Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

A Curious Nature	By : CondemnedForLife Category: Harry Potter Crossovers > Slash - Male/Male Views: 28002 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter world or its characters, or the Twilight world and its characters, and I make absolutely no profit from writing this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
Summary: For the Black-Lupin family, Forks is a second chance at life and at love for a group of war-damaged teenagers and their parents. Post-War. Harry/Jacob

Pairings: Jacob/Harry, Remus/Sirius, Seth/Draco, Embry/Theo, Hermione/Blaise, Ron/Neville.

Category: Harry Potter/Twilight

Genre: Romance/Family

Rating: M/NC-17

Warnings: Mature themes, slash, gay (male/male) relationships, some angst, drama, gay sex, crossover, canon for books one to four and AU after that.

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"What?"

"Yup."

"Both of them?"

"That's what I said."

"How is this even possible?"

"Don't ask me, but I'm not going to complain if it stops Jake whining over that Swan girl."

"But-but-"

Jared clapped a hand onto his alpha's shoulder and smiled sympathetically. "I leave you to it Sam. I'm headed off to meet Kim down at the beach."

With once last clap, the shape shifter was out the door, leaving a shocked Sam behind to deal with not one, but three of his pack who had imprinted in the last week. Who elected him alpha again? And where were they so that he could kill them?

Sighing, Sam approached Jake who was sprawled across his couch and looking ignorantly blissful.

"'Sup," Jake beamed at his alpha.

Sam shook his head and glanced around his living room/kitchen. While Jake was lying across the couch, Seth was rooting in the fridge for something to eat. He claimed that imprinting made him hungry. As if they all didn't eat their weight in food everyday anyway.

Embry, on the other hand, was sulking outside the front door. He seemed more than disappointed that Seth and Jake had both gotten to talk with their imprints and he had not.

"Up," Sam demanded Jake, who swung his legs off the end of the couch to make room for his pack mate.

For the first time since his return from the beach, Jake came out of his imprinting induced high and saw that his alpha looked exhausted.

"What's wrong Sam?"

Sam glanced at him wearily and shook his head.

Jake frowned. "I'm supposed to be your beta," he reminded Sam. "Talk to me."

Rubbing his hands over his face, Sam sank back into the couch. "Its just. . . doesn't it seem a bit suspicious to you? That three of our pack imprinted within a few days and on people in the same family?"

An image of Harry's glowing emerald eyes appeared in Jake's mind and he had to hold back a growl of pleasure. "I guess," he admitted finally. "But we're shape shifters man. What's normal about that? Besides, everyone knows that imprinting is for life, so I'm not going to question it."

Sam nodded. "I know. You're right and I'm not trying to keep you and the boys from your mates. I don't know what I would do without Emily after all, its just. . ."

"You worry about us," his beta finished and Sam grinned wryly at him.

"I can't help it," he admitted. "It's a built in alpha thing. How many is there in this family anyway?"

The younger male scratched his head. "Um, well you've met Sirius and Remus. They're the parents. All the kids are adopted," he added at Sam's confused look. "Then there's Harry, Theo who's Embry's imprint, Draco who's Seth's, Blaise, Hermione, Neville and Ron. Oh, and Snuffles."

"Snuffles?"

"Big black dog. Built like a bear."

Sam snorted at the irony of a dog like that with a name like Snuffles. He sobered up quickly. "I'm gonna have to inform the elders."

He received a nod in return. "We can have a pack meeting at my house tonight," Jake offered.

"Good idea," the alpha agreed. "I'll contact Harry, Sue and Quil, you tell your dad and the rest of our wayward pack."

Jake winced. "How about you tell Leah?" he suggested. The wolf girl was not going to be happy about the new turn of events. It left her the only person in the pack who had yet to imprint.

The alpha winced, then nodded reluctantly. "Fine."

"I'm home! And I have muffins!" Emily's voice called to them from the front door, where she had entered carrying bags of groceries.

Jake, Seth and Embry happily helped themselves to the pile of muffins. With a bright smile and a greeting kiss, Sam helped his imprint in putting away the groceries, glad to be distracted from thinking about the pack meeting tonight. Even if it was only for a little while.

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Harry struggled for air, trying to push against the invisible weight pressing down on his chest but it was no good. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't think .There was blood on the floor, on his hands, all over his clothes. . .

"Harry!"

He was going to die. There was no air.

"Come on Harry. Take a nice deep breaths. In through your nose and out through your mouth."

He made an effort to follow the instructions and took a deep, stuttering breath.

"That's it. Again."

Another breath. In. Out. In. Out. The weight was slowly lifting off of his chest. He could breathe again.

"Good man. Feeling better?"

Harry slowly opened his eyes and stared blearily into Sirius' worried face. He continued to take deep breaths, in and out. After a moment he realised he was sitting on the kitchen floor, his godfather kneeling beside him.

"What happened?" he asked fuzzily.

Sirius grinned wryly, his eyes full of concern. "You cut your finger chopping the vegetables. I think the blood must have given you a flashback. It set off a panic attack."

Harry groaned. It had been nearly two weeks since his last panic attack. He had thought that the medicine was finally working.

"Did anyone see?" he mumbled, embarrassed. He always felt humiliated after his attacks. They made him feel weak.

"Ron was here when it happened, but he left to give us some privacy. Knew you didn't want an audience."

