The Unseen

A new chapter!

LolaDiBlack - I never thought anyone would take to James like you have. I'm very pleased, and so is he. Yes, we're finally snapping Hermione out of her precious state of mind, as slow as its taking, there has been a little progress. We won't have to worry about that veggie too much longer. 0_o

RyGirl824 - that's a good way to look at it. I'm glad you liked the update, and I hope you like this one too!

smurphy - guesses are always welcome, though I might not always be able to comment on them for fear of giving too much away. It's always good to tell someone when you have a secret, and it was no different for Hermione. SHe did need to tell someone. The Master will show up more, but we won't know his identity for a while yet..

Apple - oh yes...I'm in this one for the long haul. I plan to make it nice and long.

LadyBlueEyes - I'm glad you like the way Draco is in this story. He learned his lesson from his father, and he's genuinely trying to be a better person. James, despite being in Slytherin house, is still very much like his father. And I have some very high hopes for Harry. It'll just take some time...Master...ah....he'll be revealed much much later in the story.

distinctlyME - Yaya!! I'm glad it was only real life. I would be heart broken if you didn't like mah story. Now, your individual reviews.

chapter 8 - I don't always do exactly what the reviewer says. I like to hear their suggestions, and if they're good they might make it in, but I don't change it just because someone says too. For example, I had a reviewer say that in my last story, Ruby was too over the top. And I certainly appreciated the feed back, but I didn't change her, because that's just the way I envisioned her. See? I'm an independent writer!

chapter 9 - Yes, Hermione is sad for a little while. But I'm seeing what I can do to cheer her up. And I love Snape, too, both of them! I'll see what I can do about him. I agree with you though, about pushing her to her full potential. Maybe that will come in later ^_^.

Thanks to all for reviews, and I hope you like the new chapter.

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Dark eyes swept the alleyway, searching for any other life forms. Satisfied that no one was around, the dark figure stepped from the shadows, and headed straight for a door that appeared not to have been opened in decades. A wand was withdrawn from inside the heavy black robes, and pointed at the latch. The incantation to open the door wasn’t very long, but it was extremely complicated, with many small wand movements to accompany the words.

The door clicked open, and the figure pushed inside, moving with the grace of wafting smoke. The door was shut once more, and warded closed. The stealthy footsteps barely sounded down the dark hallway, heading for a door that was cracked, light flickering just enough to light the way.

The cracked door was pushed open, and the hooded figure walked into the room, surveying the surroundings.

“What do you have for me?”

The voice was rough and scratchy, as if its owner had just awoken. The figure pulled back the hood on the cloak, revealing a woman’s face.

“I don’t know if you deserve this…” she said, pulling a paper grocery bag from beneath her cloak. She reached inside, and pulled out two large steaks, wrapped in butcher paper. She threw them to the man, who promptly fell on them with all the ardor of an animal. He was a large man, solidly built, his muscles straining the material of the slightly-too-small robes he wore. He had a head of shaggy, silver hair, and his yellow eyes dilated when he smelled the raw meat.

“Give it!” he hissed. The woman dropped the wrapped meat on the floor, and the large man attacked the packages, ripping open the paper of one and pulling out the raw red meat. He immediately sank his teeth into the soft flesh of the steak, and tore out a hunk.

“Animal.” The woman growled, and then threw off her heavy over cloak. She was tall and slender, but slight lines around her eyes and mouth betrayed her age. She had thick, curly black hair, streaked through with grey. Her eyes were black as tar, lined with thick heavy lashes.

Fenrir swallowed a large chunk of meat. “You’re one to talk….Bella.” he said, ripping into the steak again. Bellatrix ‘humphed’ softly, and stalked over to a worn chair, the heels of her boots tapping against the wooden floor. She flopped down unceremoniously into the chair, and sighed.

“I got a bit of juicy news today…some that concerns that whelp of yours.” She said. Fenrir slowed his chewing, and reached up a clawed hand to wipe a bit of blood away from his mouth.

“Yeah? What about him?”

“Seems he had a little run-in with James Potter’s uncle…”

“Which one? He has…what? Six? Seven?” Fenrir asked with a scoff. Damned Weasleys multiplied like fucking rabbits. Not like a good Lycan couple…one or two cubs was enough to increase the pack. No one needed to overcrowd.

“Ronald Weasley. The youngest Weasley male. And apparently a bit heavy-handed. If my sources are correct….and they’re always correct…our little War hero Ronald has been hitting his pretty little Mudblood wife….I think she was…Granger.” The witch said.

Her alliance with Fenrir was unlikely a few decades ago…but it was necessary now. There was strength in numbers, and he, along with her, was one of the last free Death Eaters. Though he was unmarked, he had still been drafted to her Master’s cause…so she begrudgingly called him a brother.

