Remus kicked around the safehouse he was clearing in a desolate mood, tossing books into boxes and examining objects that had been left in there. There had been little in the way of furniture left in the house, but Remus had been able to make do. Remus frowned unhappily; he always was able to ‘make do'. He had wished at one time for a better life. While he was wandering Europe with their packs of werewolves he'd hoped that he'd been able to learn to connect with one of the packs there. He got so tired of feeling alone and ‘making do' with so much less.

The French and Spanish packs, while not totally accepted into the Wizarding society there, were at least tolerated - and they really had their own little world at the colonies to exist in. The pains their Ministry's had gone to had the peculiar success of making the werewolf packs fewer and fewer, since the secluded and more happy packs bit fewer and fewer people.

Other Ministries were taking note and emulating them, except for Britain, which seemed determined to simply drive their werewolves out. Perhaps they thought that the werewolves would all relocate to Europe, where they were more accepted. The trouble with that being that the werewolves wouldn't leave family or ‘pack' behind. Even if their families threw them out, they would stay in the vicinity whenever possible.

The lucky ones of course, picked up their entire family and left for the nearest werewolf colony to accept them in either France or Spain. The human members of the family could sometimes adjust to the colonies - simply leaving during full moons. Some had willingly been turned, if they found love there. Some, of course moved to nearby wizarding villages to live, only visiting occasionally.

Remus had desperately tried to fit into a pack - but his own pack of humans had been too different, and his wolf had strenuously objected. A couple of older, wise packleaders had spoken to him many times - at first trying to help him adjust, but once they were told his whole story they had shaken their heads.

"Your wolf is unlikely to accept a pack not made up of at least a few human wizards - you should form your own pack - find a nice witch and marry, have some children, making your own pack in that way. I know you were not alpha before, but your own alpha is gone...you can to choose to be head of your own pack now." The ancient packleader had tried to persuade him, but Remus had been aghast.

Marry? The werewolf must have been mad to ask such a thing. Just decide to be an alpha? An equally mad idea, Remus thought. The one thing that had been true was that he couldn't stay at the colonies with the packs. He needed to be here, near Harry. Near where James and Lily were buried, and where Peter had died. Even knowing that Sirius Black - traitorous monster that he was - was nearby in Azkaban was somehow soothing.

Remus sat in an old chair in front of the fireplace to brood and stare at the fire. Talking to Harry even briefly had been soothing to his wolf, who had been eager to reclaim the cub...James and Lily's cub. He'd had the crazy thought run briefly through his head of grabbing Harry and heading for a werewolf colony. With even a remnant of his old pack, he could have made it work for himself. His wolf would have been content if even that small part of the old pack had been with him.

If Harry would have been willing he might have been tempted, but Harry would have screamed ‘kidnapper' at the first opportunity Remus realized. No werewolf community would have allowed Remus to keep him - they would have sympathized and understood his desperation, of course - but Harry would have been returned to Snape none the less.

Snape - that was such a bitter blow - to see Harry run to Severus of all people for protection - and from him! He'd been just as shocked to see Rosemerta kiss Severus when the group had arrived. The kiss had been one of old, well - known lovers. He'd been surprised that Snape had found another to care for - he'd always been so fixed on Lily. He had obviously been able to somehow move on - and Rosemerta was attractive and shapely enough to turn even Severus' head. Sirius had often sighed after the pretty barkeep, with her curly blonde hair and blue-green eyes.

Remus had tried to question her after Lucius had gone through the floo, but she'd been politely tight-lipped and had merely told him he was wrong about Severus - ‘that he cared very much for the boy' and Remus was ‘out of line'.

Now Albus was aggravated with him over the whole scene at the Three Broomsticks as well. He glanced at the owl that had come through later that evening. It had told him that he could owl Harry - by way of Severus. What a joke, but he supposed it was better than nothing for the moment. He would just have to be more subtle. He could write extremely true tales of James' exploits and Slytherin evils with no difficulty - and if Severus dared return them, he would just appeal to Albus.