A sense of gratefulness filled Harry at his best friend's consideration. Everyone in the house knew that Harry had been diagnosed with depression and General Anxiety Disorder after the war. Madame Pomfrey had put him on medication that was supposed to relieve the panic attacks and it seemed to be working pretty well. Every now and again though, something small would set one off and Harry dreaded the moments when that familiar tightness began to build up in his chest again.

"Are you able to stand up?"

Harry blinked at the hand being offered to him and after a second, grabbed it, allowing Sirius to pull him to his feet. He swayed for a moment. That was another thing he hated about those damned attacks. How dizzy he always felt afterwards.

"Why don't you head up to your room and rest for a bit?" Sirius suggested. "I'll finish off dinner and call you when its done."

"'K." He wasn't in the mood for arguing that he was fine. Besides still felt light-headed, so with little fuss Harry wobbled his way out of the kitchen and slowly made his way upstairs.

With a muffled thump he collapsed face down on his bed, turning his head to he side in order to breathe. Sometimes he wished that he could just erase the last few years from his life. There would be no more nightmares or flashbacks or panic attacks. The only thing that had stopped him was the fact that he would lose the memories he had of his friends and his adopted parents from the last few years. Still.. . . he could be perfectly normal. He snorted in the bedcover. Yeah, right. He, the Boy-Who-Lived would never be normal.

Besides, normal was way overrated.

With a sigh Harry turned over onto his back, grinning when he saw the moving images on the ceiling. Hermione, at Ron's request had found a nifty charm that made images of a Quaffle, bludgers and a snitch race back and forth over the ceiling.

The young wizard's eyes were tracking the motions of the small gold ball when a sharp rap at the window caught his attention. His eyes widened at the sight of the bright blue owl hovering outside his window. Mouth agape, the boy didn't move until the owl tapped on the window again, hooting impatiently as it did so.

Eyes fixed on the strange apparition, Harry stumbled off of the bed and opened the window. The blue owl flew in and perched on the one of the bed posts, one leg with a letter attached to it sticking out in Harry's direction. Numbly Harry removed the parchment and allowed the owl to hop up on his arm where he guided it over to Hedwig's cage where it could rest and recuperate.

Harry's faithful companion merely opened one golden eye to peer at her new companion, before ruffling her white feathers and tucking her head beneath one of her wings again, ignoring the strange new bird who was taking his fill of her food and water.

Blinking rather rapidly, Harry tore open the letter and unfurled the parchment. He smiled in delight when he saw Luna's familiar loopy writing.

Dear Harry and my friends,

I'm hoping that you are all enjoying your new home in Forks and the company there. Father finally recovered from his injuries in the Final Battle to leave St. Mungo's. We've left England and have begun to travel across Europe in search of Blibbering Humdingers and Foofoo Skippers. Do you know that they have the power to cure the effect of the Cruciatus Curse? We've already encountered a Crumple-Horned Snorkack in Sweden and he was very polite. Not at all as vicious as we were led to believe.

We met Hagrid and Madam Maxine when we passed through France and they seemed to be enjoying their holidays. Thistle, my owl, was found in Hungary. He was a gift from a warlock who says that he's a rare from of owl known as the Lagoo. Isn't he pretty? We're taking a magic carpet to Bulgaria in about an hour but I wanted to check in before that and tell you that we're ok. I know how much you worry. Watch out for the Nargles, they have a vast population in North America.

Enjoy dinner and give my best to everyone.

Lots of love, Luna.

Harry shook his head at Luna's ability to know things despite the fact that she was thousands of miles away. It was believed in their group that Luna had a hint of a Seer in her. She was capable of knowing things, sensing them almost, before they even happened.

Folding the letter carefully, Harry placed it in the chest Sirius had given him for his sixteenth birthday. It contained every letter he had ever received from his friends, as well as the photo album Hagrid had given him in first year, his invisibility cloak and a number of other treasured possessions. He relocked the chest with a quick wave of his wand, brushing his hand over the dark wood.

Dark. Like Jake. The wizard felt himself blushing at the thought of the young man he had met on the beach today. He didn't think he had ever seen someone so handsome before. All those sleek muscles covered in smooth, brown skin. Dark chocolate eyes. Harry shivered at the thought of running his hands through that bristly black hair and a chuckle escaped him.

He flopped back on the bed feeling much more relaxed than he had when he entered the room as he remembered the way Jake had almost stammered when he spoke to him, but had seemed confident as well. He was obviously nervous around Harry and it didn't a genius to work out why.

Harry wasn't exactly against the idea either. There was something intense in Jake's eyes when he looked at him. Something almost animalistic. It made the boy feel as though he was the only who Jake could see, the only who mattered. . .

"Harry! Dinner!"

Moaning and grumbling, Harry pushed himself off the bed but perked up at the smell that wafted through the house. Sirius might hate cooking but he made the most delicious stew.

The table was already full when Harry walked into the kitchen and he took a seat between Draco and Ron, whose plate was already full to the brim.

"Ron," Remus scolded as he put a plate of rolls on the table, "try to leave enough for everybody else."

"Sh'wry," the red-head mumbled even as pushed another potato onto his plate.

Draco, Theo and Hermione all made sounds of disgust while the rest of them merely looked amused. They had long since become accustomed to Ron's dinner manners or lack thereof. Neville however, slapped his boyfriend over the head.

