, this reporter, Rita Skeeter, Winner of Witch Weekly Best Writer Award, can reveal big trouble at Hogwarts.

As has been previously reported, the underaged Wizard, Dracon Malfoy, has found his way into the contest. The Headmaster and Department for Magical Games said all precautions had been made and the DMLE is still investigating. Lord Malfoy has been very vocal in his support for his son when asked. "I have full confidence Draco will perform to the best of his abilities. If the people running this farce had done the same, then he would not be in it. Or perhaps they had. The Headmaster is getting well past his prime."

Albus Dumbledore would not respond to this, but it is known the ICW has issued a censure to him for missing a few emergency meetings in the last few months. Could his vaulted position as Head Mugwump be in jeopardy? It may be time for him to step down if he can't handle Hogwarts and the ICW. Thirty-eight years as Head Mugwump may be enough?

Then there is the other problem. Both the Headmaster, DMLE and Minister are all stepping around or in this one. Could there be something larger going on than what has been reported?

The diminutive Boy-Who-Lived has been confirmed as one of those raging beasts we all know of as werewolves. Friday night he instigated a mass breakout of the other werewolves under the WRC overlook at the full moon. Rumor is that he killed several students or town folks of Hogsmeade. One student was reported as saying, "It was horrible. There where body parts everywhere."

The DMLE refutes these claims, but it has been known in the past they have hidden or covered up major events to keep the Wizarding world 'safe'. They claim it was a pack dispute covered under the ICW and that no innocents were harmed. But while they were dealing with blood crazed beasts on the ground of Hogwarts, there was a break in at the Hogsmeade Branch of Gringotts. The goblins will not confirm if anything was stolen, but this brings into doubt the security they offer to wizards and witches. In four years, that is two break-ins in a place that is supposed to be the safest place to store our valuables. Maybe it is time for a review of our treaties?

As for the Tournament, the DMLE, ICW and French Aurors have increased security. it is encouraged that anyone wishing to attend the first task this Thursday arrive about two hours early. The incompetent DMLE is instituting security checks into the grounds and into the arena for the first task.

Let us just hope things go wrong again Thursday.

-oOo-

November 24, 1994

Hogwarts, Scotland

Classes had been canceled today for the first task of the Tournament. Harry was using it as an excuse to lay in. Since last week, McGonagall had agreed that any of the Lobos could eat in their dorms for any meal. The school was afraid or angry at them. It didn't matter that it was only Hermione and him that had broken out. The non-stop bashing in the Prophet had made it so he didn't want to go anywhere outside of the dorm, unless it was out into the cold November air of the grounds.

Hermione was already up, sitting at his desk and scratching away at a piece of parchment. She was wearing his favorite Gryffindor Jumper, her legs curled up on the chair with Crookshanks on her lap. He could see small goosepimples on her legs from the cool air of the castle. Revenah, the grey kneazle that had moved in with them, was nowhere to be seen. That wasn't that uncommon. She only seemed to curl up with Harry, and that was only at night or the few times they would find her in the dorms in the afternoons. She wasn't Hedwig, but he liked her. Most mornings she was gone by the time they woke up.

Light was coming into the dorm from the window, so he figured it was past nine.

He wanted to fall back to sleep but knew he wouldn't. Throwing his hands over his head, he stretched his body and yawned. A thought that Hermione was corrupting him passed his mind. He would never have slept in like this before. The Dursley's, and the fear of them, never would have let him.

"Morning, luv," Hermione said not looking up from her parchment.

"Does it have to be," he asked.

She snorted. "Yes." She sounded and smelled annoyed.

He reached a hand out and rubbed her leg. She pulled it up out of his reach. When she lowered it again, Crookshanks was glaring at him, unhappy he had been disturbed. "I am trying to concentrate on a letter to my parents and then I need to figure out how to take care of that hag Skeeter."

He sighed. McGonagall had also allowed them to start taking all mail in their dorms instead of the typical morning delivery in the Great Hall. The Prophet must have been delivered already and gotten her hackles up.

He sat up and saw the paper on the other side of the desk. "Should I read it or not?"

She huffed. "Well I am not going to read that tripe again. The bloody bint called us raging beasts again and is now saying the DMLE is covering up a massacre. It doesn't matter the next story refutes the cunts claims. The front story is a picture of us that day we signed the bloody registry. I knew this would happen. I warned Madame Bones." She let out an aggravated scream as her quill tip snapped. "Second one today. Scorgefy," she said pointing her wand at the ink spot. It quickly cleaned up and she grabbed the last quill in his holder. He would have to send Hedwig out later to get more.

He also tried not to laugh. It was not a laughing matter what the Prophet was doing, but Hermione was not one to swear or get this riled most of the time. She looked at him over her nose in an I'm-not-in-the-mood type of way.

"Have you called, you-know, to bring up some breakfast?"

She turned back to her parchment. "I have not called that over-exuberant elf yet. We should go to the Great Hall but I won't be able to stomach the gossip this piece will start." She started to write again.

He reluctantly threw the blankets off himself. He was only in his night shorts and the room was cold. Normally he would grab his jumper but Hermione had started to wear it most mornings, most other times too when she could steal it first. He slipped his feet into the cold bed shoes and walked over to his dresser. He had two other jumpers, but they weren't as nice as his Gryffindor one. Well, not as worn in anyways. He threw a grey and blue knit one over his head and grabbed a pair of pants and new boxers.

"Any letters yet from the DMLE or WRC?" He had to ask. They had been released on Saturday under McGonagall's supervision. There had not been any formal charges or news if they were cleared. His hands still shook some when he let himself think about the life he had taken. Before they had left the cells, he had released the others that had submitted to him. He didn't want them or consider them Pack. He wasn't sure what might happen to them, but if they had killed people before, he wasn't sure if he felt sick or relieved at the idea they may walk through the veil. They were werewolves, like him, but he would never condone the harming of innocents. Anyone in his Pack would live by the same rule.

He was also anxious to hear news about Sirius. It had finally broken yesterday that he had been locked in Azkaban without a trial and that he was Lord Black. That had caused a stir in the school almost as big as what happened Friday night. Harry felt a little guilty that the Tournament was being overshadowed by this, but he wasn't really that excited for it anyways. He was sure innocent creatures would be harmed in this. Before, he probably wouldn't have thought about it that much, but now he was one of them.

He threw his clothes on the bed and moved to Hermione. "I love you," he said wrapping his arms around her shoulders. She stopped her furious writing and put the quill down. A moment later, she put her hand on his arm and leaned her head into him. He took in a deep breath of her scents. Her sweet musk that drove him crazy was still on her from last night. Her hair smelled of her fruity shampoo and she smelled of the parchments and inks she used so often. It was a soothing scent.

"I love you too." He held her like that for a few before she sighed. "There was an article that they are going to set Sirius trial for next Friday."

Harry sighed. He had been so worried for his godfather when the ICW had taken him away. Fudge had rescinded the 'Kiss on sight' order, but the ICW refused to return him until a trial for his original crimes were set. "Thank Merlin," he whispered into her ear.

She squirmed below him. "That tickles," she said.

A grin broke across his face as he moved just a little closer. "What? This? This tickles?" He breathed into her ear as he talked, and she tried to shy away.

"Harry," she scolded him with a laugh. He liked how she moved. Crookshanks, seeming to understand his time with his Mistress was over, jumped off her lap and walked towards the door. Harry liked how she gasped when he took her lobe into his mouth and gently sucked on it. Her voice was breathy when she repeated his name this time. "Harry, I want to get this letter done." He moved his lips down her neck. She cocked her head to the side to let him kiss her whole neck. A sigh escaped her throat as he slipped a hand down her side to slide under his jumper and up to her breast. She let out a moan that sounded as much pleasure as exasperation at him as he cupped one of her perfect breasts. They may not have been overly large, but he liked how they fit in his hand. His hand was almost big enough to fully cup her.

"Harry," she said with no heat as he continued to kiss her neck and start to play with her hardening nipple. "I wanted to send this out this morning."

"Do you want me to stop," he asked, nipping the base of her neck and she growled at him.

"Can I get my knickers off first? I only have a few more clean pairs," she asked him and he smiled as his other hand drifted lower. She moved to kiss him. "Take me to bed?"

He smiled into her mouth and moved to lift her into his arms. She laughed as he flopped her down and moved over her. She had a sultry smile that sent a thrill through him. He leaned down to kiss her as he pushed his jumper up her side to expose her stomach. She reached down to take off her knickers as he kissed her neck again and ran a thumb over her nipple. She let out a sigh as he played with her. After a moment, she was taking his jumper over his head and he pushed up the one she was wearing over hers.