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Amos Diggory, backed by a still-snickering Hugo Savage flooed to Director Yuan Chang's office. Hugo had taken the story of McNair's demise as a hugely amusing tale, while Amos had been horror-stricken. Though if anyone deserved such an end ... well, a Death Eater intent on killing three children should be at the top of the list, Amos felt.

Yuan had contacted the headquarters on Lyonesse of the International Federation of Wizards regarding the events of the afternoon. They had immediately sent several of their ‘Peacekeepers' over to ‘tidy things up'. The Peacekeepers had asked for a couple of Ministry people to assist. The Peacekeepers knew that the whole McNair issue was rather sensitive, and they didn't want to cause difficulties where there were none. They had plenty of Ministries around the wizarding world with problems without allowing this one to blow up as well.

This was in addition to the whole Hazelette problem. The killing of McNair had certainly been warranted, but the wizarding world still collectively flinched when someone got eaten - even by accident. It simply hadn't been that long since dragons had occasionally gone on rampages that even the muggles noticed. An amok dragon was a horror that made even wizards of Dumbledore and Savage's caliber pale.

The IFOW wanted the whole dragon thing glossed over and the British Ministry wanted McNair tidied up. Mutual back - scratching was in order, as far as the Peacekeepers were concerned. Of course, the fact that it would keep Harry Potter safer made everyone more at ease, as well. The news that Harry Potter actually had dragons guarding his doorstep would deter all but the stupidest and silence anyone saying ‘The Boy Who Lived' was not guarded well.

Hugo smiled happily at Yuan; Fudge had sent him to get ‘all the facts' and the Minister was likely pacing in his office, trying to draft the next press release. Amos, of course just wanted to hear that the dragon was not a danger, and the embarrassing McNair was dead.

Yuan nodded to them and led them toward the Healer's part of the compound where they could hear a lot of pained roaring. Yuan repeated the tale of Walden McNair's demise calmly. "Hazelette unfortunately reacted to the attack - and her pain - instinctively. She's actually a very pleasant dragon who does healing magic and is quite elderly. She has outlived three riders and ... well, we expect she has a decade or less left - but she still likes to help where she can. Keeping watch outside Dragonsrest seemed easy enough for her. We didn't expect the fool to try to get by dragons." Yuan shook his head at the idiocy.

"You are sure she is safe?" Amos homed in on the part of the conversation he cared about.

The three were joined by the two Peacekeepers and one took up the discussion with a smile. "She's quite safe, I assure you. I am rather good with Legilimency - though it gives me quite a headache when it's with dragons. Nevertheless I did question her - she's truly quite upset about the whole incident - and was more than a little embarrassed, at first. I'm afraid now, though she is playing up her injury and ‘ailment' a bit."

"Sorry...?" Amos was quite confused by the last statement, until they went around a last building and came to a stop.

Hazelette was laying on her back, clutching her injured foot to her chest, her tail lashing in agitation and she was roaring and moaning in apparently severe pain. Rigel Blackpool, with Tom standing next to him, were watching her with aggravation on their faces. Hazelette had Astrid next to her, sitting on his haunches, looking anxious and all but wringing his forepaws in apprehension. There was a line of dragons surrounding them all, huffing and grumbling - they were evidently discussing the worrisome situation.

Tom saw the approaching wizards and walked over, "She insists that ‘eating the horrid dark wizard' has given her a stomach ailment and in spite of gallons of stomach soother she claims the only thing that will ease her is to have juicy deer available for her to eat ... for an indefinite amount of time."

Hugo roared in laughter and wiped his eyes. Amos relaxed - if the dragon was just angling for treats she was definitely not running amok. Yuan shook his head. "She knows we keep a couple dozen deer in storage as a treat for those that like them. We have to buy them from hunters - we have contacts that ship them - mostly from America where they are plentiful, and no one notices a few gone. It's not as cheap as keeping a few herds of cattle and goats that replenish themselves."