"Owf," Ron protested, through a mouthful of steak. "What was that for?"

"For making Draco looked like he wanted to throw up," his boyfriend replied serenely.

There was a round of laughter at Ron's disgruntled expression. They all tucked into their food, complimenting Sirius on his spectacular stew and answering Remus' questions about the beach.

"It was quite nice," Draco admitted. "The view was actually beautiful. I'm not so fond of the random pieces of wood lying around though."

He received chuckles as well as winces at his words. The gash on his leg had needed a complicated Healing Charm from Remus once they got home and he was still limping on it a little bit. Fortunately, from Draco's vain point of view, it wouldn't scar or leave any kind of mark at all due to Remus' prowess in healing.

"I don't know about that," Harry said, taking a roll from the basket and shooting his brother a glance. "When you have a big, strong boy to fuss over you, it wouldn't be so bad."

"Harry!" Draco hissed. His pale skin flushing at the explosion of laughter from his siblings and Sirius. Remus merely looked confused.

"What am I missing?" he inquired.

"Draco had a knight in shining arm rush to his aid today," Theo teased, dodging the piece of meat flung his way by an embarrassed blond. "He seemed quite happy about it too."

"A boy?" Remus was frowning and his eyes were flashing gold.

Sirius rested a hand on his mate's shoulder and rubbed reassuringly. "It was nothing. Just one of the kids we saw outside the shop in La Push the first day we were here."

The werewolf seemed to calm down a bit at that, having sensed no malice or evil from the boys. Just a faint animalistic smell that was actually quite soothing.

"Besides Harry," Sirius said, "You haven't a leg to stand on. I was there when you were talking to that Jacob boy."

Harry flushed crimson and scowled at his sibling's, not seeing what was funny. "His name is Jake," he snapped. "And its none of your business Ron, so stop elbowing me!"

"It is actually." Remus had that 'I'm your parent so don't mess with me look' on and even the dog animagus was looking more serious than usual. "I don't mind any of you making friends with the people leaving here. I'm encouraging it actually. But if it becomes anything more. . . significant with any of them, then Sirius and I will want to meet them. No exceptions."

Harry, Draco and Theo were all staring at their food as though wishing the could drowned in it. They simultaneously made a muffled sound of agreement to Remus' unvoiced question while hoping not to die of embarrassment.

"As if I'd want to go anywhere near that overgrown manchild again," Draco sneered.

"Well, you looked pretty cozy in his arms today," Harry murmured slyly.

"Shut up you!"

"You know its ok to like him, Draco," Harry said softly.

The blond flushed and bit his lip before shaking his head. "It doesn't matter because I don't like him."

"Mmmhmm."

Harry then proceeded to tell them all about Luna and the rather intriguing bird who had brought her letter. Everyone was happy to hear that the Ravenclaw and her father were happy and safe in Europe. After Xenophilius had been badly injured in the war, the Healers at St. Mungos had thought for a long time that he wouldn't recover from his injuries. During that time, they had all supported Luna and Sirius and Remus had offered her a home with them if her father did not recover. Thankfully Mr. Lovegood made a full recovery and they hadn't had to take Luna with them. Although the blonde haired girl was very dearly missed at times, with no one to burst into the conversation with completely random but surprisingly intellectual comments.

With dinner finished the family spread out through the rest of the house leaving Ron and Draco to do the dishes. In the end they all grouped together in the living room with Sirius and Remus cuddled together on one of the couches, Blaise and Hermione on another with the rest of them spread out across the rest of the seats.

Spending time together as a family was something that they aimed to do as often as possible. It was something that had not been possible during the war and they were not going to take it for granted now.

Grabbing the remote from the coffee table, Remus switched on the large plasma screen television installed on the wall. Thankfully, Hermione and Harry had been able to do a better job at explaining to Sirius and the other purebloods how it worked. After settling on a programme called 'House M.D.' Remus relaxed, content to cuddle with his mate and keep watch over his kids.

The programme turned out to be surprisingly amusing with the sarcastic wit of House and his minions. The adults and children alike became quickly enthralled with the show's plot and characters. Another loud round of laughter after House made a highly inappropriate comment to Cuddy was interrupted when the fireplace flared green and a familiar figure dressed in luminous orange robes stepped out.

"Albus!" Remus and Sirius chorused, standing up to greet their former headmaster.

"Professor Dumbledore," the siblings exclaimed, clambering around to meet him.

"My children," the aged wizard greeted them with a beaming smile, before turning a mock frown on the younger ones. "What have I told you to call me?"

The siblings exchanged grins. "Uncle Albus," they repeated dutifully.

"Very good," Dumbledore replied solemnly, before smiling. "Now don't I get a hug?"

They rushed forward and gathered in a group hug around the wizard, all of them laughing despite the rather painful elbows or knees prodding various parts of their body.

Albus Dumbledore had after all, been many peoples' saving grace during the war. Albeit being the figurehead, alongside Harry, for the war against Voldemort to the people of Wizarding Britain, he was so much more than that to the people close to him. To Draco, Theo and Blaise he had an olive branch. One of few to offer them safety and refuge when so many would have refused based on the fact that they were from Dark families and Slytherins to boot.

