mhalachai | FIC: Inevitable 72/80: Ten Silver Bullets (AB/HP)

I love snow days! And Inevitable!

Inevitable 72/80: Ten Silver Bullets
A Harry Potter/Anita Blake crossover
by

mhalachaiswords

Summary: A late-night run-in with werewolves in the woods outside St. Louis dumps Harry Potter into a whole new world of trouble. Now Anita Blake has to deal with a new charge as well as Death-Eaters come to town.
Fandoms: Anita Blake and Harry Potter
Disclaimer: Laurell K. Hamilton owns all things Anita Blake. J.K. Rowling owns all things Harry Potter. Only the story is my own.
Rating: PG-13
Words: 6,676
Spoilers: Spoilers for Half-Blood Prince, Incubus Dreams
Note: This takes place mostly on the morning of Oct. 31. The beginning of the longest day in Harry's life.

Warning: There is no warning on this chapter or the next. No slash, no character death, no drug use. Please keep that in mind.

Previous parts here.

~~~~~~~

"When does your plane leave?"

Jason leaned against the kitchen counter, glancing at his watch. "In about five hours. It's the red-eye. I should probably bail in a bit, to head to the airport."

"One of us can give you a ride," Micah offered. "Save you having to leave your car in the long-term lot."

"Maybe." Jason shrugged. "I'd hate to be a bother."

I looked up from my coffee cup, startled. "Who are you and what have you done with Jason Schuler?"

"Ha ha," Jason shot back. "I just meant that I don't want to inconvenience you."

"No, he doesn't." Micah dried his hands and walked across the kitchen to place his hands on my shoulders. "He wants to drive himself and doesn't want to annoy the alphas in the room."

I gave Jason a glare. "Then why didn't you just say so?"

"You've been kind of touchy recently!"

"Touchy? Recently?"

From his chair beside me, Nathaniel stood up without a word and walked out of the kitchen.

What the hell was that about? Jason and Micah looked as clueless as I did, so I dismissed the weird conversation I'd been having with Jason, and followed Nathaniel. I found him curled up on the couch, staring at the far wall.

I sat beside Nathaniel, my leg brushing against his hip. "What's wrong?" I asked in the softest voice I could muster. "You've been acting upset all day."

Nathaniel shrugged, picking at the fabric of the couch.

I bit my lower lip. I hated it when Nathaniel was upset, but it had been happening more and more since...

Of course it's been happening more since Olaf! I chastised myself. What kind of fucked-up thing to wonder about is that?

Carefully, I laid my hand on Nathaniel's knee. He sighed so quietly I almost missed it, but it was something. When he didn't object, I slid closer to him, pulling his back against my chest, putting my arms around him as I spooned him on the couch. He relaxed boneless against me, breathing hard.

I kissed his cheek, feeling the ends of his newly-shortened hair brush my collarbone. "What's wrong?" I asked again.

Nathaniel entwined his hands around mine, his thumbs brushing over my scars from Olaf's silver nails.. "I've got this bad feeling," he finally said.

"What kind of feeling?"

"It's like..." Nathaniel was silent for a minute. "Like it should have something to do with Damian, but it doesn't."

I sent a thought out to Damian. He was in the basement, newly awake.

"Damian's fine," I said.

"I know." Nathaniel's grip on my hands tightened. "And it's not even him, it's--" He cut himself off.

I held Nathaniel tighter. "Nathaniel?"

Nathaniel swallowed hard. "It's you."

"What's me?"

"It's like something bad's happening and it's coming for you."

I made Nathaniel turn and look at me. "Nothing's going to happen to me," I said.

"Then why do I feel like it's all going to end soon?"

It took me a moment to realize that Nathaniel had been speaking inside my head. I had no idea what to say to him. What can you say to something like that? I could have lied to him and told him that we'd be fine, but we both knew that I couldn't promise any such thing.

Micah came into the living room, followed by Jason. Jason immediately flopped into the couch behind me and reached around me to give Nathaniel a hug. I squeaked as he squeezed me a little too tight. "Jason, let me go!"

Jason loosened his grip, but didn't release me or Nathaniel. "But it's so cuddly here."

Nathaniel smiled. "It is," he shyly agreed.

I looked desperately at Micah. "Help me out here?" I begged.

He pretended to consider that, then came over to the couch and sat in my lap, squishing me down. To make matters worse, someone started to tickle me.