He moved from her neck to her chest as a hand wandered between her legs. She moved and spread her legs with a moan as he ran his hand over her slit. He loved the sound she made as his hands wandered and his mouth sucked on a nipple. The smell from between her legs was so intoxicating that he felt himself pressing hard against his shorts.

"Harry," she panted and the smell of her essence grew stronger than normal. He started to kiss lower today. Her hands went to his hair and encouraged him to go lower. He moved between her legs and she let out a longing groan the first time he put his lips to the top of her mound. He looked up, trying to ask permission without saying anything. Her eyes were closed, her head back and her breasts rising rapidly as he flicked his tongue out to get the top of her slit.

"Please," she asked in a needy tone. It was all he needed to learn how to use his mouth and tongue to please her. It took a little bit to find the spots he knew she liked with his fingers, but soon she was panting and squirming as his lips opened around her slit and his tongue was diving in and out, constantly searching the nip that made her cry out every time he touched it. His tongue was as deep in her as he could get it when he finally felt her clench and pulled the pillow over her face to scream into it.

A few moments later, she lay almost boneless in the bed, breathing heavily. He was on his arm, looking at her and his free hand stroking up and down her thigh. To see her so sated made the decision easy to do this regularly to her. He liked the half smile on her face. He may not have control of most other things lately, but he would show her he loved her and that he would never abandon her.

-oOo-

Edge of the Forbidden Forest, Hogwarts, Scotland

Draco was feeling very nervous as his godfather escorted him down the lawn towards the edge of the forest. It was a path that many students used to get to a few nicely hidden spots on the far side of the Black Lake. Pansy had taken him to one of those spots last weekend to try and relieve his stress after he snapped at a seventh-year that just about pounded him into the ground. If Crabbe and Goyle hadn't been there he would be sporting more than just a shiner on his left eye.

People were already wandering down the path and Aurors were walking around the grounds. Parents and visitors were allowed on the grounds, but not close to the Arena. As they crested a rise in the ground, there was a new dirt, grass and rock wall that had not been there a week ago. It looked like a steep hillside, but it was too perfectly round to have been made by nature. He could see a wooden tower protruding above the wall. The path split not far over the rise. To the left was a sign saying "Champions, Staff and Family ONLY". The other route led to a rock tunnel in the side of the new hill. Uncle Severus led them down the left path towards a large tent tucked against the wall and almost into the trees. He noticed two Aurors outside the tent and four at the other entrance.

He had three goals today: Survive, complete the task and impress his father. If he did those, his life would become easier again. Slytherin would not reject him anymore and he would work to rebuild his dominance. If his father was on his side, then he would have influence and full access to his trust vault again. It would also show his father he would be ready to step into the family legacy in the near future and give him a chance to cement the betrothal with Lord Parkinson and by Christmas she would be his. He wouldn't be able to do any of that, though, if he didn't survive.

"You know what to do," Uncle Severus asked.

Draco nodded. He knew what to do. He just hoped his hands would be steady enough to cast his wand the way he needed too. He also hoped he got the Welch Green or the Chinese Fireball. The other two were nastier and might resist his plan easier. "Yes, Uncle," he said quietly, making sure no one heard him. It was a closely guarded secret that Severus Snape was as close to his family as he was.

Uncle Severus nodded his head.

He led him into the tent. Sprout and Diggory were already here. Diggory had that stupid easy smile he normally wore. Draco wanted to wipe that pretty boy expression off his face. "Malfoy," Diggory said with a nod.

He nodded back. That was all he would give the real Hogwarts Champion. Much of the school still hated him and thought he had put his own name in. Unintentionally he had, but that didn't matter. This was not his idea of a fun day. Servants and others should be taking care of dragons. Wasn't there a whole magical creatures department dedicated to this?

Speaking of creatures, this should have been Potter standing here, not him. How had his plan gone so wrong?

He leaned against a support on the outer wall and Uncle Severus stood nearby. It was very quiet as they heard more people start to move towards the event stadium. Fleur Delacour entered the tent promptly at 12:45, the time they had been told to be there, and Viktor a few moments later. They both eyed him, looking disgruntled he was there. Malfoy held their stare, challenging them to say something. He may not disagree with them, but he would never let them know that.

About five to one, Dumbledork, Crotch and Baggypants entered the tent. "Oh, good morning Champions," a smiling Crouch said to them. "An exciting day. An exciting day. I hope you have prepared for the unexpected. In a few moments we will give you your first task, and the first champion will be called out promptly at 1:30."

The man looked genuinely excited and Bagman behind him looked rather expectantly towards him. "Yes, today will be a big day. I will be announcing the task, not that you will be able to hear me in here. I trust you all will do your utmost best and be successful."

"Yes, right. Now, just to review the rules. You are only to bring your wands, footwear, pants, a shirt and a cloak or robes. If you have anything else on you, please leave them in the boxes next to the chairs with your names. Any items you have will be safe guarded and returned upon completion of the task."

"I 'ave my mot'er necklace I don't want to remove," Fleur said to him.

"All items, Ms. Delacour. Those are the rules. If you wish to bring it in, then you can challenge the cup," Crouch said in a manner that said he would brook no disagreement. "Now, once you receive your task, you are to start the event. You may surrender with blue sparks in the air and you will pass to the next task, but you will not have the clue you need for it if you do not retrieve it first. I would highly recommend completing the task."

Crouch looked around. "Lastly, the judges will grade you on time to complete, finesse, damage to the arena or any creatures that might be involved and a few other minor points."

The saccharin smile the man gave them made his skin crawl. There was something about the man that rubbed him the wrong way. "Ludo, would you do the honors?"

Ludo stepped forward with a bag and crooked smile. He looked to have been hit in the head one too many times while being a quidditch star. "Brilliant. Now, you will be drawing out a creature that you will need to retrieve a golden egg from. Once you receive your egg, the task is over. Simple." Ludo sounded like he was going to a match.

His lip lifted into a snarl. He would like the man to face a dragon. He doubted he would call it simple then.

He watched as the snotty nosed French wench reached her hand in and pulled out a model of a green dragon that snapped at her. She looked resigned, as though she already knew what was coming. She reached down to look at the tag around its neck. Cedric's expression had gone pale and his eyes wide. Draco tried not to laugh. Apparently Sprout or Dumbledore didn't believe in letting their champion know what was coming. Draco was just happy the smile had been wiped from his face. "Very nice choice, Ms. Delacour. A Welch Green. As you can see, you will be facing dragons."

The Bulgarian didn't look surprised either as he drew out a grey scaled monstrosity that looked as surly as the real thing. "Oh, the Ukrainian Ironbelly."

As he watched Cedric reach his hand into the bag, Draco suddenly put the pieces together. "Wait, you said we had to collect an egg. Those aren't nesting dragons, are they," his voice rose against his will as a sense of panic stirred in him. At his words, the other three champions stopped what they were doing and looked at Bagman and Crouch. Crouch's smile faltered for the first time.

"Mr. Malfoy, I think you can keep your voice down," Dumbledore said.

" 'ou 'ave nesting mot'er," the big Headmistress from Beauxbaton rumbled in displeasure.

"How else would they retrieve a golden egg? This is going to be a great show," Bagman said with enthusiasm.

"If we didn't think a champion could handle this then we would not have brought them in," Crouch told her.

"A dragon hoard is different than a dragon nest," Sprout said angrily. "What are you playing with nesting mothers?"

"Be that as it may, Mr. Draco must pick his dragon and then we must get to the judge's box," Crouch said over everyone grabbing the bag from Bagman and shaking it out onto his hand. "Your dragon, Mr. Malfoy," the man said with a glare before tossing the model at him.

"I don't think that attitude is called for," Uncle Severus said. The dragon had spread its wings and glided onto his folded arms. Draco swallowed hard to see the Norwegian Ridgeback. It gave out a roar before it started to climb up his arm. He didn't move, unsure if his stomach would rebel or not.

-oOo-

Dragon Pit, Hogwarts, Scotland

Lucius sat in the box just behind the Minister. After seeing the other three champions complete the task, which ended with two of them leaving on stretchers, he was feeling nauseous. He had not been able to get the betrothal contract completed before the task. Harold was holding out to see how Draco did in the first task, not wanting to bound his daughter until he was sure Draco would survive.

As such, he had paid good galleons for a few private tutors over the last three weeks. He knew it wouldn't be enough, but it had to be. Watching the handlers take out the dragons that the last Champion had faced made the pit in his stomach grow. If Draco were to die or become infertile, then there would be no options left to keep the Malfoy line going. Before the last war, there would have been four possibilities. Two of them he killed at his own hands after his Master had bid him too and the other two died as a results of Aurors or the Order of the Pheonix while supporting the Dark Lord. It was part of why he would never go back to the man if he was really out there.