They had a sort of symbiotic relationship. Fenrir had become the brute force. He kept up the fear and reverence of the Death Eaters. Although lately his only kills had been in the sake of his beast of a son… Bellatrix was the one who went out and got their supplies. It had been like this for years, because she was easier to hide. Fenrir’s hair was strange indeed, and for some reason didn’t want to hold a color charm. Bellatrix was the one who could change her face and go into public. Everyone thought her dead by now…save one person who knew otherwise…but who believed that little Halfling?

“Well, well. It’s been quite a while since I’ve gotten in a good kill. I think I’ll draw this one out. Maybe I’ll disembody him.”

“There’s more to the story, you bloody animal. Shut up and listen!” Bellatrix snapped. Fenrir snarled at her, showing his sharp, blood-stained teeth.

“Continue, bitch.” He snarled back.

“Apparently,” she started harshly. “The Mudblood gave a bit of comfort to your son. The whelp was off to the side whimpering and trying to lick his wounds…the Mudblood pressed a cold cloth to the burn.” She said. Fenrir gnawed at the bone of the now finished steak. Hmm…the Mudblood gave comfort to his son. Well…that would mean he owed her. Not a serious debt…but one she might find helpful nonetheless…

And Fenrir Greyback always paid his dues.

He became aware that Bellatrix was talking again, and he calmly unwrapped his other steak. She had gone off on a tangent into their other project.

“…little fools think they can protect the school. Hah! Hogwarts will never know what hit it…”

“So what do you think we should do about them?” he asked her suddenly.

Bellatrix watched as Fenrir used a sharp bit of splintered bone to pick his teeth. Disgusting creature.

“They need to be dealt with before we target the school. As foolish and green as they are, they could pose a threat as a single front. We still have the cover of surprise. The little Half-breed knows there’s a plan…but he doesn’t know who made it, when they’ll act on it, or how many are involved in it. To keep them on the edge of their seats…we’ll take them out one by one. Our inside eyes will be in charge of set-up.”

Fenrir nodded, mulling over the information.

“Very well. We’ll put them down immediately. But you mustn’t touch my son, or I’ll rip out those pretty black eyes…” he said, his face going very serious.

“Shut your mouth, Greyback. As long as your little bastard cub stays out of my way, then he’ll be fine!”

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The past few days had been utter hell. James had been contacted (in Howler form) by his father, who demanded to know why he had had to go pick Ron up from the Ministry, and why the hell Hermione was at Hogwarts and refused to leave.

By request of his Aunt he told his father that she had been contacted by McGonagall during her ‘visit,’ and the older witch had expressed interest in Hermione taking over her position. Hermione had, of course, accepted the job, and was intent to begin her training immediately. James had made up the excuse that McGonagall wasn’t waiting until Christmas to leave like the other teachers (Harry nearly had a coronary when James said he would be at the school as a Professor) and had wanted Hermione to be ready by the start of term. Which, conveniently enough, was a little under two weeks away.

James was currently in his flat, packing up everything he would be taking to Hogwarts with him. He had convinced Headmaster Snape to let him come early as well. He would also be meeting with Professor Blackburn, the current DADA teacher.

He had just received the last owl he needed to know that his Mission was going well. Over the past few days his friends had applied to the open positions, and had been accepted. Snape had to begrudgingly admit that the young men (and woman) were very talented. He needed some young blood at Hogwarts, and this talented, if a bit sordid, group would be just the thing to breathe a bit of life into the old castle.

James had yet to go order some teaching robes from Madam Malkin. He supposed he should do that soon so that he could get them by the time school started. Especially since she would have to make special places for his wings and tail. Maybe he would stop in Hogwarts and see his Aunt. He wanted to know if his Uncle had tried to contact her.

He pulled out another box, and began gingerly packing his photographs up. The ones of his family were ones that he would definitely take. He grinned as he found some of his old Hogwarts photos seemingly hiding behind a thrown t-shirt. There was Phelan, grinning at the camera while Tobias scowled behind them, his hair neon pink. Phelan had snuck a bit of pink dye into the other boy’s shampoo. Tobias had spent a week with pink hair.

The next week Phelan mysteriously got fleas.

As he shrank all of the boxes and packed them into a single box for easier transportation, he began to think about both the Mission, and what it was about to make him do. He would be teaching at Hogwarts. And while that was freaking awesome…it also made him a bit frightened. And James Potter wasn’t scared of much. He would hold the futures of these children in his claws. Even if he only stayed for a year…a year was a long time for those kids to be exposed to someone.

He so hoped they would like him. James had had enough of the hate that most people directed towards him, and he made a silent promise to himself that he would be an awesome teacher.

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Hmm...we've seen an unlikely, but very dangerous partnership in this chapter. ANd James has made a few goals to accomplish at Hogwarts. We'll see how that goes... THis was a bit of a transition chapter. I think next chapter might have more action in it... we'll see....

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