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Weapon	By : uqui Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Voldemort Views: 105435 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 26
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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13/03/2012

Thank you to SuryaPrakash for the betaing. If there are mistakes, they are my fault.

Some issues were brought up about the trap Bellatrix set. I never specified what it did, but think about the situation from a banking point of view. The LeStrange Vault is in the high security area of Gringotts. There are not unlimited vaults in that area and currently the vault contains one galleon so the Goblins can't close the account. In a normal world, they would move the galleon to another, smaller, lesser security vault. The trap is over the galleon though so they can't move it. Hence it doesn't matter what the trap does, it's interfering with the running of the bank because they can't move that galleon and they can't charge the appropriate fees on the account because they can't even take the galleon as a fee.

Wizard banking is not like our banking has become – all electronic. Obviously some of us keep secure boxes in banks, but while they are usually in a vault or a locker, they are then in ANOTHER box we provide which is of a set size but for pure money, then it's mostly electronic... Except in some cases. But for wizards, wealth is physical, not numbers on a computer and thus that leads to an older style of banking which is in some ways more real, but when you allow your customers direct access to the place you store their wealth, it allows them to sabotage things as Bellatrix just demonstrated.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed. I'm very happy that people are enjoying the fic, and I fervently hope that they continue to enjoy the fic.

Weapon LXIII The Gathering

Gideon stood to the side. He wasn't a pack leader but there were more than a few werewolves here who weren't. It appeared most of the pack leaders had brought at least one or two members of their packs with them. Remus was unique in that he was alone. The Death Eater werewolf though could already see the factions forming. Around Fenrir Greyback most of those who wanted to side with the Dark Lord had gathered. It wasn't quite as many as Gideon would have thought. He assumed the few who had greeted Remus wanted to follow the Ministry, but there were a fair number of leaders who were just standing around and Gideon took that to mean they wanted to be neutral. It was hard to tell since there was that fourth offer.

He knew he should go see Fenrir to report that he was safe but Gideon was still rather conflicted. Remus had been completely honourable with him. The Shadow representative, for all that he had threatened, had been rough but he had also done exactly what he said he would. And with Remus reporting that the spell had worked exactly as hoped, he was re-thinking his decision to follow the Dark Lord. There were alternatives out there; he had just not seen them. Or maybe he hadn't wanted to see them.

It didn't matter now, but it was something he would have to consider in the future. Gideon looked around; he wasn't sure when or even how the meeting would start. So far, all the pack leaders had stood around and talked, moving between each other with no real sense of purpose. He wondered who would call the meeting to order.

He was kept wondering for a time until one of the pack leaders finally seemed to tire of the talk and coughed ostentatiously. "All right," the Pack Leader said. Gideon didn't know which one it was. but they seemed confident. "We called this meeting because we have to decide who to follow."

"That's easy," Fenrir growled. "There is only one who has been loyal to us."

Gideon was surprised when he felt the need to speak. but he held his tongue. Now that the meeting had started, only pack leaders could speak and this was not the time to challenge one for the right to be heard. Thankfully Remus was not cowed by Fenrir.

"Loyal? Has age finally done your mind in?"

"More like youth does not let you see the truth, pup," Greyback replied.

"There are times when I'm grateful that werewolves don't have the genetic loyalty that vampires do. Thankfully I'm not required to follow you."

"That's probably because you are too blinded by that idiot, Dumbledore."

Remus chuckled. His relaxed attitude was not lost on the other pack leaders. They were impressed and already Gideon could see that there was a shift towards Remus. "I'm more fascinated with the fourth offer," Remus said easily.

"Well, well, well, how easily you change your tune," Fenrir said.

"I have always wanted what is best for us," Remus countered. "Besides, I don't think I'm the only one interested in that offer."

"You aren't," another of the pack leaders spoke. "It is a most generous offer."

"I think we are all agreed that the Ministry and neutrality are not options this time."

"The Ministry has sided with the vampires," Fenrir spat. "And they flaunted the capture of one of our own."

"The fact that he's a Death Eater didn't help," the counter came from a voice among the pack leaders. This was not what Gideon had expected. He could feel the tension from all the pack leaders, despite the fact they were still talking. They wanted to fight each other. Some were undecided about which path they wanted to follow, though there did seem to be a consensus that the Ministry was not an option. The rest seemed split between the three other choices.

"Yet it was representative of the fourth option who freed our captured brother."

