A Family Forgotten

Chapter 13

Warnings: See Chapter 1

AN: The start of this chapter takes place just before Anita arrives at Richard’s and during the fight.

For updates check: http://dreamwind83.livejournal.com/

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, Headmistress’ Office

Severus Snape tried not to let his hands wander up to his head and rip out his hair, as they wanted to. Instead he settled for pacing around the office, glaring intermittently at Minerva and the various portraits pretending to sleep. Minerva was frustratingly calm, in light of this world shattering revelation. How she could just sit there offering him those blasted biscuits of hers, he didn’t know.

Minerva tried not to scowl at the much younger Professor as he growled and paced around her office like a caged tiger. “I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear, Severus, but I have run out of options. There is no way for me to keep you out of the Ministry’s grasp.”

Severus stopped pacing restlessly and glared at Minerva. Although Albus was gone, Minerva hadn’t seemed to have the desire to change anything, as if she couldn’t bear to do so yet. “There is no other way?”

“As long as you are in Britain? No.”

Severus froze. “And if I am not in the country?”

Minerva paused, a slow cheshire grin spreading across her face. “You know Severus, I do believe I remember you receiving a letter asking you to attend a conference. Perhaps some time off to attend this conference or perhaps a sabbatical? You are due to write a new paper for the Potions Master’s Guild, correct?” She asked, quirking an eyebrow at him.

A slow, wicked smile spread across Severus Snape’s thin lips. “I do believe I did get such a letter. Perhaps I shall take a sabbatical to research for that paper and the upcoming conference.”

“Excellent decision. Perhaps you might consider doing something on the subject of potions native to the Americas?” Minerva suggested hopefully.

“That would be an interesting field to look into.” Severus agreed slowly then scowled. “I suppose I could stop in to check on Potter as well.”

Minerva smiled. Severus sounded like he was pulling teeth. It was just adorable. “Very well. I shall get the paperwork started. You should have your international portkey set up in a week.”

“No, I think it would be better if I were to go by muggle means.” Severus smirked that wicked smirk again. “It will take the Ministry longer to track me down.”

Minerva gave him a knowing look in agreement.


~*~*~*~* Richard’s House, Full Moon Night *~*~*~*~

The house was a whirlpool of energy as the lycanthropes all got ready to head out. Sunset was only a couple hours away. Of course many were happy to leave as the mental conversation with the Master of the City left the Ulfric practically foaming at the mouth. Silently they all hoped that nothing else would go wrong. However fate was very rarely so kind.

“Ulfric!”

Every head in the room spun to look at the panting figure leaning against the door jamb. The wolf was young but strong, built like a farmer with broad shoulders and well muscled arms. “She’s gone,” he wheezed.

“Who’s gone,” snapped Richard.

“Ms. Blake! We aren’t sure how but she got past the guards and escaped!”

“When?” Richard felt his beast rising, stirred with fury.

“We aren’t sure. The guards said she was still unconscious when they brought in lunch today but when they checked her room just now…she was gone!”

Richard looked as if he would strangle the messenger but was stopped by the sight of a pale, shaky Harry coming up behind the young wolf. Richard’s sudden surge of rage vanished and he pushed past the other lycanthropes toward his cousin. Richard pulled Harry into a big hug, lifting him off the ground.

“Harry! Are you okay? You should be in bed recovering, not wandering around out here!” Richard relaxed his grip and set Harry down at arms length, looking him over.

“I’m okay, Richard.” Harry smiled weakly. “I am up and I don’t want to stay in bed any longer.”

“You’re not fine. You were shot! Anita sh—“

“Speaking of her,” Harry’s eyes hardened, flickering red and little flashes of violet flame appeared and died almost at once, leaving Harry looking sickly pale and slightly green. “What was happen—“

“Harry, don’t worry about her. I’ll take care of it. You should just stay here and rest.”

Harry hmmph’d at Richard, crossing his arms over his chest, trying to hide the wince of pain the movement caused. “I will say it again. I. Feel. Fine. Besides,” he started, smirking at his cousin, “tonight’s the full moon. How will you protect me if she returns here once all of you have left?”

A tick formed in the corner of Richard’s eye. “You can stay with Daniel.”

“Daniel already left,” Harry stated, his smirk widening. “So we should all best be on our way to a safe location.”

“Harry—“ Jamil started, before being cut off.

“I can’t become a lycanthrope. I am a Nex Coma. We have a natural immunity, besides even in your wolf form if I am human you wouldn’t hurt me.”

“How can you be so sure,” asked Jamil.

Harry smiled widely. “Trade secret.”

“Harry.” This time it was Richard. “What exactly is a Nex Coma?”

Harry blinked rapidly. “I didn’t tell you?” His face scrunched up in thought. Privately both Richard and Jamil found the sight exceptionally cute.

“No, you didn’t tell me!”Richard snapped impatiently.