"No fair!" I squirmed around in the pile of lycanthropes, and couldn't stop laughing. "Go pick on someone your own size!"

Out of nowhere, the air in the room rippled in a small sonic boom. Micah and Jason rolled off me and I was on my feet when the air flashed amethyst purple, then crackled back to normal a split second later.

"What was that?" I gasped, pulling my Browning from the shoulder holster.

Jason's eyes were huge and scared. "That's what happened when Harry's teacher appeared this summer," he said.

The tiny sliver of worry that had been living in my stomach ever since I'd last talked to Harry exploded into full-fledged panic. "Maybe it's someone else," I said.

The doorbell rang.

I gripped the Browning so hard the metal cut into my hand. I didn't want to answer that door. I'd been through so much in the last few months, had almost lost so many people. I wasn't sure if I could deal with whatever this was.

"Anita?" Micah said.

I swallowed my fears down, reaching out for Damian and that elusive calm he gave me as my vampire servant. "I'll get it."

With Micah at my side and Jason a step behind us, I opened the front door a crack. Harry's headmaster, Dumbledore, was standing on the porch.

"Odd time of night for a visit," I said around the pounding of my heart in my throat. "Hogwarts not keeping you busy?"

"May I come in?" Dumbledore asked, looking so grave.

No! I wanted to scream at him. I wanted him to leave, to go far away. The irrational part of my brain told me that if Dumbledore went away, didn't speak, then everything would be fine. Harry would be fine.

Micah pulled me to the side and pushed the door open. "Please do," he said. "Anita, come on." Keeping hold of my arm, Micah guided me back into the living room. "Why are you here?" Micah asked once we were in the living room.

Dumbledore sighed. The man had looked old before, but now he appeared ancient. "Something has happened with Harry," he said.

I desperately wanted to ask if Harry was okay, but I knew the answer to that. Dumbledore wouldn't make a magical trip across an ocean if Harry was happy and healthy.

I put my gun up before I shot something. "Is he dead?" I asked, wondering how my voice could sound so flat.

Dumbledore met my gaze. "Not yet."

Jason sat down heavily on the couch beside Nathaniel and made a whimpering noise in the back of his throat. Nathaniel wrapped an arm around Jason's shoulders. "You didn't come here to tell us that," Nathaniel said.

"Why else would I have come?" Dumbledore asked.

"Because Anita can fix it," Nathaniel said. He sounded so certain, so convinced. "Whatever's wrong, Anita can fix it, that's what she does."

Dumbledore shook his head. "Harry is indeed badly hurt, and I am not certain he will recover. Young Mr. Graison is correct, however, Ms. Blake." Dumbledore held out his hands. "Harry's affinity with the wolf has been growing since he returned to Hogwarts. You are the female alpha in his pack, however, and if there is anything you can do..."

"And if there is not, then he should have someone with him when he dies."

I whirled around at Damian's voice. I hadn't even realized he'd come up behind me. My vampire looked cool and unflappable as always, holding himself as still as the dead. "What are you talking about?"

Damian looked at me with Harry's emerald eyes. "When a warrior falls in battle, if his life cannot be saved, a fellow warrior should be at his side when he passes the gateway to Valhalla."

I wanted to scream at Damian to show an emotion, something at the news his grandson was dying, but I kept my mouth shut.

"Why are you so sure he got hurt in a fight?" Jason asked, still hunched over.

Damian turned to the werewolf. "Because he is Harry."

Micah put his hands up. "If Anita is going anywhere, then you have to tell us exactly what happened to Harry," he demanded.

Dumbledore inclined his head. "The details are not clear at this point, but we do know that Harry was out on the grounds of the school, and was attacked by a vampire."

"Which vampire?" I asked, already dreading the answer.

"Moroven."

Damian's panic surged through me before he could shield himself. The fear of loss didn't abate, which meant the feeling had to be mine, right?

I punched open the marks with Jean-Claude and Richard. I didn't bother to explain myself in words, just pushed the memory of the last ten minutes at them.

"Can you help Harry?" Richard demanded, his wolf growling through our connection.