"Well, for being rid of McNair, I'm willing to spring for a couple deer." Hugo beamed. "If you arrange it - I'll pick up the tab."

"I'll buy a few, as well." Tom chimed in. Why hadn't he thought of that?

"We could have the Minister mention to the press that she was taken sick from ... well eating McNair and suggest sending donations to buy the deer." Amos offered.

Hugo clapped Amos on the back. "Excellent idea. We'll keep her in deer until she's sick of them."

Rigel rolled his eyes. "Deer are the dragon equivalent of lobster or ...treacle tarts. It may be awhile before she tires of them."

Tom smiled at Hazelette and Astrid fondly. "We'll make sure the donations are adequate." After all, he was still working on getting even one zero off the total galleons in his vault. He could buy a few hundred deer, if needed.

The Peacekeepers and Ministry people conferred with Yuan and all agreed that emphasizing McNair's stupidity and Hazelette as being no threat - if you weren't trying to kill children - was the way to go. Amos and Hugo were soon back at the ministry and Yuan was resignedly telling Yao to inform Hazelette that she could have her deer. The roaring and moaning subsided and once a pair of deer carcasses was brought they stopped altogether.

"One or two of those a day should keep my stomach happy until that horrid wizard is gone from my system." Hazelette all but smirked in triumph. She truly had been afflicted with indigestion, but then the idea to get some deer had come to mind. She snickered happily to herself. The rotten dark wizard had done her a good turn after all.

Yao relayed the remark to Yuan who shook his head once again. The canny old dragon had gotten her way, though he really couldn't begrudge her the treats. The other dragons, especially Astrid also settled down, though they still encircled her protectively.

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All three boys had blown off steam wrestling in the back garden and needed Scourgifys before being allowed back in for dinner. Lucius had given Draco a stern look that was met with an innocent sounding. "But dad - we didn't get any blood on our clothing - just like you said."

After the meal the boys divided the prizes they had gotten during their shopping trip. Draco and Harry scowled. "We were counting on going to Honeyduke's after lunch. Both our dad's like chocolates. We have to get there tomorrow." Draco muttered

"And Gladrags - Tonks sketched that cartoon for me to put on a shirt for dad." Harry added.

"Rosemerta said there was a new mystery series out that mum would like - the bookstore there in Hogsmeade has it - they were sold out in Diagon Alley." Dudley agreed.

The trio trooped down the stairs to plead their case and managed to convince the adults that a trip to Hogsmeade was imperative the next day.

"Perhaps a trip to The Three Broomsticks would be good - to see Rosemerta and clear any bad memories of the event." Petunia mused. Lucius and Severus nodded thoughtfully as Lucius and Draco made their way to the floo.

Petunia watched the Malfoys go with a thoughtful look. Lucius had had some good news about their venture at Spinner's End. She had been quite eager to hear that Lucius had acquired the Spinner's End property he wanted - there was some extra out-lying land he hoped to get eventually, but the old factory and the riverside area was now his.

Tearing down the old houses had begun and the lawyers were meeting with some of the Hale residents who seemed concerned, to reassure them that the ‘gated community of artists and new age folk' were no hazard for them to have around and that their moving in would be an asset.

Most of the people selling their property had been happy with the amounts they got and simply moved to empty homes on the other side of the town, banking the left over money. It had created an upsurge in business and had provided much needed income for many.

Petunia's new home - Severus' old one - had been cleared of traps and the new Dursley vault at Gringotts was having the furnishings from Privet drive that were stored there emptied into it. Petunia wanted the house ready for summer. She would miss the mix of people here, but she was feeling the urge to ‘have her own place' once again.

Tom had helped her design a small Owlery to go in the back of the garden of her home. Wylda's eggs had hatched and she had picked out the two small males for her and Rosemerta as ‘Christmas gifts'. Tom was relieved to not have to think of Christmas presents for Petunia and Rosemerta. He liked them and wanted to give them nice presents, but had absolutely no clue about what to buy. The owlets had really been a godsend and he'd had to apologize to Wylda and tell her she'd been quite clever. He even had the third owlet to give Percy - he would have been at a loss as to what to buy for his friend other than books.