“Ah. Well then…” Harry blushed. “Sorry about that. When I told you everything before it must have slipped my mind. I hide what I am in Britain because we are considered animals and have no rights what-so-ever. Even lycanthropes have more rights and are seen as people though cursed and thought of as monsters.” Harry winced at that.

Sighing Harry moved to the seat Richard had gotten up from at the table. The other lycanthropes in the room continued to listen attentively. The other Alphas especially seemed excited to hear what he had to say.

”My species is called the Nex Coma, although that isn’t what we were originally. The Romans gave us that name and it sorta stuck. We originated in ancient Egypt. Basically we are a magical species of cat that can take the form of a human.”

“You’re a cat?” The Rex asked in astonishment.

Harry nodded at the lion. “We started as just cats but Bastet and Anubis gave us human form during the reign of Ramses the Great. At a later date, the Romans stole some of us and began selling us off to other countries. People got overly excited about us and eventually they started trying to breed with us. Of course that would only work as long as they were magical and their magic had a similar resonance to ours. So that is why a human family like Richard’s can have a Nex Coma in the line.”

The others all looked thoughtful, trying to take in this new information. “So,” the Rex asked slowly, “does this tie into why you so strongly dislike Ms. Blake?”

“Got it in one.” Harry smiled. “It is one reason, although not the only reason. My species was created for the sole purpose of hunting down and destroying people who used death magic like Ms. Blake’s without the permission of Anubis.” Harry’s eyes once again flickered from green to red to green. “I can give you a book later that can explain in more detail. For now let’s just head to the lupinar, I need to hunt something.”

Richard pursed his lips but nodded. It was too close to moonrise and his beast was already close to the surface. No doubt the others felt the same.


~*~*~*~* Same Time Full Moon Night, Forest *~*~*~*~

The ground was colder than they planned which was more than a little frustrating. With the moon rising shortly this wouldn’t be the best place to be, even though this is where she was supposed to be. One wondered if he would appreciate this gift or perhaps he would take it as a warning instead..... which would also go according to plan.

Carefully the earth was moved away forming a depression in the ground. Another minute later and the earth was lined with leaves and grass. It wouldn’t be much longer now. Just a bit of heavy lifting and she was resting soundly. With surprising care her arms were lifted and placed crossing over her chest in an ‘x’ shape. One last stroke to her hair and she was left resting in her earthen bed.


~*~*~*~* 2 Hours Later, Forest *~*~*~*~

The air was crisp and heavy with waiting rain, filled with the musk of animals and the weres that were gathering in the clearing. It was an old place heavy with power and death. It wasn’t bad death though. It was new and old, filled with the remembered heat of life. It was a nice change after spending so much time in the city where death always felt of fear and pain. Where death’s more gentle nature had been perverted by the presence of so many necromancers and dark wizards.

How anyone in the city could stand to stay there where their deaths would be disturbed, perverted and violated any time some one wanted to ‘see’ or ‘speak’ with them again and how anyone could agree to let their dead loved ones be disturbed by those vile necromancers was beyond comprehension. But here, here death was welcomed and loved like a family member who comes to visit every now and then. The dead were remembered and awakened through love and not dark magic, where they were asked to awaken not forced. It was almost joyful.

Harry watched Richard as he welcomed his pack. He felt the respect for Richard and this place filling the air. Although he didn’t listen closely to the words being spoken he knew that his cousin was introducing him to the pack. As his cousin spoke, Harry could feel the power being raised by the more nervous and fearful wolves. They were perhaps scared they would infect him even though Richard was telling them they wouldn’t. Perhaps they feared him because he was new, an unknown power in the pack.

Thinking to relax them, Harry let his magic shift inside and let his body slide into his feline shape. He was built much like a tiger but with shorter fur, not quite as short as a lions but not as thick and long as a tigers. His fur was a rich dark obsidian with rosettes in a violet that was dark enough that you wouldn’t notice them until light touched them just right. His green eyes were now a deep crimson and his canines had extended, growing like sabers. With a jaw cracking yawn, he stretched himself out and moved past Jamil, curling his body around the dark man’s legs, before seating himself at his cousin’s feet.

Richard absently scratched behind Harry’s ears and Harry found himself leaning into the caress, huffing his pleasure, tail sawing. Below him the werewolves began to take on their wolf forms. Howling they greeted each other and the moon. The hand in his fur tightened briefly as they shifted, becoming more like the paws of a wolf. Behind him two more wolves howled. Jamil and Shang-Da. The large black wolf that was Jamil moved closer, sniffing at Harry before licking his ear and looking toward his Ulfric.

Richard stood, releasing his grip on Harry’s fur. He watched his pack greet each other before jumping from the throne and racing toward the forest, the pack flowing after him like a river.

Harry stood, slowly stretching before jumping down to the ground and sauntering after his cousin, the black wolf at his side. Around them Harry could hear the Munnin whispering. Harry continued on after the hunting pack, listening to the whispers before a new whisper, almost frantic sounding, caught his attention.