Despite the fact that all three of them had changed sides soon after the war begun, they were labelled as Death Eater scum by most of the light side and as traitors by the dark. Dumbledore had welcomed them with open arms and plenty of lemon drops. He has assured them that Harry would not be prejudiced against them, but they had still hesitated when they followed the headmaster into the Gryffindor common room that very first time.

All eyes had turned to the esteemed headmaster and the three Slytherins standing in the portal hole, but with fierce glares from Hermione and Ginny they had all turned back to what they were doing. With a smile Harry had stood up and beckoned the over and with an offer to play exploding snap their friendship was sealed.

The only reason Remus and Sirius were together was due to the headmaster. Despite the fact that they were mates and loved each other dearly, the marauders felt that they're relationship could not survive after everything they had been through. In Sirius' opinion he was too damaged for his mate. Azkaban had ripped him of his looks and his mind. It was Albus who healed the animagus' mind using an obscure branch of Legilimency.

While he hadn't erased Sirius' memories entirely, for do that would take a part of the man himself, he had blunted the emotions that surrounded them. The animagus would keep his memories of Azkaban, but when he remembered his stay in the prison he wouldn't experience the severity of the emotions that came with them.

Remus on the other hand had no bad memories that needed healing. For him it was the thought that he had believed his mate capable of murder and betrayal and had left him to rot in Azkaban for twelve long years. Neither he nor Moony could get past this disloyalty to his mate as in a pack, loyalty meant everything.

Oddly enough the night of the full moon had taken care of that for them. Once his cubs had accomplished the animagus transformation they had taken to spending the night of the full moon with Moony and Padfoot. However, during their sixth year Severus Snape had been gravely injured in battle and had gone into a coma. Trusting no one else to make the Wolfsbane potion for him, Remus had decided to go without for just one moon when Draco and Theo swore they would learn how to make it in time for the next moon.

Remus and Sirius were both adamant that their foster children would not be allowed anywhere near a wild werewolf and so the two had retreated to the Shrieking Shack on their own that night. Remus' change was gruesome as always and the large black dog had winced at the pain-filled howls that had filled the house.

Once the transformation was over and Moony was in control for the first time in several years, he did something that, without Remus there to control him, he was now free to do. For the first time ever Moony had rolled over on his stomach, showing his vulnerable underbelly to his mate and whined pitifully in apology. Sirius had been beyond shocked.

Despite his rather quiet nature, Remus had always been the dominant in their relationship due to his alpha werewolf nature. Never before had he acted in anyway submissive to Sirius, especially during the full moon.

Moony had whined again. His eyes pleading forgiveness and Sirius, after getting over his shock, had quickly granted it. Taking a small piece of the flesh on Moony's neck between his teeth, he had bitten down gently. Not enough to draw blood but enough to sting and then had licked his mate's nose happily in forgiveness.

They had spent the night playing and hunting in the Forbidden Forest, going back to the Shrieking Shack after a few hours and curling up the king-sized bed in the master bedroom together. A sore Remus had been woken in the morning by a sharp slap to the chest.

"Ow! Sleeping," he whimpered, turning away from the offending hand.

"Don't you turn away from me Remus Lupin," Sirius scolded his mate, who received another slap this time on his arm.

"Stop it," Remus whimpered. "Hit me some other time. Preferably not after the full moon."

"Oh no. Not after what happened last night."

Remus eyes shot up and he jumped away, uncaring of his nudity. "Last night?" he whispered, looking terrified. He struggled to remember, but it always took a few days for his and Moony's thoughts to merge after the full moon. "Merlin, what did I do? Did I hurt you?"

Sirius softened at the fear in his mate's eyes. "No, you didn't hurt me, you idiot."

"But-"

"I forgive you," Sirius interrupted softly, reaching a hand out to stroke the werewolf's cheek.

Remus' eyes widened. "What?"

"I forgive you." Sirius repeated, love prominent in his gaze and Remus didn't even had to ask what he was talking about.

"Sirius," he choked out through the lump in his throat. He lunged at his mate, burying his head in the animagus' abdomen and sobbing.

The black-haired man held his lover and let him cry all his hurt and anger out. Merlin knows Remus had done this for him often enough since he had escaped from Azkaban. He stroked the grey-streaked hair and murmured softly comforting words when he heard Remus' repeated words of 'I'm sorry' and 'my mate, my beautiful mate'.

Needless to say when the two wizards had returned to the castle the next day, Harry and his friends were delighted to see them both beaming and holding hands, with Sirius limping a little bit as well. Albus too had been happy for both men and had congratulated them gleefully, giving them a bottle of the Three Broomsticks finest elf-made wine to celebrate. No one had seen the wistful glance in his eyes when he gazed at the blissful men. Or dreamed that he would be thinking about the one man he would always love, the only man he would ever love. In life and in death.

For Harry the former headmaster was a mentor, a pseudo grandfather, a friend and, most importantly, a confident. He was the only person, of all the people Harry was surrounded by, that knew exactly what Harry was going through. He alone knew the burden of having to face down a Dark Lord. Of knowing years beforehand that one day, sooner or later, he would have to step up to the mantle and do what everyone was expecting him to do. To face down a Dark Lord and win.

Their circumstances were different of course. Harry had been prophesised from birth that he would be that one to take down Voldemort. And however much both wizards, young and old, disliked the idea of having your path chosen for you they also knew that the Wizarding public would accept no one except Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived as their saviour.