"My Lord has said nothing," Fenrir declared.

"Probably because the freed werewolf has been with me," Remus countered gesturing.

Gideon gulped as he felt most of the pack leaders turn towards him. In a moment of bravado he saluted them. There really wasn't anything else he could do. Greyback snarled. "Why didn't you report to our Lord?"

"Because the Shadows were not willing to confirm they helped rescue me until I accompanied Lupin here," Gideon shrugged. "And you know as well as I do that our Lord will not accept me back until that time. I will report back to him after this meeting." He added soothingly. While he may have doubts about following the Dark Lord, he had made his choice and he was obligated to keep that choice, for now.

"Well," one of the older pack leaders said. "That does seem to be a rather good recommendation for the new offer. Or did they ask for something in return?" The question was posed to Remus.

Remus shook his head. "They only asked that I mention it."

"Subtle," the other werewolf said.

"Subtle or not, they have no power!" Voldemort's werewolf objected.

"I think they have more than you want to admit, Fenrir," the older pack leader objected. "We might as well approach this question with some degree of logic," the grey haired man continued, speaking over the reply Fenrir made. The look of the other pack leaders was approving and Greyback was astute enough in reading his fellows to fall silent, for now. "I believe we have four choices; the Ministry, the Dark Lord, this new offer, and neutrality. I take it we are all agreed that we must make a decision and that Ministry is not a viable option at this time?" The werewolf looked around expectantly.

The rest of the pack leaders nodded. The Ministry was not a viable option and for the foreseeable future, they were not going to be an option. Most expected Remus to look downcast, but he was as firm as the others in his agreement. Gideon hid a smile. The pack leaders had also agreed that they had to make a decision, which meant that his capture had done at least one thing for his Lord. He'd have to emphasise that when he saw the Serpent Lord again. As he looked around he tried to put names to the faces of the pack leaders. It was difficult since most he'd only heard of as whispers or by their werewolf monikers. The names "Sawtooth' or 'Scrubtail' were not exactly helpful in trying to identify who was who in human form.

"Fenrir, what will the Dark Lord offer for our services?" the older werewolf asked and Gideon suddenly realised the speaker was Longtooth Silvers, one of the oldest and most respected pack leaders. It was rumoured that he was the one who had bitten Greyback as a child, but neither of them had confirmed that.

"My Lord offers what he has always offered, a place to serve and to be accepted," Fenrir replied, making it seem like a great and grand offer.

"Nothing else? And any conditions?" The question came from a youngish pack leader who stepped up to stand with Longtooth.

"What else do you need, Shebane?" Greyback snapped. "My service to my Lord has helped the packs and has never caused me to be conflicted in loyalty."

"You might be fine with biting little children, Fenrir," Shebane spat back. "The rest of us don't share your beliefs. He will want us to fight, won't he?"

"He will want us to serve," Fenrir snarled. "And there has never been a problem with serving."

Silently, Gideon shook his head. He really hoped the Serpent Lord wasn't relying on Fenrir to be his sole representative because he was doing a fine job of alienating the rest of the packs. It was well known that Greyback revelled in his werewolf ability, but his indiscriminate nature was not shared by them all.

Longtooth growled, cutting through the budding argument before they could get physical. "We will serve if that is what we decide," he said. "We are all aware of what neutrality brings," he continued. "What is this other offering us?"

Gideon expected Remus to respond, but it was one of the other pack leaders who spoke. "A couple of us have spoken to them. Their offer has been the same each time," a pack leader with long brown hair stepped forward. "Firstly, for those who want it, wolfsbane potion made by a Potion Master, though they never said which one, just that their credentials would be available when an agreement is made. Financial help should we need it and a change in the Ministry Laws regarding us."

"Talon, did they put a time frame on the law changes?" Longtooth asked.

Talon shook his head. "No, but they did offer a guarantee; a blood oath."

That brought a murmur from the gathered pack leaders. "A blood oath?" The question was whispered almost with awe.

"What were the stipulations?" Longtooth asked quietly. He was impressed but he was controlled enough not to show it.

"Wait," Talon said, shaking his hair slightly. "There was another part of the offer. They also offered a spell, one that when supposedly cast by a strong enough wizard, on a werewolf with a strong enough desire, would mean that the werewolf retains their human mind during transformation. It's like wolfsbane potion but just the spell."