"I think so, with the munin, right? I've done it before with members of the pack."

Jean-Claude was more hesitant. "What if Harry is too gravely injured? What if you cannot help?"

"What are you taking about?" Richard asked Jean-Claude.

Jean-Claude's frustration bit at me. "Moroven does not leave survivors. She is ruthless and vicious and she does not let her inured prey escape. She either kills on the spot or she takes her captives back to her castle, as she did with Damian those many long years ago. Something about Dumbledore's story bothers me."

"Me too," I told them before Richard could interrupt. "But if there is even the slightest chance that I can help Harry, then I have to go." I looked at Damian. "He's family."

"He's pack," Richard growled softly. "Do you need me to go with you?"

"Non," Jean-Claude interrupted. "Going into Moroven's territory is dangerous, if not suicidal. The wolf is her animal to call and I cannot protect you, mon ami, from such a distance. Anita's necromancy may safeguard her from Moroven's powers."

"Then I'll take Damian, he's Harry's grandfather--"

"You cannot!" Jean-Claude shouted in my head.

Flabbergasted, I couldn't form the question.

"I apologize, ma petite, for my outburst." Jean-Claude sent a wave of distracted reassurance to me. "Part of Damian's ransom from Moroven was that if he ever sets foot in her lands again, his life is forfeit. And she will not let his life slip through her fingers quickly."

"And if Damian dies..." Richard couldn't finish the thought.

"Then Anita dies as well, along with Nathaniel and the two of us."

I didn't understand how Jean-Claude could be so calm about this. "What about Nathaniel?"

"We do not know how long you will be gone, ma petite. We may need to feed the ardeur while you are gone."

"You can't let her go alone!" Richard interrupted, appalled.

"I do not intend to let her go unassisted. Take Jason. He is my wolf, both Richard and myself can send our power to him to assist you in your time of need, ma petite."

"But Jason's supposed to go visit his parents," I whispered.

Jean-Claude's frustration threatened to overwhelm me. "Harry is at death's door and your life may be in peril, do you think for an instant that Jason will not stand by your side?"

I blinked hard. "What if this doesn't work?"

"We will be with you, ma petite. We will not let you fail." Jean-Claude's words were echoed by a growl from Richard.

I took a deep breath. "Okay, guys, here's the plan," I said. "Jason's coming with me." I paused for a heartbeat, waiting for Jason to protest, but he just sat up. "Damian and Nathaniel will stay here in case there's an issue with the ardeur. Jason and I will go and do what we can for Harry."

Dumbledore nodded at my pronouncement. "We need to go now, if we are to go at all," he said.

"Okay," I said, already backing out of the room. "I'm going to get my stuff." I turned and bolted before anyone could say anything.

There was an empty gym bag on the floor of my bedroom. I tossed it on the bed and threw in a pair of jeans, a shirt, four pairs of socks, and some underwear. Did I need more socks? I wondered, frantically tearing through the drawers. Which did I need more of? Socks or knives?

Without a sound, Micah appeared at my side. He pulled the socks out of my hands. "You have enough socks, Anita," he murmured.

It was as if his voice threw a switch in me. I started shaking. "What if I can't do this?" I whispered.

Micah hugged me suddenly, hard and tight. "If anyone can, you can," he told me. I clung to him, wishing with all my might that I could make this better, and fearing that I'd only be able to hold Harry's hand as he died. "It's going to be okay."

I made myself push away from Micah. "You need to look after Nathaniel," I told him as I picked up the bag. "If something happens to me--"

"Anita--"

"If something happens," I said, talking over Micah. "If something happens, I'll try and close the marks with Nathaniel." I swallowed against the sudden nausea, at the thought of losing Nathaniel and Damian and Jean-Claude and Richard. The knowledge that I'd be dead didn't make it any better. "Jean-Claude would be the only one who could probably save Damian, but I'm not sure if he'd be too overwhelmed by losing me--"

"Anita, stop." Micah took my face in his hands and kissed me desperately. "Stop talking like that," he whispered against my lips. "You're coming back to us."

I didn't say anything. More than anything, I hated making promises I couldn't keep.