He knew he was deluding himself. For the first time in thirteen years, his Mark had started to become visible again. If the wanker came back, Lucius would be ready for the thing. He had already destroyed three of the anchors that the man had to the world. Of course, he hadn't quite realized what they were until Harry Potter had killed the first one, but he knew where four where, having been in the man's most inner circle and having been the one to hunt down Regulus Black when he turned. That necklace had sat in his vault in his house until that night he knew what it was.

If Draco survived, Lucius could start to focus more on his own plans.

For now, he felt his gut twist as the Handlers revived the massive Hungarian Horntail. It gave a deafening roar and blew a fireball that even the wards couldn't block all the heat. Lucius looked down the maw of the beast and had the feeling all his plans had been for naught.

He really thought Draco had put his name in until that night the Judges list of names was presented to him. Draco had inadvertently added his own name, but not in the way he thought. Dumbledore had been far sneakier than he had given the man credit for. No, Draco had been entered because someone else had entered him.

Who did he didn't know. The why was obvious. Someone was trying to get back at him.

"The cannon will blow any moment now and we are all waiting to see what the youngest competitor will do," Bagman said with excitement. At least the cunt had the decency to sound contrite as Delacour and Diggory were rescued. Somehow they both managed to get their eggs, but they had been hurt badly. Lucius found he would have rather seen them die. The half-breed harpy was an abomination and the Diggory brat came from parents he would have eliminated if he could have last time.

"Lucius, it will be nice to see if your son is as skilled as you," Cornelius said with a congenial smile and clapping with the rest until the cannon blew. Like the other times, the noise rose as many wanted to see the blood sport this was. If Potter had been out there, he would have been just as excited.

The dragon roared its disapproval at the crowd, releasing a fireball at the stands that rose to the sky as it hit an invisible barrier. He didn't notice people screaming or scrambling back as his eyes locked on the entrance tunnel. While the dragon was distracted, he saw several stones fly into the tunnel. He furrowed his brow. This was not what he had approved.

"If we can have silence for our champion, who seems to be a little shy at coming out," Bagman said with a laugh. "Don't worry in the stands. The wards are strong enough to resist even this angry mother's fire. Ah, here he comes."

Lucius watched as Draco ran out of the tunnel, hands over his head and screaming. The dragon, who had reared on its haunches, saw the screaming boy and landed back on all four, shaking the stadium. Lucius' blood ran cold. He had raised a complete fool who deserved to be put down. His face scrunched in rage. The dragon roared and beat its wings at the small form, but it didn't leave its nest. It followed the screaming boy as he made his way around the edge of the ring towards the exit tunnel.

Lucius drew his wand, unsure if he should curse his son or not. People around him started to laugh. This was not the way a Malfoy acted. His eyes burned with rage and embarrassment.

That was until he saw another figure walk out of the tunnel. This one was in a layer of what looked like water over his clothes. He moved quietly and blended seamlessly into the rocks when he stopped. The dragon roared at the coward and released a ball of fire at Draco. The form screamed as he was consumed in fire and the crowd gasped and screamed started all around.

"Oh, Merlin," someone said close by. His eyes were on the wall though. The form had moved half around the stadium and was behind the dragon. There was no evidence of Draco. Then a second Draco ran out of the tunnel, screaming and doing the same thing. He saw the bludgeoning charm come from the shape along the rocks and hit the dragon. It roared as it was hit in the head and turned towards the new Draco. It didn't wait to charge the boy this time. The dragon beat its wings and lumbered across the floor of the pit. The second it was a hundred feet from its nest, the real Draco dislodged from the wall and ran for the egg.

"Over there," someone screamed. There was a mass movement to see the new indistinct blob running for the nest. Lucius realized that Draco had conjured essential water to cover his body and learned to make a rune dummy. His eyes rose. Those were NEWT level runes, charms and transfigurations the boy had used. Most of it could have been done with the proper runes, which was why he summoned the rocks. He was using runes. Either way, it was a very impressive feat that none of the other competitors had used.

The dragon caught the gist of the now cheering and hopping crowd. It turned to see Draco grab the golden egg and run for the exit. The beast roared and turned, but turning tons of scales, muscle and bones was not an easy task. It was too slow and by the time it had turned, dug its claws in and started for his son, Draco was a hundred feet from the exit tunnel. The horntail roared and then released a massive jet of fire, larger than any it had so far. He saw his son turn and then tucked into a roll as the flames raced towards him.

The flames just barely missed him. Lucius could see steam rising from the coating of magical water. It looked thinner around him, but it had saved him from being burned, if not his life. Draco scrambled to his feet, holding the egg tight and raced for the tunnel. The dragon was hot on his tail. Draco dove and made it into the tunnel just before the dragon hit the wards around the tunnel. It got up, shook its head and roared its displeasure. The stadium exploded in cheers.

-oOo-

Healer's Tent, Hogwarts, Scotland

Pansy burst into the tent. She had run as fast as she could to get down here. A pair of strong arms grabbed her. "Slow down there, Miss."

She tried to shake the man off. "Let me go."

"This is only for family, staff and champions," the wizard in blue robes said, moving her towards the door.

"I'm here to see Draco. Let me go," she told him loudly, grabbing the hand that was holding her arm. The man was holding her so had that she felt where bruises would most likely form. "Draco," she cried out.

"What is this racket," Professor McGonagall asked coming around a curtain. "Ms. Parkinson, students are not allowed in here."

"You have to let me see Draco," she said angrily.

"Family and Champions only," she said in her clipped voice.

"She is family," the smooth voice of Lord Malfoy came behind her. "She is betrothed to Draco and as such is allowed as family."

The blue robed Auror looked to the man and then at Professor McGonagall, who frowned. "Fine. Ms. Parkinson can come in, but she needs to be quiet. Madame Pomfrey is healing Mr. Malfoy."

Her hands went to her mouth. She was afraid he had been hurt at the end. She shook the man's hand off and rushed past him and then McGonagall. Coming around the curtain, she saw Draco laying on his stomach. His robes and shirt had been removed and she could see two large burn spots over his shoulders and half his hair singed off. She couldn't keep the sob coming to her mouth to see him.

"Why is she in here! Get her out," Madame Pomfrey said curtly, moving to take some potion off a shelf.

"I am not leaving my betrothed," she told the woman. She knew her father had been in talks, but if Lord Malfoy had claimed it, then she was. It didn't matter she was fifteen.

The Matron didn't look at her. "Fine. Then make yourself useful. Take that purple bottle and come over here."

She turned to see a bottle on a shelf. She grabbed it and moved to the other side of Draco. "Pour that liberally over the wounds until it starts to spill off them."

The bottle tipped and she watched as the clear liquid fell like water. It hit the burns on his right shoulder and the liquid soaked into the burned area. After a moment, it started to roll off his body and she stopped. "His other shoulder and head too."

She repeated the process. By the time she finished, the Matron was sitting in a chair. "Will he be alright," Lord Malfoy said behind her and she jumped. She hadn't known he was there.

The Matron huffed. "He will be. Not sure about the other two yet. Dragons. Nesting Dragons! What fool decided on that."

"That would be the Head of Games for Britain, France and Poland," Dumbledore said in his serene voice.

She reached to hold Draco's hand. Lord Malfoy had a sneer on his mouth. "You are not welcome here while my son recovers."

"Ah, but I fear I must be. The judges found something they would like to look at closer. Do you have Mr. Malfoy's cloak?"

"I had to vanish it to heal him," Madame Pomfrey said looking at the Headmaster. "Why, Albus."

"I can explain in a moment. Is it safe to revive Mr. Malfoy? We must give marks but can't until I can talk with him. The tournament requires marks within an hour of completion of an event."

"Why must you talk with my son? He completed the task as required," Lord Malfoy told the man.

"Yes, but there are rules and there is some evidence that Mr. Malfoy took illegal objects in his pockets," Dumbledore said. "That will make a large difference in his points and possibly to the Goblet of Fire."

Lord Malfoy sneered. "He did not cheat, if that is what you are implying, Dumbledore."

"Draco didn't take anything into the arena he wasn't supposed too," she said defending Draco.

The Headmaster looked at her. She didn't like his piercing blue eyes or the look of calculation he gave her. "Ms. Parkinson, why are you here?"

"She is Draco's betrothed as of the end of the event," Lord Malfoy said.

"Ah. I see. Now, Ms. Parkinson, do you know anything about what Draco brought into the arena?"

"Of course I do. I helped him review the rules every day for the last three weeks. He had sown in a number of rune chains into the inner layer of his cloak that I worked out with him. They were inactivated, no charms, nothing that wasn't allowed per the rules," she said holding herself up tall."

Dumbledore nodded. "That would explain what we found." He nodded again. "Yes. You are right, there is nothing in the rules about that. I will have to declare Mr. Malfoy clear of this accusation. If you wish to follow, Lord Malfoy, then we can provide your son's scores in just a few minutes."