He froze, jaws opening, sucking in the scents carried on the wind. Death. Old death. New death, very new. Harry hissed low down in his belly. The black wolf turned watching him briefly before trying to sniff out the source of Harry’s sudden irritation. Violet flames stirred to life around Harry’s paws as the Nex Coma slowly made his way into the undergrowth, trailing the scent of death. Together the two dark shapes moved, stalking the out-of-place scent. A crack of thunder heralded a sudden down pour of rain.

The wolf growled in irritation as the scent vanished, this didn’t seem to deter Harry though. With the slow, lazy grace that only cats seemed to have, Harry slowly continued through the underbrush, the wolf following behind.

They must have continued that way for another ten minutes before Harry stopped. The wolf moved up alongside him and looked into the earth. A shallow pit dug into the ground, lined with forest debris was in front of them. Resting as if sleeping was the partially mummified corpse of a young woman. Even with the rain starting to come pouring out of the sky Harry could still pick up the faint scent of pack from the body.

Harry made a soft keening noise, deep in his chest. The body may have been mummified beyond recognition but he knew her. He remembered.

“Help me,” her ghost whispered to him. The Munnin stirred around him. Harry reached a paw out, lightly resting it against the chest of the girl. The violet flames danced from his paw, settling over her heart before sinking into her body. Her ghost, her Ka, continued to watch him begging.

The dead, empty eye socket glowed with violet flame and a moment later the black flames poured forth from her eyes, his flame giving chase, devouring the black flame.

The wolf gave a low whine, bringing Harry’s awarness back to him. The Munnin released a joyus cry as the last tainted flames were swallowed. The violet flames swirled around the black wolf before drawing in the dead wolf’s Ka and releasing it into the western gate.

The oppressive feeling of suffering, fear and death held in the air by the tainted touch of death magic vanished. The air pulled it’s weight from Harry and the wolf’s shoulders. The wolf raised his head and called out to his pack, his voice full of mourning for the loss of a packmate.

Soundlessly they came. One by one at first, then in that river like rush of bodies. Richard, the alpha wolf, pushed through the suddenly still bodies nearest to the grave, joining Harry and the black wolf.

The Munnin seemed to rise up stronger filling the night air with a new weight. Harry could feel his power reaching out to meet it. The two forces touched and with a rush of wind and fire the Munnin took shape. All about the forest the ghostly forms of the Munnin appeared, each wolf as it had been in life, but their eyes filed with dancing violet flames.

For brief moment the world seemed to go still and silent. Then in a rush it was broken as the pack, both past and present, moved into the forest in a sudden rush of movement. All through the trees their voices rose. Harry couldn’t help but let out a happy huff as he joined.

It had to be the first time a hallowed hunt had run the night in this new world country. Perhaps in England this was something old, but here this was something the land and it’s people had never experienced. It was something that those sensitive to magic would feel. It would be a shock, a fear and yet it would bring with it a sense of joy and life, for the Hunt was celebrating the birth of a new Munnin and a new pack mate.

They moved like mist, like wind through the forest. Their feet blazed with violet flames. All through the forest the animals watched the Hunt go by, living and dead they moved together as one. Their only desire to race the wind, to enjoy the night and the light of the Mother Moon. Soon enough the Hunt would move through the night with a different joy. One more full of hunger and vengeance. But on this night…this night they celebrated.


~*~*~*~* Undisclosed Location, St. Louis *~*~*~*~

Anita cursed as yet another car sped past her, blowing her hair into her face and water from the road all over her legs. Her shoes were covered in mud and grass so thick and wet it had gone through to soak into her socks. There were leaves and twigs stuck in her wet hair which was really pissing her off. Nothing had been going right since Richard’s cousin had arrived. The kid was like a blight on her life, bringing discord, hate and fear for her to everyone he met.

“What kind of monster is he? He looked almost like a were,” the image of the scrawny bespectacled boy changing into a large black furred cat-man flashed before her eyes. The memory sent a cold shiver of fear down her spine. That shiver of fear brought with it panic and almost desperately she tried to reach out to warn Jean-Claude only to find an empty darkness. The fear and panic spun around inside her turning into a dark boiling rage.

How dare that boy come barging in to her city, steal Richard away, steal her pack away and bad mouth her until most of her friends either fled her presence or looked at her with fear and distrust. How DARE he destroy everything she built! And how DARE Richard and the pack let him! She would make them see who the real monster was. No matter the cost.

They would see.


TBC…

---

AN: Well I know you all wanted to find out what happened with Anita and her link to Jean-Claude and Richard. Unfortunately you will have to wait until next time. You will find out but not until Anita and Harry meet again. Dun dun duuunnn!

On another note I would like some suggestions on what Harry’s cat form should be named and what Harry could name Jamil and Richard’s wolves. So if you have an idea just let me know. I was thinking Harry would want to follow a little in the Maurader spirit.