"I knew him before you know," Dumbledore murmured, staring into the fire.

Harry glanced up from his cup of tea. "Who, sir?"

It was early October in his sixth year and he and Dumbledore were sitting in armchairs around the fireplace in the headmaster's office, drinking tea. They had been discussing the Horcruxes and how to go about eliminating them without letting Voldemort know with Snape. They had finished their talks only a few minutes ago and while Snape had disappeared as fast as he could, Harry stuck around for awhile to talk. Something he had taken to doing recently.

Dumbledore sent an admonishing look that had Harry shrugging sheepishly. "I'm sorry. Who, Albus?"

"Gellert," Dumbledore sighed.

Blinking in took Harry a moment to connect the name and when he did he gaped. "Grindewald?"

The older wizard nodded sadly and Harry was startled to see tears in those shockingly blue eyes. He wouldn't judge. He'd had enough prejudice to last him a life time, he simply asked softly, "How?"

Dumbledore took a shuddering breath, "When I was eighteen my mother died. My sister, you see, had been through a terrible trauma at a young age at the hands of three muggle boys. My father hunted down the boys who hurt her and hexed them for what they had done to an innocent six year old. He was sentenced to life in Azkaban for it."

Harry gasped and couldn't help himself. "But it was in your sister's defence," he protested. "How could the Wizengamot-"

"He broke the law by not only performing in front of muggles but also on them," Dumbledore reminded his student gently, touched by the concern and kindness the boy was famous for. "No matter what the boys had done, they believed my father had to be punished."

The old man's face contorted in pain. "Arianna was damaged irreparably. The attack left her unable to function socially or to properly perform magic anymore. She was terribly anxious and needed to be looked after all the time. My mother had the responsibility of taking care of her while Aberforth and I were at school. One day Arianna had one of her magical outbursts and my mother," Dumbledore's breath hitched, " was caught in the caught in the crossfire."

Harry felt compassion well in up in him for the anguish clear in his mentor's eyes. The loss of his mother was obviously still as fresh today as it was the day it happened. "I was devastated of course by my mother's death but more so I was devastated by the loss of my life."

Harry's face contorted in puzzlement and Dumbledore grimaced when he saw it. "As the head of my family it was now my responsibility to take of my brother and sister and I was furious. I can see that you don't understand Harry. But I was selfish and all I could see was the loss of my independence, my freedom."

The younger wizard, though he would never admit it aloud, could not understand. Though he didn't know the full story he would hope that if he or one of his siblings was in trouble that one of the others would have no qualms about looking after them.

"That summer Gellert Grindewald arrived in Godric's Hollow. Yes, we lived there also," Dumbledore added at Harry's astonished look. "His aunt lived a few doors down from us and for the first time since my mother had died I felt like I was living again."

An expression of shame crossed the old wizard's face. "I began to neglect Arianna and Aberforth in favour of my new found friendship with Gellert. He had such charisma, such passion. . . it completely swept me away," the headmaster admitted.

For the first time in his life Harry felt pity for Albus Dumbledore. He could only imagine how eagerly a young Albus, eager to prove himself as the brilliant man he was, was carried away by Grindewald's words. He glanced at the sombre professor and startled at the look in his eyes, remembering his words, such passion. . .

"You were in love with him?" Harry gasped in sudden realisation.

Dumbledore's head jerked up and Harry would have laughed at the pink hue that crossed his cheeks if he hadn't been so shocked. The older man shrugged self-depreciatingly and nodded.

"I was," he murmured. "We had plans, Gellert and I. Together we dreamed of a new world order in which wizards ruled over Muggles, much like Tom's vision today. I was foolish Harry. Blinded by my love of Gellert and his returned feelings for me, I agreed when he suggested it would be best if we moved somewhere else to continue our plans for the greater good," he sneered at his own words.

"Aberforth was furious. We both knew that Arianna could not be moved in her condition but as bad a brother as I was, I could not bear to leave them behind. Gellert and Aberforth fought." His voice began to shake and Harry reached out to grasp one of his wrinkled hands, squeezing gently. "They began to duel and I got involved. I didn't want Gellert harmed and Aberforth was no match for Gellert. But Arianna. . ."

Dumbledore's shoulders began to shake with sobs and Harry's own eyes burned furiously. "Arianna must have been hit by one of our spells because she was there, lying on the floor. She was dead."

The black-haired wizard's heart ached for the young girl whose life had been so tormented and then to end in such a way, but he was more concerned by the haunted look in Dumbledore's eyes.

"Gellert was shocked, I could see that he was. He immediately thought the worst. That it had been his spell that had killed Arianna, for neither I nor Aberforth had been throwing particularly dark spells. Despite what he became later in life, he always had a fondness for Arianna. He whispered 'I'm sorry, Albus' to me and then he was gone.

"Aberforth blamed me of course. I blamed myself as well. My love for Gellert had blocked out the rest of the world, and because of that Arianna was dead." Dumbledore took a deep breath and Harry could feel the tight grip on his hands relaxing slightly. Was it possible that the headmaster had never spoken of this to anyone before?

"After several years, rumours of Gellert's deeds began to reach Britain. People were begging for someone to put him back in his place and they all turned to me as the most powerful wizard of the day. I avoided the task for as long as I could, hoping that Gellert would somehow see sense and I would not have to harm him, but. . ."