Lord Malfoy looked at her. "I will meet with you and Draco later, Ms. Parkinson."

She tried to keep a small smile off her face. Draco was going to be better and she was going to be Lady Malfoy someday.

Chapter 17

November 27, 1994

The Black Lake, Hogwarts

The cove looked much the same it had last time he visited five months ago. It was a deep cove with a rocky shore and old trees of the Forbidden Forest growing up the beach. Large roots cut through the rocks and slag here and there and the man thick branches spread out over the water. From the rock on the far side of the cove, there was a clear view to the sight where Harry and Sirius had almost died. For months now, Albus had tried to figure what went wrong with his plan. What ever happened that night he saved Sirius appeared to be the catalyst to all the events that had happened since.

Albus Dumbledore didn't understand why it was such a changing event. He had monitored the boy and his friends from the castle, losing track of them when the fool Remus realized he hadn't taken his potion. The house elf that had been following them had suddenly disappeared. It wasn't until four days later that he had found the body of the creature. There wasn't a mark on him and casting to detect what had happened revealed that Peter Pettigrew had killed the elf, probably because he thought he was being followed.

After that, he wasn't entirely sure what happened besides Harry and Granger's story.

Apparently, that had been a major oversight on his part. He had no clue that the two teens could affect so many changes in the matter of an hour.

He cast around to make sure he was alone. The only creature he sensed was a centaur on a ridge that overlooked the cove. The centaur was no concern to him. The creature would never talk to any wizard about what he was to do. Part of the treaties with Hogwarts and the Centaurs was to leave the Headmaster alone. He never bothered to consider the clause 'unless a clear threat is posed'.

Casting his wand again, he made a very complicated series of movements and silent spells. An array of blue glowing ruins started to form a circle about five feet from him. That was the point Harry had cast his patronus. Albus had checked on it quickly the day after, but only to see if their story was accurate. The boy had cast a powerful patronus that had scared off a number of Dementors but he doubted it was upwards of a hundred like had been claimed. After seeing what the boy's pack had done last weekend, the doubt had grown in him. He had thought it just normal teenager exaggerations. What if it hadn't been? Could it have been more than the dozen dementors, like he had originally thought it was?

Strong magic, especially some as strong as the boy and his chit had explained, left traces for months, if not years. The stronger the magic, the longer the trace would last. Seeing that the ring of ruins and complicated circles and symbols was complete, he stopped casting and moved to the array.

Looking at it, he frowned and scrunched his brow. The array that had formed was different. It was not the typical one he expected from the boy. The power level was magnitudes higher than what it had been when he checked last Christmas. The source was pure and untethered. The level of response of the spell was almost on par with his own without the Elder wand. Albus didn't like this at all. The boy was too young for this level of power.

Focusing on a part that seemed wrong, he studied it for minutes. Why was he worried about his power being pure and untethered? He had already figured that Harry must have broken the binding on him. The boy's power had grown each year, which only made sense with him snapping his childhood charms. As much as he would have liked to roll back the boys power, it would be too dangerous and impossible to hide. Since none of his treatment at St. Mungo's had involved the breaking of power bonds, they must have all been broken by this night.

That still didn't explain the fact that it was three or four times what it should have been.

He moved to look at a particular set of runes sideways. His eyes started to dilate as he realized what they were.

The power used in the spell was pure. To create a patronus, it didn't need to be, but the purer the source, those not tainted with dark magic, made a stronger patronus. This was a pure power source. As in no mark of darkness or doubt. A patronus was as much power of the caster as it was the thought of the wizard. If either contained any ill intent, any dark thoughts, any dark magic, it would work, but never be that powerful.

Harry had been able to put all his considerable power into the patronus. It was a pure thought and pure magical core that had allowed him to produce a patronus that most likely had chased more than a hundred dementors away. Suddenly, their story was perfectly plausible. It sent a thrill and chill through him.

Swallowing, Albus started a new array. As he did, a ghostly image of what happened that night came to life in the cove. Only the power of Harry's spell left enough of an impact of events that he could do this. He watched dementors form near him and started to drift in an out of sight. It would have been the same sight the boy saw.

As Albus watched it spread across the cove, his eyes widened to see dozens, probably far more than a hundred, dementors moving in and about the cove. They stretched up for a hundred feet or more in a vortex. As one dementor would drift down to take a taste of the two forms on the far bank, another would decent up.

A ghostly Harry, and then a ghostly girl materialized next to him. He raised a brow at this. The girl was outside Harry's vision, but she was here. His frown deepened. Granger had a far deeper link with Harry than he had thought. Runes started to form around her. He didn't have any time to look at it before the shadow shouted, "Expecto Patronum!" The spell had a power that echoed through the months.

Albus took in a deep breath to see a stag larger than he had ever seen explode from his wand. It was a corporeal patronus that looked almost solid. Much like the wolf that had been described to him from Remus' class. It was a strong wizard to make such a form. An even stronger emotion to give it such size and power. He watched as the stag ran across the water. As he turned, his breathing stopped.

He saw the unmistakable glow of a soul being swallowed by a dementor. The creature was already lifting, dropping Harry's body in the rocks, when the stag hit the dementor. There was a soundless scream as an antler ripped the creature in half and it slowly turned to smoke as the stag ran around, mauling or throwing other dementors. His eyes focused on the one that had taken Harry's soul. It was almost completely gone. No bit of white light or anything jumped out of it. It had taken and consumed what it wanted.

Albus stared at the spot, unaware of what else was going on. The boy's soul was gone. The boy was soulless. An empty husk. The thing in his head was free to take over his body. He turned to see the ghost next to him. He didn't understand how he was looking at a boy that looked every inch the son of Lily and James Potter, when there was a lifeless husk on the other side of the cove. The boy next to him was three hours older than the one on the rocky beach, but he looked alive, healthy, determined and... and... in love.

The boy was in love. He could see it in his eyes, the way he angled his body to put himself between Granger and the dementors and the way Granger was fully materialized not three feet from him. Harry Potter, thirteen-year-old Harry Potter, was in love with a muggle-born witch. She was there because she was the power he drew on to make his patronus. She was there because he could see the same thing in her eyes.

Albus looked back across the cove. The three-hour younger Harry had come back to life. He saw him pick up his head before collapsing on the beach again. Albus looked back and forth a few times before it hit him. He took a stumbling step back as though actually struck. After the last dementor was gone, he watched the stag, the spirit of James, canter around the cove two more times before coming back to Harry. The two teens on this side of the cove looked at the stag with awe. Harry touched the stag before it turned to the girl. The stag bowed to her and then Harry before vanishing into wisps of white light.

After a moment, Granger raised her wand and shot up sparks in the air before gently pulling Harry away.

The scene dissolved as he watched Harry's foot leave the circle of runes. That was all that was left. Two circles of runes. Albus had just witnessed an act of love. Love for the boy's godfather and love for the girl by his side. He doubted either of them realized it at the time, but magic has a way of seeing things done. Harry was destined for the girl and the girl for him.

They were destined. They were mates before either of them had been turned. The potions that Severus had to keep increasing in strength made sense. How did he not see this before? Albus figured the boy would have some relations here and there until it was his time, but he had not planned on him becoming attached. The Dursleys and his manipulations should have prevented that.

He was blind to see the wizard's bond that had formed between them. He had always assumed that Weasley had claim to that bond he knew formed that night they had saved her from a troll. It was a life debt, much like his own. Apparently, she must have had some claim over Harry and the debts had formed into a bond, and then into love. Perhaps she had done more to save Harry than he had ever suspected?

He had also witnessed the death of a horcrux without the death of the carrier. Something he hadn't known possible.

He looked around and sat on a rock that was knee high. He needed to sit. Thirteen years of plans made on incomplete foolish assumptions. He had willingly reduced a babe of only fifteen months to an object of his plans. Tom Riddle died trying to kill the boy. His mother's love for him saving the boy. He had tried everything he could think of to make sure the boy didn't feel love so when the time came, he would go willingly to save a lost soul that he loved.

All his manipulations of the Dursley's. All his manipulations to isolate and separate Harry from anything that might give him a connection had utterly failed. Now, he didn't need the boy to die. It was probably better that he didn't. As he pondered, it made sense why the wards failed, but his instruments didn't warn him. He was monitoring the affects on the boy. Even with the horcrux gone, it was probably months for the traces of dark magic to be cleansed from his body. More surprising was that even with the traces, he had summoned such a pure patronus.

This night marked the turning of his plans in ways he hadn't noticed at the time. He had been focused on the upcoming ICW legislation session and rumors of Voldemort gaining a rudimentary form. He had assumed things had gone a certain way, mostly on educated assumptions. Why would he suspect that the same love Lily Potter had for Harry would blossom between two young teens? Why would he even suspect that there was a way to rid a horcrux of its dark magic without destroying it? It had never been documented that was possible.