"It only works about five percent of the time," Remus broke in. "I researched it," he added. "It does work, I had them cast it on me, but it's not reliable, which they did tell me in advance."

Longtooth and the other pack leaders nodded. "What were the stipulations?" The question was repeated.

"Our services in one battle, that they specify, a public declaration of neutrality, but they were also willing to concede that some of us would continue to serve either the Dark Lord or the Ministry. and in the case of the blood oath, they require that we discuss any problems with them, before we call that in."

Longtooth raised an eyebrow. He had heard the offer, but he hadn't gone to talk with the representative, something he was regretting now. "There was no stipulation on the amount of financial aid?"

The pack leaders who had spoken to the representative looked at each other. No one had thought to ask. "I think they might be offended if we asked for the Malfoy vault in value," Remus said with a chuckle. "But if we have a valid need, then it will be met."

"It's almost too good to be true," a pack leader that Gideon recognised as Razorclaw said.

"It is too good to be true," Fenrir snarled.

"No," Remus replied, his voice like ice. "I spoke with the representative myself. The offer is genuine and they do have the power to grant what they have offered."

"Who are they, then? Because no one with that much power just appears from nowhere." It was a logical enough statement for Fenrir to make.

"No one that you know of," Remus retorted almost happily but he was aware of the doubt. The Shadow path was completely new.

"So enlighten me."

"Why? So your Lord can remove them? I think that's one of the reasons they have been so circumspect. I'd guess that they do not want to be known yet."

"So why be so generous to us?" Longtooth wasn't the only one who wanted to know. No one was generous to the werewolves, not without there being a very large catch. And so far none of them could see any catch.

Gideon was watching Remus as this part of the conversation unfolded. He knew Lupin knew exactly who was offering the werewolves this, but it seemed that the man did not wish to speak of it. Gideon could also see that many of the pack leaders were interested in the offer, but they were reluctant as they were not sure about plunging into the unknown. They didn't necessarily want to follow the Dark Lord, but neutrality or the Ministry weren't options to them.

"I think," Gideon heard himself say, "I think they already have an agreement with the Dark Lord."

"What makes you say that?" Longtooth waved off those who were about to object.

"I stayed with the man who rescued me for a few days and we didn't talk much, but just from a few things he said... it seemed to me that he knew the Dark Lord well. I was rescued by one wizard, one wizard who went through the Aurors as if they were nothing. He didn't fight, he avoided them all, in their Headquarters. I know my Lord could do something similar, but I have never seen anything like it! And no Greyback, he wasn't a Death Eater," Gideon added the last for his Lord's benefit, sure the question would come at him anyway. Fenrir would probably see their Lord before him, so there was no point in antagonising the other Death Eater unnecessarily. "I also believe they are being generous with us now, because they wish to form a longer term alliance," Gideon added softly.

"That would explain it," Longtooth murmured, looking back towards his fellow pack leaders before he laughed. "It's stupid asking us to vote; we are only going to come to a decision one way."

"I'm so glad you said that," Fenrir smiled.

"Though I am curious," Longtooth added, "how a vote would go. I think we are split, though," he said easily.

"Aye, we are," Gideon recognised Blackpelt by his jet black hair. He was the werewolf known for the best financial counting of the packs. "I've counted and the only way to change the count is if Remus wants to tell us who is making us that offer."

"I only think I know," Remus said, "And I would prefer not to break their confidence in the event that I'm right."

"That means we are down to the old-fashioned way, one leader over all the packs of the Isles because as the Ministry is agreed not to be an option, I don't think we really want to fall into neutrality."

"Enough talk," Greyback growled. "All that remains is for those who have the guts to fight to stand up and for the rest of the pretend leaders to leave."

"I nominate," Shebane said and his cry was quickly backed by another of his pack. Other pack leaders nominated for the fight and Greyback smiled, his teeth catching on his lips. They would fight in the traditional way, transformed werewolf to werewolf on the nights of the full moon. Gideon could see that Fenrir was thinking that would give him the advantage. Not many of the other pack leaders bothered to train their werewolf forms. Gideon realised that Greyback was easily the strongest fighter which was no doubt the Dark Lord's plan to gain the werewolf packs. And for Fenrir, he would enjoy seeing Remus bow to him though Gideon had noticed that Lupin had also been nominated and there was a small smile on his face. Suddenly Gideon knew that Greyback wouldn't have it all his way and perhaps it would be the older werewolf who bowed to his creation.