Petunia smiled at Tom, she'd seen his confusion over the ‘Christmas fuss'. She'd been on several women's committees that took ‘Christmas feasts' and presents to orphanages and shelters. She'd seen the same looks on many of the older children there. Petunia had thought them simply ungrateful, then. Now she knew they hadn't understood why everyone was fussing and willing to help - but only at Christmas.

Tom was not the only one confused by people's ‘giving spirit' at yuletide, when they couldn't be bothered the rest of the year. Severus and Lucius were almost as irritated by it. Severus' childhood had been as deprived as Tom's with Christmas being merely a reminder of how little he had in comparison to others.

Lucius' childhood home had been coldly festive - parties given to impress, and gifts calculated to stir envy - there had been little joy and certainly no ‘goodwill' involved. Lucius would have cheerfully skipped the whole holiday - if Draco didn't love the season so much.

Lucius and Draco arrived to Malfoy Manor and Draco gleefully ran to stash the presents he'd bought in his room and ran back to Lucius' study to smile smugly at his father. Lucius was rather amused at his son's antics. Lucius surmised that Draco had found something that he felt would astound Lucius and he hoped he would be able to give the present the amazed approval that Draco would expect.

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Neville left the Healers office, in a much better mood than the last time he'd been there. Uncle Algie's moans and whining could be heard all the way out to the waiting room - until the Mediwitch had put up a silencing charm. He'd wanted to ask her to not bother - he was enjoying it.

His Uncle had cut short his night out when he was no longer able to sit because of the boils. As predicted, Algie had blamed it on someone who was losing to Uncle Algie at some card game. By morning Algie could barely walk and Augusta had taken him to the Healer on Diagon Alley.

The Healer had prescribed potions and creams that had made Neville smirk a bit - he knew none of them would work. Algie had flooed home from the office, leaving Augusta and Neville alone. His Grandmother muttered a bit and then decided to go to Hogsmeade to find chocolates for poor Algie at Honeyduke's.

Neville had grimaced at that, and then thought carefully. Maybe chocolates could be used in a more cunning way than usual, but he would have to be cautious. He asked Grandmother for some money ‘for Christmas shopping' and flooed to the Three Broomsticks cheerfully.

He'd just perused the menu and looked up to see the ‘Boy Who Was Protected By Dragons' sitting across the room. The Daily Prophet's front page that morning had been shouting the news that Harry Potter had been protected by a Ukrainian Ironbelly - who had also eaten the Death Eater, Walden McNair. Grandmother had laughed rather darkly over that.

The whole business had almost dampened his spirits over his success with the hex - at least until Uncle Algie had dragged into breakfast moaning and complaining. That had cheered him right back up. Still, having to see Harry Potter chattering with his friends make his chest feel like sharp glass was scraping the inside of it. It took a few minutes to realize it was jealousy.

A cheerfully smiling Rosemerta came to get their orders and Neville ordered his favorite stew. Augusta ordered the same after scowling a bit at Rosemerta, who had given Professor Snape a kiss on the cheek before coming to serve them.

Lucius and Petunia had gone to Spinner's End to plot over the houses to be put up, and where. Petunia was determined to make the place beautiful and as un-regimented as possible. She now remembered the lines of identical houses in Privet Drive with distaste. Since the plots would be acres big, she knew it would be possible to landscape the areas nicely.

So Severus and Tom were left to keep an eye on the three shopping fiends alone.

"Draco - there's that boy I told you about - the one in Diagon Alley. He didn't seem very friendly. Your dad said he knew them." Harry had spotted Neville and was again curious about him.

Severus glanced out the corner of his eye and spied Augusta Longbottom and, he presumed, her grandson. Lucius had mentioned they had been in Diagon Alley, and that Augusta had been her usual unpleasant self. Severus had never understood how she had managed to produce the affable Frank Longbottom. Sure enough she was glowering at them. The grandson also looked less than pleased to see them.

