Surprisingly, it was Madam Bones that spoke up next. "Unfortunately, Chief Wizard we do need to first answer the allegations made against Mr Potter. Under the current precedence of criminal charges, the crime of being an unregistered werewolf places higher than kidnapping of a minor – and as Madam Umbridge stated under the law no kidnapping was committed if in fact Mr Potter is a werewolf." Harry noted Susan's aunt seemed apologetic for disagreeing with Dumbledore but was forced to due to her role.
"We just saw the fact the Werewolf Reveling Charm did not result in the result as required by the law, madam," Dumbledore submitted gently. "Should that not be deemed sufficient?"
"Make him change!" Umbridge jumped in with a near shriek. "If he is a animagus he should be able to do it right now on demand!" The murmuring amongst the Wizengamot seemed to agree with the toad-like witch.
For his part, Harry merely shrugged and stood up.
"If that is all it takes, that's fine. Can I just say I find it disgusting that we were called here to discuss a group of people kidnapping me, sacrificing an entire family – a so-called Noble family at that – and using a dark rite to resurrect a Dark Lord but the possibility that I might be a werewolf is the most important question for you! Until you get your priorities straight you deserve to have to deal with Tommy-boy!"
Angry shouts broke out not only by the Wizengamot members but also with the witches and wizards sitting in the observers' area.
Harry had spent his last few years learning to supress the intensity of his gaze and the aura that went with it - first through the use of polarized glasses and then through mental training suggested by Padma. Now for the first time he released that control in a public setting. The din of the room suddenly dropped as they felt in the most primitive, instinctive portion of their brains the presence of an apex predator.
"You want to see me change? Then here you go!"
Screams of panic erupted when the Beast appeared. The new runes added to Harry's clothes by Padma and Hermione worked perfectly to banish the robes just like with a normal animagus. Harry stood with his head back and let out a tremendous howl. It was the sound of a predator ready for the hunt. Then he merely sat back down on his haunches and watched.
The observers bolted for the doors screaming their panic. The Aurors assigned as guards tried to fight their fear to draw their wands and respond to subdue the creature that had suddenly appeared but then they realized it was merely sitting there watching them. It seemed to be … amused.
When the Wizengamot members were coaxed out from under their desks, they found a smirking and perfectly dressed Harry Potter sitting comfortably with his godfather. Only Dumbledore had remained seated calmly with the Beast's appearance. A fact that didn't go unnoticed by many of the members.
As for Umbridge, the witch was huddled in a corner as far from Harry as she could possible get and curled up in the foetal position. She was almost catatonic but gibbering and pushing her fist into her mouth. A pair of Aurors quickly and discreetly floated the shocked witch out of the room.
It took five minutes for the Wizengamot and the remaining observers to return to their seats. Harry spoke before Dumbledore could call them back to order.
"So, you saw me change, stay completely in control and then change back. No full moon or potions involved," Harry said in a cold voice. He was still allowing his aura full play and many of the listeners felt a shiver at the contempt in his voice.
"You are correct, Mr Potter," Madam Bones in a still shaken voice.
"Then I suggest you people focus on the important points here: Voldemort is back and he's got his followers with him already. He doesn't care about your blood status; just his own power. I can guarantee you Theodore Nott didn't know he was sacrificing his life when he walked in to that ritual. And Voldemort might be the last scion of the Slytherin line but he's also a half-blood named Thomas Riddle. His dad was a Muggle and Tom was raised in a Muggle orphanage. So tell me how much cares about traditions he wasn't raised in.
"I hate to admit it but Tom and I have a lot in common. Both orphans of old magical lines raised in the non-magical world. Both of us have had blood-status thrown in our faces since the day we returned to the magical world. In his anger, Tom decided to destroy your little world and take power for himself. Well, you reap what you sow. Just don't go looking for the Boy-Who-Lived to save you when you can't even clean up your own bloody mess."
Harry stood up. "Let's go, Sirius. This was a waste of time. And we have other places to be." Sirius snorted his amusement as he rose from his seat. The two Marauders ignored the calls that followed them out of the hearing chamber.
Oddly enough, none of the Aurors seemed too interested in impeding their departure.
Albus Dumbledore couldn't supress a small smile as he watched Harry and Sirius depart the chamber. Harry had handled the Wizengamot as well as could be expected. Even he had not foreseen the "surrender" of one of the Death Eaters to serve as a witness to charges of Harry being a werewolf. But the lad had handled things better than many seasoned members of the magical political body.
Harry's final words about the Wizengamot members was unfortunate but somewhat amusing also. The boy was definitely a Potter. Those genes ran strong and deep in that family. Charlus Potter had been a few years behind Albus at Hogwarts but he'd known him well. The older Potter would have been cheering his grandson. It felt oddly soothing to see his old friend still alive in his grandson.