~~~~~~~~~

Hovering between sleep and awake, Harry felt like he'd been swallowed whole by a basilisk. Things that had no business hurting felt like they were on fire.

At the same time, Harry was warm, warmer than he had been in a very long time. Since before he'd left St. Louis. It was as if he was curled up with the pack back home, werewolves all around him, their body heat keeping him warm and safe. In that protection and security, Harry slept.

And he dreamed.

Someone was planning something dangerous, but whenever Harry tried to get close enough to see, the sensations vanished into a haze of smoke. He was running as fast as he could, in a leafy maze, running past the bodies of his friends, his schoolmates, the pack, vampires. He didn't stop until he tripped over Cedric's body, but then it wasn't Cedric's body, it was Anita, lying cold on the ground, eyes wide and blank in death.

The sharp pain in his chest woke him suddenly.

"Harry!"

He had to still be dreaming, because that was Anita's voice and Anita was far away. Right?

Another blow. "Jesus, Anita, stop it!" Jason said.

Harry's eyes snapped open. Anita stood over him, hand pulled back for another blow. Her chin was trembling, but her eyes flashed with anger. "What the hell is going on?" she demanded. "Wake up!"

Harry sat up, pushing back the infirmary blankets. His chest hurt like a bitch, but not nearly as bad as it had the previous night when he'd been ripped up by a vampire. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"Dumbledore brought us here because you were dying, you-- you-- jerk!" Anita's voice rose. "And now you're perfectly fine? What are you doing?"

Harry looked down at his bare chest. A few of the claw marks still oozed blood, but everything else seemed to be healed. How had that happened? "Wait, Dumbledore brought you here?" he asked, looking past Anita to Jason. "What's going on?"

"You tell us!" Anita put her hands on her hips, pushing back her jacket to reveal the butt of her gun in a shoulder holster. "Dumbledore said you went chasing after some kid into the woods at night? Are you stupid?"

Shaking off the spell of sleep, Harry went up on his knees in the infirmary bed. "Reece was being pulled out of the school by a night hag!" Harry shouted back. "He's under my protection, I had to go after him!"

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Anita demanded, pushing Jason's restraining hand away. "Do you think you're invincible? You went into danger without backup and without any idea what you were facing--"

"Are you even listening to yourself?" Harry exclaimed. "Tell me you don't do exactly the same thing!"

"This isn't about me!"

"You're right!" Harry's voice rose and silenced all other noise in the infirmary. "This is about me, and what I had to do! I had to save Reece!"

Anita whirled around and stalked down the room, head bowed. Harry sat back on his heels, the adrenaline rush from the fight seeping out of his veins, leaving him feeling like crap. But he knew Reece was all right, and--

Harry's breath caught in his throat. The Horcrux cup! Was it safe? Where did it go? He glanced around his bed, but couldn't see anything that might be hiding a cup. Dumbledore has to have it, he thought wildly. Anita said Dumbledore was here, and Dumbledore would know what the cup was. He has to!

Anita turned and came back. Her eyes were red, and Harry didn't understand why. "If you ever do anything so stupid again, I'll..." She shook her head. "You almost died!"

"I did what I had to," Harry said, so tired. He rubbed at his eyes. "Reece is just a kid, and Moroven..." Even thinking about what had happened the previous night, what Moroven had done to Reece, made his skin crawl. "I couldn't leave him with her."

Jason slipped onto the bed beside Harry, rubbing shoulders. The closeness of another wolf made Harry relax as he leaned against Jason. "You're stupid," Jason said mildly. He wrapped an arm around Harry's back.

"Shut up," Harry muttered.

"But you're still pretty hardcore," Jason finished. He smelled like expensive clothes and wolf and he smelled so damned good to Harry. Like home. "One bad-assed mother--"

"Shut your mouth," Anita snapped. Jason laughed at her, and she blushed. "I didn't mean that!"

"That's why we love you," Jason teased. "Come on, give Harry a hug."

Anita's eyebrows went up. "Not until he puts a shirt on."

Jason sighed dramatically. "Fine, I'll do it." He put his arms around Harry in a careless hug, although he didn't touch any wound, and even the hug was surprisingly gentle. Right up until he put Harry into a headlock and rubbed at his hair.

"Hey, get off!"

"Oh, kinky!" Jason twisted, Harry turned, and somehow they ended up wrestling on the stone floor.

Anita got her hands under Jason's chest and yanked him off Harry. "Schuler, don't make me have to hurt you!"