Then there was the prophesy. What did this mean now? He had always assumed the mark was the horcrux. If Harry was no longer a horcrux, did that mean he was still marked?

Marked. Harry had had a marked increase in his powers. He had always wondered how the horcrux had not taken over Harry. He now had a suspicion that Harry himself, from fifteen months old, had been blocking the fragment. It would take a great amount of power to do that. A power magnitudes higher than a typical fourteen year old boy would possess. A power the boy possessed now.

He would have power the 'dark lord knew not'. He had always thought it was love. The love of his mother. Now, it would be the love of a family the boy was building. It would also be a reserve of power that many three times his age wouldn't dream of having. How was Dumbledore going to control this? The last two people with power like that at that age had turned out to be the darkest wizards in a thousand years. Would he have to worry about Harry? Or would he choose to follow a path of light like he himself had.

Albus was starting to think he may have to change his approach. So far, he had been treating Harry like a pawn. Now he may have to look at him as a future equal. One that would be able to rival Tom's or his power without a wand of power or rituals to make you thus. He would be a natural mage. He was also now a dangerous creature.

Albus could see the rune circles were still there. Getting up, he figured he should study them more. The magic done here would probably leave a trace for years, but he wasn't sure if he would come back. He had found what he came for and more.

-oOo-

December 3, 1994

London, England

Hermione was wearing finely cut blue witches robes with a white blouse and blue skirt. The buttons were all done up on her robes and the crest of House Potter was over her left breast. Her heels clacked on the stone floor as she walked towards the upper courtrooms on Level Two of the Ministry. Remus had taken them to get fit for the robes Tuesday evening after they received owl summons for Friday.

Her hand was wrapped in Harry's. The way they squeezed each other's hands the only sign of how worried they were. She gave a side long glance to Harry. He walked, head in the air and a determined look on his face. He was wearing black wizarding robes that made him look very handsome. On his left chest was the same crest.

Remus had pointed out that as registered mates, they were technically betrothed and she was technically part of his house. She had never thought of that before, but today that might make a large difference. They would not be able to claim her a houseless muggle-born. She was protected by what was, and supposedly still could be, a power house in the wizarding world when he could claim his inheritance.

She could feel and smell how nervous Harry was. They were here to face charges or exoneration of their crimes the last full moon. It was also the day Sirius would face the entire Wizengamot. His trial was scheduled for after theirs. Tonks was also scheduled to face her Tribunal. In a few hours they would know if she was still to be an Auror or not.

Her insides bubbled with worry over all the big events in their life today. In an hour or so she and Harry would either be escorted down to the DMLE holding cells waiting their next step to Azkaban, or they would be sitting in the stands, watching Sirius. She hoped for the later.

As they approached the courtrooms at the end of the corridor, she noticed there were six Aurors and a dozen people she assumed to be reporters. "There is Potter," someone said. Harry grabbed her hand tighter as three of them raised cameras and flashes went off. "Mr. Potter? Mr. Potter, is it true you killed a dozen muggles?"

"Is Hermy Ganger your girlfriend?"

"Is that the Potter crest? Mr. Potter, have you claimed your scion rights?"

"Do any of you belong to Fenrir Greyback?"

It was like sharks to chum. She tried to shield her face as they rushed them and the cameras went off again. Harry pulled her to his other side and the tucked her in close. She didn't resist. "There will be no questions at this time," Remus cried out and two of the Aurors stepped up. "You must stay behind the line."

"Mr. Potter. Rita Skeeter of the Daily Prophet, do you want to respond to some of the accusations," a woman in vibrant purple robes and showing far more of her bosom than she should asked trying to get close to them. Hermione recognized the name and gave the witch a scathing look. This was the first time she had seen the woman and she found she instantly loathed her. Her smell of overapplied perfume and wet, rotten reeds turned her nose.

"There will be no questions at this time," Remus said irritably. "Into the other rooms." He tried to shuffle Harry and her into the room.

An Auror stopped them. "All those accused must leave their wands here," the woman told them.

Harry didn't question her as the reporters and photographers kept trying to get their attention. He took out his wand. "I will be getting that back later," he told the woman. Ted Tonks had gone over the laws and what they did. At most, the last incident was enough to get a warning, but they were allowed up to five such warning because no non-creature was injured. She just hoped the Wizengamot saw it that way.

With reluctance, she handed over her own wand and they were shuffled into a nice atrium. There was a tall podium with a wizard in black robes in the center of the room and three doors equally spaced behind him. A smaller wizard was sitting on a bench next to the left most door. When he saw them, he got up and moved towards them. He was as unlike his wife as he could get. The man was short, perhaps 1.6 meters, a little larger around the middle with a round face, hazel eyes, dark hair and glasses.

The man was friendly and easy to a laugh. The two times they had met him so far, she had really liked the man. Much like she liked his wife, Healer Andromeda Tonks and his daughter, Nymphadora. Today the man had a more somber feel to him. "Good day. It would be nice if we could get together under different circumstances. Andromeda has really grown fond of these two," the man said shaking Remus hand. "It would also be nice if you bring my daughter over some night."

Remus looked a little abashed. She hadn't seen Remus like that. "I'll see what I can do, Ted. Are we ready for today."

"Yes. They should be opening the doors to Courtroom Two shortly. How are you, Ms. Granger?"

She smiled at the man, though she felt anything but happy. "As well as can be. You?"

"Just fine, my dear. Just fine. And you, Mr. Potter," he asked.

Harry shook the man's hand, not smiling. "If you do nothing else, keep Hermione out of Azkaban."

Ted gave him a solemn nod. She looked at Harry shocked. "Harry James Potter, you promised no sacrificing yourself," she said with narrowed eyes and flared nostrils.

Mr. Tonks took a look at her and shook his head. "I intent to see you both back to Hogwarts tonight." He pulled Harry in so he could speak into his ear. "A word of advice from and old man to a young one. It is not wise to upset your significant other like that. Don't tell them until after you do something."

She took in a sharp breath and she glared at the man. She knew instantly where Tonks got it from. "Did you just tell him..."

"They just opened the doors," Remus said moving to push Mr. Tonks along.

She turned on Harry. "Don't you dare," she warned, knowing what he was going to do. She had made the decision to challenge the other pack just like he had. He was not going to take all the blame.

He gave her a smirk that raised her ire more. "Come you two, they are already filing in."

She huffed and took the arm Harry held out for her. They had been instructed to enter this way. As they walked in, her ire at Harry and Mr. Tonks was gone. It was a small, semi-circular room with a nice varnished table in the center of the room that faced to the right of the room. Madame Bones was already there, as where six other people in black robes with large black lapels and black high top hats. She was surprised when she saw a man with a greying dark hair, glasses and a kind face. Next to him sat Dedalus Diggle. When he noticed them, he waved. She was sure it was mostly at Harry.

Hermione tried to ignore the reporters filing in from a different door. She was surprised to see Mr. Weasley come in with Healer Tonks and her daughter. More surprising was when she saw her father and mother. Apparently, her father being a 'classified creature' must allow him in here. She was surprised at the emotions to see them. Harry took her hand and squeezed, as though sensing her distress.

They waved. "Hey, mum," she said quietly. The Skeeter bitch saw the interaction and descended on them. Luckily, Healer Tonks had seen it and quickly took them into the family and friends section away from the reporters. She could smell her father and any sense she had before of wanting to attack him was gone. She was going to give them both a big hug when she could.

A gavel sounded in the court. "All, please be seated. The DMLE calls to order the Inquiry of Harry James Potter and Hermione Jean Granger pursuant to the Werewolf Reform and Integration Law and possible violations thereof. This court recognizes that a change in departments of the controlling body, the Werewolf Reform Commission, has been moved to the Department for the Control and Regulation of Magical Creatures, Beings Department, pursuant to control by the DMLE and new Head of the Commission to be Amos Diggory."

Madame Bones was rambling off at a quick pace. Hermione could tell the woman was going to run a tight ship on this inquiry. She was overall impressed with Madame Bones. She played by the rules and enforced all laws as best she could, even if she had some rows with the much older witch. "Barrister for the subjects of interest, it is recognized you have not been informed of this change that was only recently completed this morning. Do you have objections or wish to appeal for a new date?"

"May I have a moment to confer with my clients," Mr. Tonks asked.

"Up to five minutes," Madame Bones nodded.

She flicked her wand and then turned to the man next to her. He looked of Indian origin and she thought he might look familiar. "I have no objections to this change. I know Amos Diggory as a fair man. Do you have any reserves," Mr. Tonks asked turning to them.

"Will they be able to hear us," Harry asked.

Remus shook his head. "Privacy charms so that the Wizengamot or the defense can talk to their clients."