Then Albus pushed those thoughts aside. Young Harry had created chaos with his testimony and his parting shots. Now it was Albus's job to take advantage of that chaos. In chaos, there was opportunity.
....
At almost exactly 21.00, a pair of men parked their hired Range Rover in a small clearing just off a country lane somewhere in the north of the village of Greenhow Hill. The sun sat low on the horizon where it blazed in an orange-red glory with some low clouds framing it. In twenty minutes it would set and this remote area would soon be left in total darkness. The clearing they'd parked in hosted more than twenty other vehicles including several cars, motorcycles and a few Lorries. The Range Rover the older man had hired for the drive from London was definitely on the higher end of the spectrum.
"Well, let's be off," the older man said. "The Gathering will be just over that rise. We need to make sure we are seen as being there before the sun sets completely." The two men started to walk.
"Now remember, tonight starts with something of a reunion banquet. It's the only time that all of the Packs meet in one place so it's a chance for most of the werewolves to catch up. At midnight the meeting starts between the Alphas but everyone stays to watch. I want to have you meet at least a few of the 'friendlier' Alphas before the meeting starts. Last night was the First Quarter of the moon's cycle. The full moon is on the 12th. That night the Packs hunt as one. Between then and now, we have to get the Alphas to either accept you as a Pack member with full Pack rights or say you are an Animagus outside the Pack. Fenis and his allies will try to cast you as an abomination or flawed wolf. We really won't know the Alphas' decision until we arrive for the hunt. Plus, this month is a 'Super Moon'; that means the moon is both at its closest point to the Earth and a full moon at the same time. It's a double-whammy for werewolves and will make them even more vicious than normal. As a Pack member you'll be safe and an animagus would probably be safe. Anything else and we have a fight on our hands."
Harry merely nodded and made the appropriate noises to indicate his understanding of Remus's explanation. This was the fourth time the older Marauder made the same speech. Harry reckoned it was simply nerves and resisted the impulse to roll his eyes and make a snarky comment.
Ahead of them Harry could hear a number of people talking and laughing. An enhanced sense of smell was not required to smell the wood smoke coming from the large bonfire that was burning. Unlike the Wizengamot earlier that day, here Harry had no real plan. The Wizengamot had rules, procedures, and tradition could be predicted and manipulated. Dumbledore wove a magic there almost equal to what he could do with a wand. True, Harry had lost some in the forced revelations on his animagus status but they had managed to mitigate that damage and keep the focus on Tom's return. With the werewolves that had no firm plan or allies to support a plan if it did exist.
By now Harry was sure the Packs had heard about the Wizengamot meeting and Harry's revelation. Remus had no idea how the Packs would react to that information. They had to play it by ear and hope for the best.
Remus and Harry entered the large clearing just at sunset with the sun setting to their backs. Harry appreciated that as it gave him time to look over the gathering while preventing anyone looking at him from seeing any details.
The clearing was dominated by a huge bonfire filling the centre. It was at least three metres high and the fire blazed brightly. Harry wondered if it was a magical fire or petrol-fuelled it burned so bright and hot. The perimeter of the clearing was lit by torches on long poles. Clustered near some of the torches were heavily-laden tables filled with food; mostly meats of various types. Harry could easily detect the scents of beef, venison, and pork. Smaller campfires with logs for benches were located not too far from these tables.
But the most remarkable thing was the people to be found within that clearing. Harry reckoned there were close to 200 people standing, dancing, and talking around the fires and tables. Harry was slightly surprised to see that roughly half of them were women. Most of the crowd wore the rougher clothing of outdoorsmen but Harry spotted a few in more traditional kilts and others dressed in Muggle biker jeans and leathers. Not a sign of fine clothing or court shoes in sight.
The pair walked down and into the crowd of people. Most stood in small clusters talking and laughing. It felt like a reunion of sorts to Harry. As Remus and Harry passed several of the groups, Harry noted that while several people gave Remus simple nods of greeting, their gazes at him were speculative and almost openly hostile.
Harry was still taking in the sights and trying to get his bearings when he noticed a solitary man approaching. He was not the largest of the men about but he had an air about him. Something about the dark-haired man seemed familiar too. The man came to a stop a safe distance from Harry and Remus. Near enough to talk but not close enough for a surprise physical attack.
"So you're the one that gave my nephew such a hard time," the man said with a light Irish accent. The werewolf looked like a construction worker wearing a flannel shirt and well-worn jeans. His hands were rough from work and strong. While the man seemed friendly, something about him made the Beast wary and cautious. Then Harry had a moment of epiphany.
This man was an Alpha.
.....
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