"He didn't," Harry whispered, knowing that his mentor had defeated Grindewald in battle.

They remained silent for a long time. The fire began to burn out, leaving the room cold and only the sound of the clock ringing for midnight brought Dumbledore out of his stupor. He ran a wizened hand over his face.

"I'm sorry my boy for bearing my troubles on you. I hope it will not be a burden."

Harry shook his head. "It's the least I could do Profes-Albus after all the ranting I've done in your presence." They both chuckled at that.

"I think its time that we were both off to bed Harry, my boy." Dumbledore patted his hand gently, then released it.

The younger wizard stood up, stretching out he kinks in his back as a result of being seated too long. He bent down to pick up his bag from the floor and tossed it over his shoulder. Pausing at the large oak door of the house he turned around.

"Albus?"

Dumbledore glanced up from his newly steaming cup of tea that had appeared in the last few seconds. "Yes Harry?"

"I know that you feel guilty and there is nothing I can say that will help with that but. . . you shouldn't feel guilty for still loving him, even now."

Dumbledore's eyes widened and his mouth gaped in shock, but Harry merely smiled at him and left the office, humming slightly as he did so. Though that had never spoken of that night again, it was always something they would share and Harry hoped something that had helped ease his mentor's conscience somewhat.

For the rest of them, Hermione, Ron, Neville and Luna, Dumbledore was a comforting and calming presence in the mist of chaos. Always there to lend a listening ear or ready with rare books and foods, exotic plants and bizarre necklaces. And much to many of the teacher's consternation and the youngsters' delight, a valuable source of information concerning pranks.

"Sit down, Albus," Sirius offered, gesturing towards one of the armchairs. "Tea?"

The former headmaster plopped down with a satisfied sigh that had Hermione giggling. He winked merrily at her before turning to the animagus. "Yes, please. Milk and three sugars."

Sirius conjured up a tea set and poured Dumbledore his drink while the wizard offered out lemon drops which Harry, Ron, Theo and Draco all accepted happily.

"Any news from the wizarding world, Albus?" Remus inquired, sipping out his own tea.

Dumbledore shook his head. "Same as usual. The press are buzzing around looking for anyone who can tell them about your whereabouts. No one is saying anything," he assured them when they appeared alarmed.

"Minerva even transfigured Rita Skeeter's ears into tea cosies yesterday. Quite a feat of magic if I do say so myself." He looked exceptionally pleased with his previous vice-headmistress.

"How is Minerva handling Hogwarts?" Remus asked.

"Very well. The right wing of the castle had been fully rebuilt and will be ready in time when it opens in a few weeks. She had mentioned however that the lack of Blacks and Potters in the school is going to make her rather paranoid," Dumbledore mentioned humorously to rounds of laughter and Harry and Sirius looked exceptionally happy while Remus and Hermione looked exasperated.

"How are you finding retirement Uncle Albus?" Theo wondered, from his sprawled out position beside Harry on one of the couches.

The war hero beamed. "I'm quite enjoying it actually. It is filled with endless days of lemon drops, reading and," he lowered his voice to a whisper, "sleeping-in."

Sirius, Ron and Blaise cracked up while the other's chuckled. Well, at least the old man was spending his free time usefully.

"Uncle Albus," Draco began tentatively. "How is my godfather?"

Their expressions all became sombre at the remembrance that Severus Snape was in a coma and had been since that day he had gotten injured during their sixth year. The healers had been unable to find a cure as they did not know what was causing the coma or what curse had been used. While most of the family and Snape had never been friends, they had been allies and acted civilly towards each other in the war. For the Slytherins though, Draco in particular, the loss was a hard blow.

Dumbledore shook his head. "I'm sorry Draco, but there is still no change in Severus' condition. Both the healers and I continue to search for a cure but none has yet to be discovered. Be assured that he is being well looked after and I visit him eveyr week."

Draco nodded, his throat tight and leaned into the embrace Hermione offered. He tried to hold back the tears, but a few stray ones slipped out and he scrubbed at them angrily.

The others gazed at the blond sympathetically, letting him mourn without commentating. They had all had to mourn for someone at one point or another during the war and they knew that they only thing they could offer was comfort.

The eccentric visitor glanced at the plasma television and exclaimed happily, pulling the others out of their silence.

"House," Dumbledore cried happily, waving his wand to create a footstool to rest his feet upon and leaning back with his cup of tea. "I love this programme!" The others exchanged amused glances, not even wanting to know about how the wizard knew about this programme.

"Very amusing and clever man, this Dr. House. I was thinking about getting a cane myself you know?"

---------------------------

"Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on or do I have to beat it out of you?"

Jake snorted without opening his eyes. "Oh yeah? How you gonna do that old man? Run me over?"

Billy Black glared at his only son. "In my day, kids had respect for their elders."

"What day? A century ago?" With his eyes closed he didn't see the narrowing of his father's eyes.

"Ow!" He shot up off the couch and hopped on his throbbing leg which had been on the receiving end of the old wooden cane that had been in their family for centuries. "Alright, I'm sorry ok? But I still can't tell you why we're having a pack meeting. Sam forbid it."

Billy grunted noncommittedly. "Think I should be allowed know why a bunch of people are going to come traipsing into my house."