"I thought we were just hear for an inquiry, not as defendants," she asked with wide eyes.

"Mr. Lupin chose the wrong word. You have not been accused of anything to date, but he is correct. We are in a privacy ward. Why, Mr. Potter?"

She could see Harry was eyeing the man. "Would he hold it against me that I punched his son?"

Mr. Tonks looked at him wide eyed. Remus chuckled and she looked at the man. Mr. Diggory looked like someone who laughed and joked and wouldn't hold ill will that way. "Harry, I know of Amos Diggory by reputation only, but from that, I can tell you he has a reputation of being a fair man."

"I must agree with Mr. Lupin. I have dealt with him before in other cases and never found him to hold any grudges and to always treat any creature, I know you are not a creature, Ms. Granger," Mr. Tonks said quickly when she went to open her mouth. "He has treated everyone I have represented, no matter what they have done, with the same respect he would anyone else."

"Harry, I think it best if we just go with it."

He turned to her and after a moment nodded. "No, Mr. Tonks. I have no issues with this change."

He nodded. For the next hour and a half they relived that night, heard their testimony read again and Harry agreed to be put under Veritaserum. She was sad it finally had to be revealed he was the alpha only because it would be all over the papers. He had claimed the status and could not back down now. It was also asked about why she would have a House Potter crest. Her status as his claimed mate cemented their status as a betrothed couple, under the Preservation and Magical Heritage Act. In all but name she was a Potter now in the Wizarding world. She wasn't able to gage her parents' reactions to that. Her father seemed to accept it, while her mother didn't look as pleased.

When Harry finished giving his testimony under Veritaserum, the court took a recess. "When we return, we will announce if any charges are to be made." Madame Bones banged her gavel and the seven Wizengamot representatives walked out a side door. The court broke into conversation. She did her best to ignore the call from the reporters.

They sat there. They weren't criminals, not yet, but the official rules said they couldn't talk to anyone in the gallery and if they left they would need to be escorted by an Auror. It seemed like a long time they waited and she was about to finally breakdown and go to the bathroom before the door opened on the right of the room. She noticed that it was only Madame Bones and one other person this time.

She sat up straight. Harry sat up, his face impassive, but his nervousness rolled off him. It was almost overpowering. They had to maintain their composure though. There was murmuring from the reporters. She wasn't sure if this was good or not. Mr. Tonks smelled uncertain. When Madame Bones sat, the court went quiet.

"Mr. Potter, this council has found your reports substantiated. Evidence and testimony given by you, Ms. Granger, Aurors and Healers present, those you captured and the ICW Auror Le Brun can only lead to one conclusion. There was a pack that had gathered in the Forbidden Forest with intentions of attacking Hogsmeade village and claiming a new territory. You knowingly broke out of voluntary confinement to stop said pack. A member of your pack, Nymphadora Tonks, Junior Auror of the DMLE, did knowingly help you, her Alpha, in this effort. She was found not to be under the influence of you or your mate and had done so to save the lives of those around you when you threatened to overpower the ward stones of no less than two cages in the WRC confinement building."

"Once you managed to escape, you and your mate, Ms. Hermione Granger, did knowingly avoid any exposure to students and staff of Hogwarts as you made your way to the pack that you claim was challenging your territory. On your way, Ms. Tonks joined you in her registered animagus form. You were also joined by another member you have since claimed as a member of your pack, Sirius Black. He joined you in his unregistered Animagus form."

There was a large stir in the courtroom, and she was forced to bang her gavel again.

"There will be silence or I will clear this room to complete this inquiry," Madame Bones said forcibly. She waited for people to calm down.

"Testimony from Lord Black," there was more of a stir. She stood and the court quieted again. "Aurors, you are to remove anyone else in this room that says anything else before I declare this over. Testimony from Lord Black, under the influence of veritaserum, shows he tried to stop Mr. Potter before he understood what was going on. He then offered to hand himself in after his godson was rescued."

There was a sense of shock in the room. Hermione smirked. Let those that thought the man was a criminal be shocked. He had been steamrolled through the system. Madame Bones held her hard gaze to make sure no one was out of line. "After ensuring his godson was safe, he willingly turned himself in to an ICW Auror."

"Given the facts, this inquiry finds that on the night of November 18, 1994, your pack was the first pack in the area and does have precedence to claim territorial rights per the Intelligent and Near-Intelligent Rights Act due to residence in the area. As such, it is found that this was a pack territorial dispute that had the consequences of preventing a major incident. It is also acknowledged that the choices of you and your pack to prevent any harm to innocent by-standers is commendable."

"Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger are cleared of any possible charges as they were acting in an approved manner for their kind and allowed under law. The actions of Auror Tonks were not done under the influence of the pack Alpha. Claim of Alpha dominance is denied, thus she shall be evaluated later today. Lord Black is found not to have committed any crimes on said night of question and his actions shall be entered into his trial at one this afternoon. Inquiry closed," she banged her gavel and the room exploded.

-oOo-

London, England

Sirius was looking into the courtroom. Four ICW Aurors joined three Ministry Aurors around him. The Ministry Aurors had tried to take him when he was portkeyed into the Atrium and they had been refused. Until he was convicted or freed, the ICW claimed rights over him. He was thankful for that. Two of the Ministry Aurors looked at him with disgust while the last was more reserved.

Sirius understood. To them, he had betrayed the Corp and family. There were no higher crimes to them. "Stand back, Black."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "That's Lord Black, Yaxley," he corrected. "And what law am I violating to look? Oh, there is the Minister. Who's the pink toad?"

The Auror that looked reserved snorted.

"Hush it, Fawlsey."

"Yes, sir," the Auror said.

"Is that a Condemned chair," one of the ICW Aurors asked.

Yaxley gave an evil eye towards the Auror's back. "It is. We'll get a good sense of his guilt soon."

"Lord Black will not sit in that chair. The British Ministry of Magic shall provide a different chair per the International Criminal Extradition Act, Clause 8, no devices of torture shall be used."

Yaxley snarled. "The ICW does not have jurisdiction here, Captain Stacey," he said in a dismissive tone to the woman.

"You are wrong, Captain Yaxley. Lord Black is in custody of the ICW. He was transported here to face charges of the British Ministry of Magic. Per Treaties, you are to follow all ICW protocol or Lord Black will be transported back to Stockholm," she said with force.

Sirius raised an eyebrow at her. He had known some forceful woman, but something about the way she handled Yaxley was hot. "Captain Stacey, are you busy after this farce is done," he asked.

She acted as though she hadn't heard. "Remove that chair, Captain Yaxley, or provide another."

Yaxley looked at the woman hard, his blue eyes full of ill intent. He seemed to be considering his words carefully. "No," Yaxley said after a moment.

Captain Stacey turned to him, her dark eyes not impressed. He wasn't sure if it was with him or Yaxley. "Lord Black, would you care to return to Stockholm until better accommodations can be provided for your trial?"

Sirius had to stifle a laugh at the way Yaxley's face mottled. He gave a crooked smile, seeming to consider the option and Yaxley glared at him. "As tempting of an offer as that is, I would prefer to stay and see my godson when I am released."

She nodded. "Auror Verona, you will conjure a standard courtroom chair and table for Lord Black and his council when we take him out," she said to a man behind him.

"Si Capitano," the man responded.

A gavel sounded in the courtroom. Sirius was nervous. He knew he was innocent. There was evidence to prove it, but he had never known the Wizengamot to be perfectly Just. He just hoped gold exchanged hands in his favor. He looked back into the courtroom as it settled down. Ted Tonks was in the center of the room, next to the chair. He could hear Dumbledore talking, announcing the full tribunal and rules of the court. Hearing the man's voice sent a chill through him. He was going to go back to Azkaban.

"Excuse me," Captain Stacey said and walked out of the holding room.

He strained to hear and see what was going on. "Step back Black or I will stun you myself," Yaxley said in a snarl.

The ICW Aurors took a half step towards him and their wands were in their hands. "... to this tribunal. As an agent of the ICW, I must insist that any member of the ranking departments at the time be removed."

There was an uproar in the courtroom and Sirius smiled. Apparently, he wasn't going to be the only show. Being taken in by the ICW may be the best thing ever. It was quiet fun to listen to Dumbledore argue with the witch, and then Fudge. When the pink toad like thing spoke, her more girly voice sent a chill through him. No, he did not like the pink toad. After ten minutes, he laughed to see a disgruntled Dumbledore, the pink toad and a few others move to the Audience section as they started to walk out. He Recognized Crouch, after all these years, and Trevor. They had been thick as thieves at the top of the DMLE when he was an Auror.

Captain Stacey came back in. "We can take you out now," she told them.