Sirius was in a black mood. Pun and every other bad joke he could think of intended. He had lost patience with his "mission" weeks back. He'd persisted at it because every night when he asked Fawkes what exactly he was looking for, the phoenix had replied that what he was doing was necessary. How it was necessary had never been explained.

He'd also persisted at it because it meant he could run errands for the Shadows with no one the wiser, but even that benefit was wearing thin. So far, all he had encountered had been a group of centaurs who had insisted that they could defend their territory, a mob of outcast goblins who had almost gleefully agreed to help, if they were presented with the heads of the current leaders of Gringotts bank and he'd heard some rumours that there was a Veela colony nearby. Rumours he could, of course, not confirm.

What he was doing was a complete waste of time. Did Dumbledore and Fawkes really believe there were groups of magical creatures with enough presence to tip the battle just living out in the wild? There might be a few colonies of various types, but they just did not wish to be found. Not by him, not by anyone. There were no other major groups left to recruit. Fairies were merely decorative and elves and all other magical creatures with power were just the twisted dreams of Muggles who had seen a little too much of what they shouldn't and had spun everything out of those sightings. If he went about this logically then he could account for almost every major magical being and group and know that there just were none left to recruit.

The Vampires had already thrown their lot in with the Ministry. The Giants were being intractable. The Goblins would probably side with the Ministry but even if they didn't, Sirius wasn't talking to them. The Veela had representatives in Diagon Alley, so it was far easier to talk to them there. The Merfolk were contactable at Hogwarts, as were the Centaurs. Acromantulas he didn't even want to talk about, but they definitely fell to Hagrid to speak to. Werewolves could be spoken to over a nice cup of tea, without having to traipse through the wilderness. Unicorns had stopped paying him any attention since Third Year. Sphinxes were not native to the Isles and even if they were, they were too... too intractable and sphinx-y to rely on. Griffons, Hippogriffs, Thestrals and other creatures like that were not even sentient. They would serve pretty much whoever fed them. Serpents already belonged to the Dark Lord and the Hairy MacBoons had lost whatever semblance of humanity they had centuries ago. A battle between Light and Dark forces was of little interest to them.

And all of that faded into complete and utter inconsequence with the knowledge that the Express had been attacked and that Azkaban had been emptied. He should be there!

:You should, but you aren't,: the Shadows kindly agreed with him. :Since we can't really help you recruit things that don't exist, would you like to do something else?:

:Such as?: Sirius asked somewhat suspiciously. He might enjoy the little tasks they gave him, but right at the moment he was fed up with everything.

The Shadows chuckled. :We thought it might be nice if you met him.:

:Who?:

:Voldemort.:

:Oh.: Sirius wasn't sure what he thought about that. He knew Harry was sure of the Dark Lord's love but he was hard pressed to believe it. :I'm not sure there is much I could see,: Sirius said sensibly.

:You'll see it in his eyes but are you sure you want to?:

Sirius looked up at the stars for a moment and took a deep breath. The stars were bright out in the wilderness and he remembered his Astronomy class. The stars were never this bright on the top of that tower. At least that was one good thing. Eventually he sighed. :Yes, I think I do want to know.:

:All right,: the Shadows replied easily. :We'll let you know when it's safe to visit.: Sirius could almost hear a smile in their voice. :For now though, why don't you reconsider this mission? Use your logic to shorten it, now that you've established to Dumbledore that there really is no one hiding out hoping to be ignored.:

"If I could do that, I'd be out of here already!" Sirius objected.

:You haven't really thought about it properly yet,: the Shadows countered. :Think about it carefully. Go through every group you know of.:

"Argh!" the canine animagus growled. They obviously knew something yet they also seemed determined not to tell him.

:Of course we know something. We try to know everything,: they laughed. :Just think about it again, carefully, and you will see what we mean. Though it will still take a while to get back there.:

Sirius growled, the sound more reminiscent of something that his animagus form would produce. He really had no choice but to humour the Shadows in this. They were worse than Remus was when he had forgotten the answer to some test question. "All right," he said trying to remember his classes and the lists of magical creatures he had to memorise for school. Lists he'd promptly forgotten as useless. He tried to focus on the more dangerous creatures. "Alphabetically then... Acromantula's are definitely not something I want to run in to. Basilisk's will follow the serpent lord. Centaurs don't want to be involved. Chimaera's are Greek and hate the cold and also don't speak and do not treat with wizards, except to eat them. Demiguise aren't helpful and Drag..." Sirius trailed off, his eyes wide.

