Join my Pa*treon and Free members can get 5 advanced chapters FOR FREE.
Link: p*atreon.com/Divine_Quill (Remove the *)
...
The Alphas had returned to their place by the bonfire. The scowl on Fenrir's face was a positive sign to Harry. Harry was still grinning after overhearing the last part of Remus's conversation with his new 'girlfriend'. Harry couldn't resist his grin widening as his eyes met Greyback's.
What Harry didn't notice was the way many of the watching werewolves shrank back at the sheer amount of teeth Harry was displaying. They weren't used to feeling like prey.
"Mr Potter, would you please step forward?" Queenie asked. It wasn't really a question. Harry stepped forward until he was three strides from the female Alpha. Once Harry stopped, Ian started speaking.
"Mr Potter, while the nature of your transformation is… unorthodox, the fact remains you were given the gift via a member of the Packs when you were eight. The fact your transformation is different than most may be no different than the same unknown means by which you famously survived a Killing Curse at eighteen months old. It is the final decision of this Council that you are a Child of Loki and accepted into the Packs as a full member. Choice of Pack membership is left to the pack member's choice."
Harry nodded politely to the Alphas. "I thank you for this decision. I swear that I shall uphold the Packs and the Pack Law as a Child of Loki." Then Harry nodded again before stepping back one pace towards the crowd. That caused a small intake from the crowd as Harry skipped the traditional petition to a particular male Alpha for admission into a particular Pack. Not doing so all but declared his rogue status. However, none of the Alphas looked a bit surprised.
Now Fenrir stepped forward.
"This puppy has taken enough of this Gathering's time. Now we must discuss matters of importance to the Pack as a whole."
"Speak, Alpha Fenrir," Ian said in a formal tone.
"The greatest Dark Lord in history has returned to our shores! The Dark Lord plans to drive the weak, corrupt Wizengamot and Ministry from power and replace it with a government for the strong! With the Packs' combined might, we can assist in this great effort! In return the Dark Lord has sworn to offer us the choicest 'recruits' for the Packs! Further, he promises to set aside a great reserve for each Pack to rule and hunt as their own! The bloody Ministry laws that keep us down will be struck down! Any werewolf would be equal to any pureblood wizard!
"All the Dark Lord asks is that we support him in this campaign. We would strike at remote villages - take the strongest for the Packs and destroy the rest. The Ministry will waste their strength trying to protect everyone while we gain strength with each raid. Then once Dumbledore and the Ministry is humbled we would help control the population until the prey is settled to their new yoke.
"Now this Gathering must decide to support the Dark Lord in his endeavour! Failure to do so will risk the Packs destruction! The Dark Lord does not forget his friends and his enemies do not live long enough to be forgotten! DECIDE NOW!"
Greyback continued with his rant. Ian and Dyfed seemed to favour a neutral position - keep the Packs out of magical society matters. Mac seemed somewhat supportive of Greyback but Harry reckoned he saw more in the potential profit when the LEO's - magical and mundane - were too busy fighting Death Eaters and dealing with the aftermath of their attacks to bother with 'honest' criminals. (And he was probably right, Harry mused.) Oliver had not spoken a word in either case.
Finally, the Gryffindor in Harry won out. In other words he just stepped forward and dove in. He interrupted another of Greyback's rants.
"Do you honestly think that Voldemort and his Pureblood arse-kissers have any intention aside from using the Packs as cannon-fodder? Tommy-boy will send the Packs out on the missions not worth risking his Purebloods. And then if he is successful in winning the war, you think he will honour his promises?" Harry's sudden inclusion caught the Alphas by surprise and they were all watching him.
"You all know Umbridge wrote the worst of the bloody damn laws that destroy many of your chances at having a normal life. But do you know who sponsored the law in the Wizengamot? I've read the law twenty times in the last two days preparing for that hearing. I looked it up. It was sponsored by Alvin Nott - the man that sacrificed himself and his whole family to return Tom to his body! And it was seconded by none other than Lucius Malfoy - Tom's number two man on the political front!
"Tom just wants to use you as his hunting dogs to drive his prey before him and then put you down when you no longer have any value to him! Don't fall for the poisoned meat his cur throws in front of you!"
"SILENCE, BOY! YOU HAVE NO SAY HERE!" Greyback roared and advanced towards Harry.
"I speak where I will, dog," Harry returned in a low growl.
Greyback swung a clawed hand at Harry. The advanced state of his lycanthropy and magic made the nails and hair grow even two weeks before the full moon. The hand slashed down at the much smaller Harry Potter.
The slash was blocked by the thick black furred arm of the Beast; an arm that followed through with a backhand that knocked the human-ish Greyback almost into the fire. Greyback was almost instantly and charged forward with a roar.
"HOLD YOUR GROUND!"