Jason went limp in Anita's arms, craning his neck back to look up at her. "Yes, Mistress."

Anita dropped Jason on his ass, then held out a hand to Harry. "Let's get you back into bed," she said. Harry didn't want to admit it, but he leaned heavily on her arm as he stumbled over to the mattress.

Jason watched from the floor as Anita tucked Harry back in. "You bled all over me," Jason said, looking down at his bloodied shirt while licking his fingers.

Anita made a disgusted face as she sat on the side of the bed, beside Harry. "Ew?"

"Werewolf?" Jason mocked. "At least I didn't start munching on Harry's bleeding wounds."

"Like you'd get anywhere," Harry muttered. He leaned closer to Anita, feeling the warmth emanating from her skin like a ghost of a dream. She smelled amazing, like wolf and rosemary and home, and some part of Harry wanted to wrap himself in that sensation. He closed his eyes and laid his forehead on her arm, wishing wistfully for the home he knew he couldn't have.

Anita put her arm around Harry's shoulder, regardless of his shirtless state. "It's okay, Harry," she whispered into his hair. "I don't know how, but you're safe."

Harry remembered the dig of claws into his chest, the feeling of panic at the thought he'd lose Reece. "It's not okay," he muttered. On his other side, Harry felt Jason settle onto the bed. "Voldemort's still around, now Moroven knows I'm here." He wanted to tell Anita about the Horcruxes, but now wasn't the time, not where anyone could hear.

Or was that the reason? Harry didn't want to think about what might happen if Anita learned that he had a bit of an evil wizard's soul stuck in him. Would she think that made him evil? Like one of those horrible creatures she had to take down?

"Hey," Jason rumbled. "Chill. We'll be okay."

"How do you know that?" Harry had to ask.

"Because." Jason slipped a little lower and ducked his head under Harry's chin. A wave of authority, of dominance, swept over Harry. "We're here and it's all going to be okay."

"Right." Harry concentrated on Anita's arm on his shoulders, the feel of Jason's heart beating against his side. "Hey, how did you get here?"

Anita tightened her hand on Harry's arm. "Dumbledore came to get us, to see if I could do anything to heal you. But then we got here and you were fine."

"The nurse lady didn't know what to make of it," Jason added. "She and Dumbledore are off arguing about it. He thinks someone came in here overnight and healed you."

"Why would anyone do that?" Harry asked. "Most people who would sneak up on me in the night wouldn't exactly want to make me better."

Anita grumbled. "This is a weird place. Portraits that move? What's that all about?" Harry glanced over and saw that Anita was glaring at the portrait opposite them. "The only moving paintings I've heard of are the haunted ones that jump out of their frames at night and kill their owners."

"That's why we love you, Anita," Jason said. "Your boundless levels of positivity and sunshine."

Harry reached for Anita's hand and ran his fingers over the scar in the middle of her palm. "Is Nathaniel okay?" he asked quietly.

Anita's breathing grew a little ragged. "Yes." She swallowed hard. "He's at home with Damian and Micah."

"That's not what I mean."

Jason sat up. "Nathaniel's going to be fine," he said.

Anita wouldn't look at him. "Really?"

Jason reached around Harry to give Anita a hug. "He's already almost all the way there, and you know why?"

Anita shook her head, her hair falling in her eyes. Harry felt the waves of sadness roll off her, and he couldn't help himself. He added his hug to Jason's.

"Because he's got you," Jason said. "That's all that matters."

Anita sniffled again. "Did he tell you that?"

"As a matter of fact, he did." Jason smacked Anita's arm lightly. "So cheer up, emo kid."

Anita wriggled away from Harry and Jason and stood up. "You really suck at reassuring the ladies, you know that?" she said, pushing back her hair.

Jason's smile showed white teeth. "That's not that they tell me," he said with exaggerated innuendo.

Harry gave Jason a shove. "Jerk."

Jason shoved Harry back. "Jealous."

"As if!" Harry was about to add more, but a slight hint of movement caught his attention. He whipped his head around to see a tiny black-robed figure trying to hide at the far end of the infirmary. "Reece?"

The boy peeked out from behind the screen. He blinked at Harry with panicked eyes. He was paler than Harry had ever seen him, with dark circles under his eyes.

Confused, Harry waved the boy towards him. Why did Reece look so bad?