Jake rolled his eyes. "Dad, half of the pack are here most of the time anyway. Just trust me when I say that this is important to the pack and as leader of our council its going to be just as important to you."

His father rolled away, mumbling about secrets and disrespect which Jake eagerly ignored to fall back down on the couch sighing when he did. He was exhausted. After running around La Push and informing all the pack about the meeting at his house tonight he also had patrol with Paul, whose thoughts were revolving around the things he got up to with Jake's sister which Jake really didn't want to know about.

Then again his own thoughts had been focused on Harry and the things he could get up to with him so he couldn't complain and honestly, he had nothing against Paul's imprinting on his sister. Apart from his hot temper, which had calmed down a lot since imprinting on Rachel, he had nothing against his pack member. Still didn't want to imagine his sister like that though.

"Jake?"

Said boy lazily opened one eye to see Seth peeking his head in the door and he waved him in. He internally rolled his eyes at the faint look of hero worship still present in the boy's eyes. The young boy seemed to constantly look up to Jacob which both pleased and disconcerted the beta equally.

"'Sup," Jake greeted languidly.

"Not much," Seth beamed his ever present grin. He seemed to be practically vibrating with the childlike energy he always had, even more than he usually did. His grin began to fade after a few moments and a look of worry took its place. "You don't think my dad and the other elders will forbid us from being with our imprints, do you?"

Jake blinked. The thought had never even crossed his mind. After all your imprint was a shapeshifter's other half. No one else would be as perfect for them as their imprint would. A growl rose in his chest, one Seth echoed, at the thought of someone even thinking about taking Harry away from him.

"Don't worry Seth." Jake sat up and clapped the boy on the shoulder like he would a younger brother, despite the fact that Seth was only a few inches shorter than he was. Seth was everyone's younger brother though. "No one can deny the validity of an imprint. Not even the elders."

"Validity?" Paul strolled into the house like he owned it. "That's a big word for you, dude."

With a snarl Jake lunged at the grinning shapeshifter ignoring his sister, who had followed Paul in and was now shouting for them to stop. With a shake of her head Rachel gave up and went into the kitchen, praying that they didn't break another coffee table. She'd had to replace two already this month.

"Are you fighting already?" Embry asked amused, when he entered the Black house, Quil at his heels.

He took a seat on the couch beside Seth, content to remain the relaxed and quiet one of the pack while his other pack mates egged Jake and Paul on. He wouldn't mind making a bet with Jared though where ever he was. That boy owed him so much money. . .

"Where's your sister?" Embry asked Seth softly.

"I ran here," Seth explained looking sheepish. "Leah is coming with Mum and Dad. I was just so excited."

The older boy smiled understandingly, knowing exactly how Seth felt. "I am too," he whispered and they both grinned each other.

In the next ten minutes the rest of Seth's family arrived, followed shortly by Sam and Emily, Jared and Kim and Quil's grandfather. Paul, Sam and Jared had all brought their imprints along because as they were virtually part of the pack by being the shape shifter's mates, they all deserved to be there for the meeting. Plus their mates would have told them anyway. Only Quil's mate Claire, who was only three and too young to understand pack policies, had not come along.

With the only chairs available given to Harry Clearwater, Sue and Quil Ateara, most of the pack was sitting on the floor, those who had mates cuddling them close to them. Sam was standing, with Emily beside him, to present their case to the elders.

"Right, so what was all this about?" The boys snorted. Billy wasn't one for pleasantries.

Sam shot the older man an amused look and took a deep breath. "Well, we've got a. . . situation on our hands."

When he didn't say anything else, Quil Ateara frowned. "Spit it out my boy."

The rest of his pack felt for him when Sam shot them an anxious look. He was obviously unsure about how he should go about this and they were grateful that they weren't in his place.

"You know that a new family moved in to the Old Willows?" Sam finally asked.

The pack elders exchanged puzzled looks, clearly unaware about what this had to do with the pack.

"Sure," Harry answered. "They had to get permission to move here from the tribe because they weren't Quileute. They seemed like polite, friendly men though so we didn't have any problems would letting them move in."

"You know that the two men are in a relationship right?" Paul voiced the question everyone else had been wondering.

Sue scowled at him. "They made no secret of their relationship and we had no reason to hold it against them. I would think that being werewolves would leave you all a bit more open-minded when it came to same-sex relationships." The other pack elders nodded. It was clear that they wouldn't be impressed if they had been dragged here to hear complaints about a homosexual relationship.

The Alpha was quick to refute Sue's assumption. "No! No, that's not it. Its," he glanced at Jake, Seth and Embry's anxious expression and felt his resolve firm. He was supposed to guide, lead and protect his pack and he wasn't going to fail them now.

"Three of the pack have imprinted on members of the new family in the past few days."

The phrase 'silence is deafening' was remarkably accurate although the elder's expressions more than made up for it. Sue was gaping at Sam incredulously. While a wide-eyed Billy, Harry and Quil Sr. were staring at the boys on the ground.

Emily, Rachel and Kim all gasped and began to beam happily. The two on the ground began to chatter to each other, causing their mates to eye them warily.

Sam continued on, Emily's presence at his side reassuring. "Their imprints are all boys." Finally, he collapsed onto the ground pulling Emily onto his lap and looking relieved that his part was over.