The Wizengamot was still trying to organize itself as he was marched out to the center of the large courtroom. It felt more like a dungeon with its grey stone and damp feel. The whole room looked like it had been hewn out of the stone that was under the Ministry. He sniffed and his head turned to see Harry, Hermione and Remus together. His cousin and her daughter were behind them. He had been surprised when Ted had offered to represent him.

The gavel struck and Sirius was looking at Fudge in the Chief Warlock seat. Dumbledore looked most displeased as he glared at the beautiful Auror by his side. A table and two chairs were conjured and he took one. "The defendant is to sit in the chair provided," Fudge said out loud. He saw his old Boss in the seat next to Fudge.

"Minister, as Captain Stacey already stated, he is in ICW custody and that chair is not per treaty codes," Bones piped up.

Fudge looked distinctly uncomfortable. "Fine. Fine. Now let's get on with this."

The man looked flustered and ready to end whatever façade this was going to be. Sirius tried not to laugh. His trial hadn't even started and half the people he worried about were out of the voting Wizengamot and a few others looked flustered. He didn't miss a blonde prat looking at him with a scorn. He raised an eye at his cousin's husband. He hadn't seen Lucius in many years.

The gavel banged again. "The Wizengamot calls to order the Trial of Sirius Arcturus Black, on this, the third day of December, nineteen hundred and ninety-four. The accused is charged with..."

Sirius didn't listen. He knew the charge list by heart. It was all he had for reading material the last week. A list of charges and a copy of the laws that he was charged with. He looked around. Harry was looking at him with a very worried expression. He tried to smile at his godson, but Harry didn't return his smile. He looked so much like James, but with Lily's eyes and her expressions when she was worried. Next to him the frizzy haired girl held his hand. By the look of it, they were both squeezing as hard as they could.

Remus looked concerned, but was hiding it much better. He recognized the pinched and dark eyes as sure signs his friend was worried.

"The defendant pleads not guilty," Ted said next to him and Sirius came back to focus on what he was supposed to be doing.

"And on the charge of murder of Peter Pettigrew."

Sirius mumbled, "I wish I had."

"The defendant pleads not guilty," Ted said a little louder.

"On the charge of murdering twelve muggles?"

Not Guilty. Not Guilty. Not Guilty, he repeated in his head for the next few charges.

"Defendant is allowed to present their case," Fudge said looking at him. He returned the look.

Ted stood up and straightened some papers. "Before the defense starts, there are three requests that are outstanding. First, the status of the defendant's wand that was confiscated on November 1, 1981. Second, the sworn testimony of Bartemius Crouch and the arresting Aurors were not presented to the defendants Barrister. Lastly, the report of the crime scene where Peter Pettigrew was killed has obvious signs of tampering. Per Wizengamot Law…" Sirius checked out again for a few minutes. There was some murmuring from the crowd as Fudge scrambled with a few court scribes and conversed with Madame Bones. Typically, he had seen the Wizengamot railroad people, but with the ICW present, they seemed to be surprisingly following the laws.

"The Ministry cannot provide the wand of Sirius Black," Madame Bones spoke after a few. "Records state that it was snapped and disposed of."

Sirius felt a little pinch in his gut. He was lucky he still had his back up wand that had been hidden in a safe house for the twelve years he was in Azkaban. It wasn't as nice as his original wand, but it was better than nothing.

"Defense requests the report of Priori Incantato for all spells cast the three days prior and up to the time of the incident," Ted said. More murmuring and Fudge looked red.

"There is no record of Priori Incantato," Madame Bones said.

"And the sworn testimonies?"

"They are not available," Fudge said. "Listen, can we get on with this. I am sure Mr. Black would like to find his fate."

"You mean Lord Black, Minister," Ted said with a smile. "Sirius Black is the recognized Lord Black and Head of House since the day his father passed in October of 1979. He was not informed of the status, kept secret by his mother, until very recently."

Fudge went a nice shade of red and Bones mouth twerked, like she wanted to smile. He knew Fudge had been told but was trying to ignore it.

"As Lord Black, he is entitled the requested information and items. Since the Ministry burned up his wand before performing Priori Incantato, I will file a Rite of Heritage Denial under the Preservation and Magical Heritage Act at the end of the hearing. Will it also be a Rite of Heritage Blockage should the other documentation not be available," Ted asked. For a muggle-born barrister, Sirius was smiling to see the way he spun the Wizengamot around without a bat of his eye. His cousin chose well in him.

"Mr. Tonks, the Ministry cannot provide such documentation. There is no record of it being recorded or filed in the Hall of Records," Bones said to the annoyance of Fudge.

"Are you telling me that all the evidence that was used to lock this man up does not exist," Fudge asked her angrily.

"I am saying, Minister Fudge, that the only papers we possess are signed arrest and export orders to Azkaban order signed by Minister Bagnold and executed by the DMLE. Four of the arresting Aurors are no longer employed or alive," Bones said to him.

"Where are the records of the original trial," Malfoy asked. "Evidence should be in there and the stripping of Head of House status."

Ah, that was what he was after, Sirius thought.

"There was no trial, Lord Malfoy. I have the signed order by Bartemius Crouch, Head of the DMLE at the time, to send Lord Black straight to Azkaban under the War Powers Act of 1980 and cancelled on June 31, 1982," Bones said.

"In that case, Madame Bones, I would like to apply for a Rite of Heritage Blockage and Denial at this time and ask that my client be cleared of all charges related to the incidents on October 31st and November 1st, 1981. I would like to name Bartemius Crouch, Corban Yaxley, and Albus Dumbledore as the litigants..."

"I object to such a presentation," a booming voice said from his right. He turned to see Dumbledore standing up and looking rather put out. Sirius smirked.

"Now see here, Dumbledore," Fudge sputtered. "You are not part of this board and will remain silent until called upon. On what grounds, Mr. Tonks, are you declaring these people?"

Ted took out a few sheets from a folder. "Madame Bones and the Department of Magical Records have provided the documentation she is referencing. The arrest and export orders are signed by both Minister Bagnold and Chief Warlock Dumbledore. Bartemius Crouch, who was head of the Auror Office, confirmed the order and led the team to arrest Lord Black. Corban Yaxley was the Auror who snapped and burned up Lord Black's wand without an order signed at the time. The order to do so was signed three hours later by Bartemius Crouch and Chief Warlock Dumbledore."

He was having to yell by this time as the courtroom had descended into pandemonium at the evidence. Sirius smiled as people started to shout. When he looked for Dumbledore, he noticed he was suspiciously missing. Crouch was trying to fend off a gaggle of reporters. He wasn't sure were Yaxley was though. He looked around and didn't see the man.

Bones stood and made a sound like a cannon from her wand. "Aurors, clear out the courtroom. Only immediate family or friends may stay."

"What is this Bones," Fudge bristled. "You can't just clear the courtroom like this."

"I can and I will if I think it endangers anyone. I will allow one member from each paper or news outlet to stay if they remain quiet." She had magnified the voices of the stand.

"This is ridiculous, Minister. Black should be walked through the veil. It doesn't matter if there is evidence or not, we know his guilt," the courtroom heard Malfoy as he tried to talk to Fudge while Bones tried to maintain order.

"We are a body of judges of our law, Lord Malfoy," Bones said looking at him. The Court was silent to see what was going on. "Do you have information we do not to prove his guilt?"

Lucius looked at her, realizing she must have cast the Sonorous charm on the podium, not just her. Sirius laughed to see the look on the prats face. The court turned to him. "What is so funny, Lord Black," Fudge asked in a short clip.

"This. It's just like the night I was arrested. It was pandemonium. People were trying to railroad me, and succeeded that night, and now you are trying to do it again. I will say it once. I did not kill Peter Pettigrew. Can I prove it? No. The Ministry has conveniently destroyed any evidence that would convict or exonerate me. You also won't let me take veritaserum to prove either way. What was it Mr. Tonks that someone called Dolores Umbritch said? 'Prisoners who have spent so much time at Azkaban have shown immunity to such treatments'. Yet, I was allowed to use it for my godson's hearing."

He looked at them with disdain. Amelia was the only one looking mild amused.

"I am innocent. I did not betray James and Lily Potter. I am Harry Potter's godfather. I took the oath the day after he was born. I would sooner die than have betrayed them. Oh, wait, I should have died if I betrayed them. In my grief, I tried to kill Pettigrew, but he got the better of me. He blew up the street. But, no one found his wand and there was no priori work at all to reconstruct the scene."

"Convict me or send me away now. Mr. Tonks will be filing the Rite's in my name either way. I have declared Harry Potter and Hermione Granger my heirs," he said at them and smiled to see the room explode in noise and action again. He particularly liked the way Lucius glared at him with fire in his eyes.

-oOo-

Devon, England

Sirius let go of his arm as they landed in the back yard of the Grangers'. Remus joined them a second later with Hermione. She looked her normal disorientated self before seeing him and smiling. "We all got off," she said happily and rushed into his arms.