Reece slowly approached, watching Anita warily. He ducked his head as he passed her, but he rolled his eyes to the side, to keep her in view as long as possible.

"Anita," Jason said in a low voice. "Why don't you come over here?"

Anita opened her mouth to respond, then closed it with a snap. She circled around Reece to the other side of the bed beside Jason.

"Hey, Reece." Harry slid out of the bed and went down on his knees on the floor. He wasn't much shorter than Reece like this. "Are you... I mean, what..." Harry's voice trailed off. He had no idea what he wanted to say.

"This is Reece?" Jason said in the same low voice. "Harry's told us a bit about you, Reece. I'm Jason. This is Anita."

"Reece and I met over the summer, at the train station," Anita said. "Harry said you guys had a bit of trouble last night?"

Reece nodded miserably. Tears filled his eyes, and he tried to brush them away with his hand.

"Hey, it's going to be okay," Harry said. He reached out to touch Reece's shoulder, and was shocked at how cold the boy felt. He laid his hand on Reece's forehead. "Hell, you're freezing!"

"I can't get warm," Reece said between sniffles. He was trying so hard to not cry, but there was a deeper pain in his eyes.

"We'll fix that right away," Harry promised. He stood up and caught the blanket Jason tossed at him. Wrapping the blanket around Reece only took a moment, then he scooped the boy up and put him on the bed. Harry spotted his wand on the side table and cast a warming spell on the blanket, then sat beside Reece and put an arm around his shoulder. "Why didn't you say anything to anyone?"

From deep in the blanket, Reece shrugged. "Everyone was so worried about you."

"Hey, you can't be doing that," Jason said. "If you get too cold when you're hurt, you don't heal."

Reece cowered against Harry. "I'm sorry."

Anita smacked Jason on the arm. "Reece?" She waited until Reece looked up at her. "Can you tell me what happened last night?"

It took a while to get Reece's story straight, but it seemed that Reece had gone for a little walk after curfew. He had known it was against the rules, but he only wanted to look at the moonlight without his classmates around.

He'd opened a window, and the vampire's pull had been too strong. He'd been pulled into the woods against his will. What Reece didn't say, but was apparent, was how terrified he had been.

When Reece had finished telling how Hagrid had carried Harry into the school, Anita leaned forward. "Reece," she said, "As Harry's Lupa, I have to thank you for helping Harry last night."

Reece shook his head violently. "I didn't help him."

"You did. Even though you were hurt really bad, you still attacked the vampire that was going after Harry. You stood by him and you helped him. It was a very brave thing to do."

Reece gulped in air and sat up straighter. "Really?"

"Really." Anita smiled. "You did an amazing thing last night."

A commotion at the end of the infirmary drew everyone's attention. Madame Pomfrey swept into the room, followed closely by Hagrid and Dumbledore. Hagrid took one look at Harry and lumbered forward. "Harry!"

Jason jumped up off the bed and backed away as Hagrid barreled down on them. Even Anita looked apprehensive.

"Harry, we thought you was dead!" Hagrid reached out and clapped a meaty hand down on Harry's shoulder. The bed creaked in protest. "You was hurt so bad..."

"Hagrid, I'm fine," Harry said when the air returned to his lungs. "I healed up and everything." He looked over his shoulder. "These are my friends from St. Louis," Harry continued, mostly to keep Hagrid from bursting into tears. "Anita and Jason."

Sniffling mightily, Hagrid held out his hand to Anita. "Pleased ta meet ya," he said. He shook Anita's hand a little too hard, but Anita didn't flinch. "And Jason?"

"Yeah, hi." Jason had to crane his neck up to see Hagrid. "Man, they grow them big up here."

"Huh?" Hagrid said.

"Never mind," Harry interrupted. He looked around Hagrid to Madame Pomfrey and Dumbledore. "What's happening?"

Dumbledore met Harry's eyes steadily. "We are attempting to find out how your injuries were--"

"No, not that!" Harry all but shouted. "The cup, what about the cup?"

A spark lit up in Dumbledore's eyes, although his face remained blank. "If you are referring to the cup that was in your possession last evening, Harry, then that is safe," Dumbledore said.

Harry almost collapsed back on the bed. "Where did you put it?"