He remembered the boy's mother with a grimace; she'd usually worn the same look of sullen antipathy. Severus was quite sure that Alice had managed to hex, jinx or curse almost every Slytherin she had gone to school with at one point or other. She had been as much of a menace as the marauders at times. Severus had only feared her less because she wasn't targeting just him, and the curses weren't humiliating - they merely hurt physically and Severus found that easier to bear.

"Yes, dad said he's Neville Longbottom - he'll be in our year at school." Draco nodded. "His parents were Aurors, but something happened to them - he lives with his Grandmother.

Severus choked a bit, and then said. "Under no circumstances are you to mention his parents. They were tortured to madness by Death Eaters, and one of the Death Eaters was Narcissa's sister Bellatrix. It would be quite uncouth for the situation to be mentioned to him."

Draco gulped and chewed slowly, his mind speeding frantically. It had never really been brought home to him what it meant to have family that were Death Eaters and be faced with the results of their work. Few dared confront Lucius about his past - after all the Wizengamot had ‘cleared him'. He had heard that Aunt Bella had been an ardent supporter of the Dark Lord, but his mum had always praised that.

Now he was across the room from a boy who had essentially been orphaned by Death Eaters - his Aunt in particular, and he really didn't know how to react to him or his apparent enmity. It wasn't as if he could blame the boy for being hostile.

Dudley and Harry both felt a bit bad for Neville, but were also feeling a little protective of Draco. What happened to the Longbottoms was horrid - but Draco hadn't done it, nor had his father. For that matter Narcissa wasn't guilty either, even if Bella was her sister. Harry glanced at the frowning Neville again, why was Neville angry with him? Harry wasn't his enemy.

Lunch was finished and they wandered off to some shops. Dudley and Tom went to Dervish & Banges. Dudley had patiently explained to Hedwig that he needed a feather to make a quill for Harry, and the next time she molted a feather the proper size to bring it to him. She had shown up at his window last week, a large speckled white feather in her beak.

The storekeeper helped him pick out the right nib and Dudley watched in fascination as the quill was made. While Tom wasn't looking he managed to slip another feather to the man - from Wylda, the man understood immediately and slipped it to an assistant to be made into a quill.

Severus followed Draco and Harry into Honeyduke's. The pair had been subdued for a few minutes, but the sight of the boxes of Christmas candy and chocolate drove thoughts of Death Eaters away. He soon was perusing chocolates, himself. They would be an easy gift for Rosemerta - but he felt he should try extra hard this year since she had been put to a lot of bother. A box of something for Petunia would not be amiss as well. Severus sighed in aggravation; Tom had gotten off easy, with Wylda producing those owlets.

The boys finally staggered to the checkout with stacks of boxes, yelling "don't look!" at Severus, causing chuckles from other customers who had been quite excited to see who they were shopping with. Luckily, in turning his back he came face to face with a display of crystal angels who were charmed to sing carols when hung on a tree - perfect! - a tasteful gift to go with the chocolates for Rosemerta, and he wouldn't have to endure the torture of a jewelers. He took a box of the angels and the candy he'd picked out to the front, after the boys had stowed their bags out of sight.

The three were leaving the shop, just as Neville and Augusta were going in. Severus and the boys stood back to allow Augusta through. Draco and Neville locked eyes for a few moments. Neville had been wary of any confrontation with Lucius Malfoy's son, he'd heard too much about the Malfoys from Grandmother not to be, but when their eyes met he saw ... pity.

That infuriated him, how dare the blonde ponce pity him? He watched the three leave the store in fury. The feeling of envy now had the burning fire of rage keeping it company. He slipped out of the store behind them, and quickly pulled his wand. Before he knew it he had cast the boil curse at Draco Malfoy's back.

He'd barely put the wand away when he looked to his left. Tom and Dudley were there just down the street from him. Dudley was fumbling with some packages, but Tom was looking straight at him. He felt a wave of trepidation, had the older boy seen him?

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