"Dragons!" He shouted! Dragons were big, strong and magically resistant. There were enough of them that if you herded them into battle they could make a difference without getting slaughtered. They were also kept in groups under the control of the various Ministries because they were so expensive! He didn't know how to control them but Sirius didn't doubt for a moment that the Dragon Handlers would have a better idea. "How could I be so stupid?" he asked aloud.

The Shadows didn't reply, but he definitely got the impression of amusement from them. He could tell though that he had worked out what they were thinking about.

"Okay, so I have to find this group of Veela, then I'm off to find and talk to the dragon handlers, and somehow convince them that their charges can change the outcome of this war."

:Something like that.:

"I still want to be there," Sirius sighed as his small jolt of elation faded. He didn't care what he found here, he wanted to be with Harry and Remus.

:We know, and they know, but Harry knows that for the moment humouring Dumbledore is the best option, and Remus is a tad busy with the werewolves, and will be for the next several moons.:

"What's happened?" Alarm coloured his tone.

:Nothing,: the Shadows said. :Our offer was taken well but as we suspected, because we are unknown it was not enough to get them to follow us. But it was enough to cause a split in their ranks. As a result, they will fight now to determine who is the Supreme Pack Leader of the Isles and allow them to make the decision on which path the werewolves walk. In the end, it won't make a difference; they will follow either the Dark Lord or us since the Ministry has sided with the Vampires.:

Sirius knew Remus could fight. Remus didn't show it much but he was a good swordsman and fairly decent hand to hand. :Silly!: the Shadows laughed at his thoughts. :They aren't going to fight as humans. The battles will take place on the full moon and before you worry, that gives Remus far more advantage than the rest know.: The Shadows seemed to grin.

The Head of the House of Black was silent as he tried to determine what advantage Remus had. He was as comfortable with his werewolf form as any of them got, excepting perhaps Fenrir but that wasn't it... Wait... "That spell?"

:Exactly. We will offer it to all of them of course, but Fenrir abhors the very idea of it and that we believe will be his undoing.:

Sirius grinned rather ferally. They'd never hunted down Fenrir because the war had taken up all their time once they graduated, but they had given it a lot of thought. It would be a nice thing if Remus was now in a position to fight Greyback and when he won, for Fenrir to have to obey him.

That would definitely be a very nice side of justice.

:We rather thought you might like it,: the Shadows chuckled with him. There was silence for a moment. :Do you feel a bit better now?: they asked.

Sirius started at the question, but he did feel a bit better now. He was still frustrated with his Order appointed task and still thought it bordered on being a useless waste of his time but if Harry and Remus understood and if he could perhaps get the Dragons onside, then he did feel just a bit better.

Voldemort was surprised when the Shadows gathered before him. Kisha was with him and they usually avoided the elder vampire.

:We need something,: there was none of their usual banter when they hissed the demand.

The elder vampire raised one delicate eyebrow, somewhat surprised at the Shadows boldness. She knew they had been avoiding her. For a group with an agreement with the Dark Lord they had been scarce, but she had supposed it was part of the bargain that they only appeared when needed. Or now perhaps they only appeared when they wanted something.

"What do you need?" Voldemort asked. The Shadows were playing towards the vampire's presumption of what their deal was. She thought he had to pay for everything, so they were kindly providing almost trivial tasks to prove that their deal was based on payments.

:A set of journals, enchanted such that one mirrors the other. The mirror will have to be able to read through protection charms.:

"I can do that," the Dark Lord said. "But what will you do for me?" The question was purely to satisfy the vampire.

:The journal will pay for itself.:

"That remains to be seen. My next foray, two of you act as my eyes and ears and you will have your journal."

Kisha laughed. "Surely you have wizards who can make mirrored journals?" she asked the Shadows.

If the Shadows had of been human, they would have been giving the vampire a very dirty look. :Of course we do, but we want these ones to be undetectable and that requires more power.:

"Your Master could do it," she muttered.

:He could, if we want to spend the rest of eternity in servitude,: the Shadows retorted before they turned their attention back to the Dark Lord. :All right, we will be your eyes and ears next foray.:

"Then you will have your journal," the Serpent Lord agreed, feeling the slight smugness from both the Shadows and the vampire. He laughed to himself. In the game they were playing there could only be one winner, but the play was highly entertaining.

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