"It is in a safe place," Dumbledore said. He looked past Harry to Anita and Jason. "I see you have been talking with Mr. Potter."

Turning his head, Harry was surprised to see the angry expression on Anita's face. "Yeah, we've been having a load of laughs," she snapped. "Same thing with Reece. It's interesting, how many little boys under your protection seem to get hurt."

"Anita," Harry said quickly. He knew Hagrid was bristling, and even Madame Pomfrey was becoming a little mad. "Can we not do this now?"

Jason moved to put a hand on Anita's arm. "Yeah, I'd kind of like to not get turned into a frog today."

"No one's turning anyone into anything," Harry said. He was beginning to get a headache, and his lack of proper attire was becoming annoying. Blanket-wrapped Reece at his side was the only warm thing he was feeling. "They don't... they don't have to leave now that I'm okay, right, sir?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "At this time, given the lack of emergency, it would be best to avoid a magical Trans-Atlantic apparition."

"So we're just stuck here?" Anita demanded.

"Of course not, Ms. Blake. We can arrange transportation to London for you and Mr. Schuler in a few days, but until that time you are free to remain at Hogwarts as guests."

A tension eased from Harry's shoulders. Anita and Jason weren't going to leave him, not yet. He'd get to keep them for a few days at least, a tiny touch of home at Hogwarts.

Maybe he wouldn't be so alone.

Thinking of alone made Harry wonder about Ginny and Luna, and Ron and Hermione. Did they know he'd been hurt? What had Dumbledore told them? Were they worried? Harry's headache pounded a little harder. No matter what he did, other people got hurt, or worried. Some days, he thought it might be easier for him to just go at it alone, without having to worry about other people.

Reece snuggled up to Harry's arm, drawing him out of his burgeoning sulk. No matter what he did in this life, he had people that needed him. There was no way around that.

"Harry," Dumbledore was saying, "When you feel up to it, would you escort Ms. Blake and Mr. Schuler to the guest quarters on the third floor? I will have one of the house elves set up a room."

"Sure thing," Harry said. "But sir--"

"And then after you do that, please bring them to my office, where we can discuss the situation at length. We have much to talk about."

"I'll say," Anita growled. Harry ignored her.

"What about Reece?" Harry asked. "What if Moroven comes back?" Reece flinched, so slightly that if Harry hadn't been leaning against the boy, he never would have known.

Hagrid drew himself up to his full height, knocking his head against the hanging lamp. "If she comes on the grounds, we're ready for 'er," he declared.

"We have reviewed the castle's wards, and believe we have reinforced the weakness in question," Dumbledore added.

"You think you've got it," Anita repeated.

"We do."

"Well, isn't that just great."

"Harry?" Dumbledore said.

"Yeah, guest rooms." Harry rubbed the skin below a seeping wound on his chest. "Got it."

Dumbledore nodded once, then turned to Hagrid. "In the meantime, I have much to discuss with another emergency guest to the school. Come, Hagrid, we should continue."

"What? Oh, alrigh'," Hagrid said. "See you in a bit, Harry?"

Harry nodded. "Hey, Hagrid? Thanks. For last night." For saving my life, he added mentally.

Hagrid shrugged, looking embarrassed. "You'd do it fer me, right?"

"Of course," Harry said, frowning. What kind of weird question was that?

"Right, then." Shrugging again, Hagrid followed Dumbledore out of the room.

Madame Pomfrey stepped up. "Lie back, Mr. Potter, and we'll see what we can do with getting you out of my infirmary."

Sighing, Harry half-shoved, half-lifted Reece to the ground. The boy scampered across the floor and jumped up on the nearby bed beside Jason. Anita made a tiny noise in the back of her throat as she walked over to the window.