Jared and Paul were looking eagerly between the newly imprinted shape shifters and the elders, clearly waiting for an explosion.

Billy regained his speech first and cleared his throat. "Alright. We can't admit that this hasn't been a shock," he grinned wryly when the others nodded vigorously, " but none of you boys need worry. Imprints are sacred and rare," the three boys relaxed somewhat, "but first of all, who has imprinted?"

Looking reluctant Jake and Embry put their hands up, followed by a much more enthusiastic Seth. Sue and Harry grinned at their son's obvious happiness while Leah growled angrily. The three boys found themselves on the end of excited hugs from the three girls while the girl's mates looked on with possessive eyes.

Billy eyed his son warily. He knew there was something up with that boy today. He nodded for one of them to start speaking and with a nudge from Sam, Embry began.

"One of their. . parents came with two of the boys to the shop when we outside three day ago. I imprinted on the smaller one, Theo." Embry smiled softly at the thought of his mate.

"Seth and I only imprinted this morning at First Beach," Jake said, his chin stuck out proudly.

"My imprint's name is Draco," Seth burst in cheerfully. "He's really beautiful and has blond hair and blue-"

"Thank you Seth," his mother interrupted kindly. "You can tell me all about him later."

Seth pouted, but nodded.

"My imprint's Harry," Jake said in response to the questioning glance he received. "And its nobody business what colour his hair or eyes are."

"His hair is black and his eyes-" Jared was cut off my a punch to his stomach that had him gasping.

"Shut up," Jake growled.

Paul held out his hand in Jared's direction with a smirk and wriggled his fingers. "I told you Jake would be the first to throw a punch. Pay up."

Grumbling, Jared handed him a ten dollar bill and relaxed under Kim's coddling as she rubbed his 'injured' stomach.

Sam addressed the council again. "I thought it was best if I brought it to you. I have never heard of any pack having so many imprints in such a short space of time."

The adults frowned thoughtfully and it was Harry who answered. "Its unusual of course, particularly within the same family but they're adopted I presume?" The pack nodded confirmation. "I've never heard of three within a week, but I know of a pack where four men all imprinted in less than a month."

"Should we tell them?" Embry inquired. "About being werewolves?"

After a quiet discussion amongst themselves, the council turned to face them. "That's a decision that we will leave up to you," Sue told them. "In the end, it mainly affects you so only you should be allowed decided. You have our permission to tell them if you wish it."

"What about their family?" Kim asked, shrugging when everyone looked at her. "My parents aren't that suspicious yet, but I'm an only child. You've imprinted on three from the same family and their parents and siblings are bound to get suspicious eventually."

The girl had raised a valid concern, one that would need plenty of thought. "For now there is no reason to tell them," Billy stated. "If you think that they are getting suspicious then approach one of us and we will decide for ourselves whether it is worth taking the risk or not."

Everyone looked satisfied with that answer.

"There is another matter that's been on your minds boys," Quil Sr. said softly, eying the three fidgeting boys with a sharp intelligence.

"They're boys," Jake blurted out, thankful for his russet skin when he felt his cheeks burning. "I would never give Harry up for anything nor trade him for anyone but. . ."

"You want to know if that's unusual?" Quil Sr. was remarkably astute.

Jake nodded and blinked at the simple answer. "Its not."

The rest of the pack looked just as confused and Jared said uncertainly, "But I thought imprinting was too unsure that you got the mate most perfect for you and who would bear you the strongest children."

"It is."

A round of confused looks were exchanged and Quil Sr. chuckled, taking pity on them. "I'm not saying that imprinting on the same sex is common per say but it has happened before that a werewolf's perfect mate had been a man rather than a woman."

"Besides you could always have kids with a woman as well," Paul suggested and flinched when, as one, Jake, Embry and Seth launched themselves at him while the others trying to hold them back.

"Fuck," Paul yelled, backing away with Rachel behind him. "What the hell has gotten in to them?" He startled at the furious looks he was been thrown by the elder's.

"Think boy," Harry snarled, "How would you feel if someone told you to take a lover besides Rachel?"

Paul growled at the rage that filled him and heard Rachel give a soft sob from behind him. It was clear that the idea effected her just as much as it did him. He turned away from his furious pack mates to pull her into his arms.

Embry, Seth and Jake were all still shaking with anger while Sam tried desperately to calm them down. Though it was beginning to work on Jake, the other two were far from calm and the alpha was quick to shove them out the door. A few seconds later the sound of shredding clothes was hear as they transformed into their wolf forms.

Jake, still shaking, stumbled down on the ground beside Quil and Jared. Together they glanced around the house where the elders sat discussing something, and Paul continued to comfort Rachel in the corner. Leah it seemed had finally some out of her shock induced daze and appeared furious that she was the only one of the pack that had yet to imprint. While understandable, her rage was also rather frightening and her mother struggled to calm her down.

They could also hear Seth and Embry's snarls from outside as well as Sam's ones as he tried to placate the two riled up shape shifters.

"Our pack has serious issues," Quil whispered to Jake who grinned at his friend.

Truer words had never been spoken.

---------------------------------------------

So. . . what do you think? Yes, no pack/wizard interaction in this chapter but I hope you liked it anyway! Thanks everyone for reading and reviewing. You're all awesome. Keep it up! :)
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A Curious Nature