"Oi, what am I, chop liver," Tonks said with a laugh as Harry gave her two fingers.

"Harry Potter! That is not the type of behavior I expect at my house," Mrs. Granger said.

He let go of Hermione and turned to her. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Granger."

Tonks laughed. "Wotcher, Mrs. Granger."

"You aren't innocent either," she said to Tonks.

"Never said I was. Is that pizza I smell?"

Hermione shook her head. "I would never get away with that," she whispered.

Her father chuckled and muttered, "Me either."

"Now, who is staying? I have a bunch of pizza just delivered and lots of cold beer and wine," Mr. Granger said, probably trying to keep the two women from getting into a row.

Sirius smiled. "I never say no to a good merlot."

"You never say no to anything with alcohol in it," Remus goaded his godfather.

Hermione pulled him along and hugged her dad and then her mum. "I missed you," she said to her mum and Mrs. Granger's face turned soft as she wrapped an arm around her daughter.

"I missed you too. And you, Harry," she said taking him into a hug before she pushed them both back. "Now, care to explain what and why your engaged?"

"Pizza and beer are just inside the door," he heard Mr. Granger tell the others before he moved to them.

Harry stepped back and dug his foot into the ground. He knew Hermione was his mate, meaning they would never be with anyone else. That was the way of the wolf. If one claimed a mate, it was for life. In wizarding law, it was the same as a betrothal until the mating bond was completed by consummation. Once consummated, she was essentially his wife. How were they going to explain this to her parents?

"Mum, the term is betrothed. It's not the same as a muggle engagement." Hermione looked as though she had been preparing for this.

"What do you mean? And why would you be engaged or betrothed or whatever at your age?" She had crossed her arms across her chest. If it was anything like Hermione, the woman was digging her heals in.

"It has to do with our bond as Mates," Hermione told her.

Dan shifted a little at the mention, but now that he had settled into the wolf, like they had, he didn't question it. Harry knew Mrs. Granger was his mate and would understand them. "What do you mean bond?"

"Jane, this is what we have talked about over the last few months," her father said.

"Dan, I get her having a boyfriend at fifteen. I get they may think they love each other and may even mean it when they say it will be forever, but how many relationships do you know that start at this age last? I don't want to see either of them hurt."

Hermione stood up tall. "Harry is my mate, mum. I won't ever have anyone else in my life like that."

"You are too young to be talking like that, Hermione. We have tried to teach you about this stuff, but this is too soon."

"And you don't know what it is like to be a wolf," Hermione said angrily. "Mum, Harry is my mate. That means until death do us part. And not just like a ceremony in a church. Ask dad about it. He knows the pull to be with you, that all-consuming need to have you around. I can see it and smell it. Harry isn't going anywhere."

Mrs. Granger threw her hands in the air. "Dan, talk to her! This is not how you have described it."

"Jane, this is what I have been trying to say, it just appears our daughter put it in better terms." His wife looked at him incredulously. "I know they are young, but they aren't exactly human anymore, are they?"

Hermione took in a sharp breath. Harry reached a hand to her. He knew how sensitive she had grown to that with anyone else besides him saying so. "Listen, Jane," her father went on. "I have had some very deep conversations with Remus and Alexandra lately. There are things about our kind that I have not told you and these two don't know about yet. I am not trying to keep secrets from you," he said a little loudly when her mother went to talk. "But, like when I was an Officer, there are things that you are better not knowing right now. I am not saying I won't ever tell you. Until then, not knowing keeps you safer than you would be."

They all stood there quietly for a few before Mrs. Granger spoke up. "You know I don't like secrets when they involve our family, Dan. I accepted long ago there would be things we would need to keep from each other, but this is our daughter and Harry. Will this affect Theresa too? I should know if something is going to affect them. You are asking me to just trust you and them right now and I don't understand what you are all going through."

"Mrs. Granger," Harry spoke for the first time and didn't like how they all turned to him. "Hermione is my mate, but she is more than that. She is my best friend. She is the only person to ever truly see me for who I am, and I see her. She is my love. I swear that what is between us is not just passing infatuation."

Hermione squeezed his hand before talking. "Mum, we'll be alright. And you can trust us. I know we are young. Harry and I both know, but there is no going back. To magic, we are a bonded pair. We are betrothed. Actually, we could be considered married by magical law. I am a Potter in all but name now in our world."

Her mother sniffled. "I imagined you getting married someday. I always saw you in a nice dress and your father walking you down the aisle. I won't be delusional, but I thought you might save yourself for your wedding night if you were so young still."

Harry couldn't keep his face from flushing some. Hermione was even more so. "Uhm, about that, mum," Hermione said. Harry was remembering the very awkward conversation, well it was at first, about Hermione and her heat. Her mother's eyes narrowed as she regarded her daughter. "Unless you want us to get married by Christmas, that really isn't an option. Easter will be too far away."

Her father, having been so cool about things, turned a sharp eye to him and for the first time this evening he had the urge to fight. He sniffed the air and then let out a growl. "Tell me it is not that," he said.

Hermione flushed a nice crimson. "Alexandra told you?"

He looked at her. "I have two teen girls that will be moving back in over the summer and one that will be one at some point. Alexandra wanted me to know in case one of you went into heat while around."

"What! What do you mean by 'going into heat'?" Her mum was looking at them.

Hermione groaned and put her hand to the bridge of her nose. "I would have preferred to have this conversation in a different way, dad."

"What do you mean you will go into heat? Is this anything to do with the betrothal, or whatever it is?"

"This has to do with being a werewolf, Jane," her father said. "Yes, it is probably what you are thinking."

"No! NO! Absolutely not! Are you telling me she'll go into estrus just like some animal and have a child because of it?"

He stepped up before Hermione could. He could smell her embarrassment and anger. "We are not animals. This is something that is private between Hermione and I. Alexandra has told us how to be safe when it does happen. And for your information, Mrs. Granger, Hermione and I know we may not be ready for this, but there will not be an option. It is part of being a werewolf. Come on, luv, lets get some pizza."

He turned on them and walked towards the house, pulling Hermione with him. He heard Mr. Granger mutter, "Good boy."

"Dan, what in God's name is going on," Mrs. Granger said.

Harry closed the door behind them.

"So, how did it go," Tonks asked taking a plate and started to add pizza to it.

Hermione let out an aggravated sound. "I am going to warn you all right now. Any of you call me or Harry an animal or beast I swear on Merlin's grave I'll hex you to Hogwarts and back."

Sirius chuckled. "I guess calling you a critter is alright then?"

Tonks snorted to see Hermione scrunch up her face. Her hand had gone into her pocket and his Godfather looked at her, his eyes not leaving her hand in her pocket. She gave a growl. "I'm going to my room. Let me know when it's time to leave."

She started to march out of the kitchen when Tonks called. "You want this pizza? Maybe a Tizer?"

Hermione stopped, turned, grabbed the pizza and soda out of Tonks hand and marched off. Remus shook his head as Sirius commented, "Touchy, isn't she?"

Harry growled at the man. "You don't get it, do you? All we are called at school is mutts, beasts, animals and monsters. We hear it all the time in the corridors, or the Great Hall, or the Library, or the grounds. Some say it knowing we will hear it, others when they think we aren't listening. Neither of us like being called those names, so just lay off."

Sirius looked stunned for a moment before spreading his arms wide. "I didn't mean to get her hackles up, pup. I didn't realize it was that bad."

"Sirius, it's always that bad once someone finds out what we are. I forgot how much it used to bother me when I was younger," he said looking at Harry. "Go to her, Harry. Let her know Sirius didn't mean it."

Harry ran his hand through his hair. "I know. It's just been a little stressful lately. Let me go see if I can get her to come back down."

"Harry, take this just in case," Tonks said. "Unless you think this should be a sister thing?"

He gave her a strained smile. He didn't want to pawn Hermione off on her, but he felt like he needed space of his own at the moment. "Maybe."

She smiled. "Don't worry. Sister Tonks has this."

He sighed. Sirius looked at him. "Pup, you doing alright? I really didn't know it was that bad."

Harry slumped into the seat Tonks had just vacated. "Sirius, we look forward to being able to retreat into our dorms every night. It's the only place I don't hear people talking about us when they aren't talking about the Tournament. It's worse for Hermione. If she isn't a mutt, she's a mudblood or muggle-born only after me for my inheritance. Girls are jealous of her and we hear plans for them to separate us."

He rubbed his face. "Sirius, she's so much more than that. Only some of our old roommates look at us like we are people. Some others too. I hate it."

"Harry, how bad is it at school," Mrs. Granger asked. He turned quickly, somehow not noticing them coming in. The look on their faces led him to believe they had heard much of what he had said.

Harry sighed. This was not the celebration he had hoped for tonight.