It was quiet in the infirmary until a few minutes later, when Anita asked in a tired voice, "House elves?"

~~~

This place was freaking me out. The whole dump had me vibrating with magic. It wasn't magic like I knew it, no way. This stuff was in everything, making everything seem a little brighter, move a little fast. I'd never done drugs, but this whole thing was similar to what I'd heard mushrooms were like. I hated it.

Harry walked slowly down the hall at my side, still moping at having to leave his mini-werewolf shadow in the infirmary. Harry walked like he'd been clawed up by a pissed off vampire--

I made myself stop that line of thought. No matter how much I disagreed with what Harry had done, there was no point. It would be like talking to myself about doing something noble and stupid.

"Grumpy pants," Jason said suddenly.

I stopped dead. "What?"

"Turn that frown upside down!" Jason said with a creepy grin. "The sun'll come out tomorrow?"

"Are you possessed?"

"Nah," he said, putting his arm over my shoulder. I squirmed around until he couldn't "accidentally" cop a feel. "You're just in a doom and gloom mood, and it's my job to pull you out of it."

I ducked out from under his arm, bumping into Harry. "You want me to cheer up?" I demanded. "Harry almost died, as well as some little boy, at the hands of Damian's old master, and you want me to act like Pollyanna Appleseed?"

"No, Anita." The goofy expression wiped off Jason's face in an instant. "Don't you get what's going on?" he asked, edging closer to Harry and myself. "There's some severe shit going down, more than what happened with Harry and Reece, more than Moroven. If you keep pissing off Dumbledore, he'd going to boot us back to the States without letting us help Harry."

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked.

Jason gave him a look. "Do you know who she is?" he asked as he pointed at me.

Harry's eyebrows went up. "Um, Anita?" he said slowly.

"She's the most--" Jason cut himself off, then moved even closer, so close I could feel his breath on my cheek. "She's a fricking necromancer," he said softly. "The most powerful one in the world, more powerful than anything seen in centuries. Even the Vampire Council is wigged out by her. Don't you think that she could lend a hand in this whole Voldemort mess?"

"What do you mean?" I demanded. "We're here because Harry was hurt."

Jason's glare was withering. "Right, because having a pissed-off necromancer seeking vengeance on the big bad that killed her vargamour wouldn't have crossed Gandalf's mind?"

"I couldn't go after Moroven," I said, more confused than anything. "The Vampire Council would have me killed, and with Jean-Claude--"

"I'm not talking Moroven," Jason interrupted. "What if we'd gotten here and Harry was dead and they told you Voldemort was the one who got Moroven to attack Harry? What then?"

"Dumbledore wouldn't have done something like that," Harry said. He was getting angry, I knew. "He'd never lie to Anita, not about this!"

"You're at war, right?" Jason didn't wait for a response. "War's not a game, Harry, it's trying to save your own skin and your own side by all means possible."

"That's not it!"

I put my hands up. "Hey!" I shouted to stop the developing fight. "Can we talk about this somewhere secure? Without any chance of being overheard? Like the room?"

"Fine," Harry bit out.

"Perfect." Jason stepped back and ran his hands through his hair. Then he closed his eyes. "Oops."

"Jason..."

He opened his eyes and gave me an apologetic smile. "I think I left the bags in the infirmary?"

Harry sighed. "Perfect."

He turned to head back, but I caught his arm. I didn't want Harry to have to move more than he had to. "Can you find your way back on your own?" I asked Jason.

Jason didn't bother to dignify the question with a response. He shook his head at me and padded off, slapping Harry on the ass on the way past.

Harry shook his head as Jason vanished around the corner. "He'll be okay," Harry said. "Nothing in this place will harm a guest."

I leaned against the wall beside a honest-to-god suit of armor. I wanted to go back to my house, to its plain white walls and level floors and the people I loved. "Like nothing here ever harmed you?"

Harry looked away. "That's different."

"It's really not."

Harry scuffed at the ground with his shoe. "Usually, things are fine. Just classes and flying and stuff." He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. "We had a dance last night, before... before stuff happened."

"A dance, huh?" I smiled as a faint blush crossed Harry's cheeks. "Did you take that girl--" My mouth snapped shut as I reached across the space between us and grabbed Harry's hand. There, on the pale skin of his palm, was a red scar. It was in exactly the same place as my scar from Olaf's little "visit."

A stab of remembered fear stopped everything in my head. All I could think about was the fear at losing everyone I loved, at seeing Nathaniel's broken body, knowing what Olaf wanted to do to me. Knowing he was dead didn't change anything.

I met Harry's eyes, and I didn't know what to say.

He eased his hand out of mine. "Anita, I know a lot's happened, but I can explain it all..." His voice trailed off and his head cocked to the side.

"What?"

"I hear someone." He turned and walked a few steps down the hall. "I know that voice."

"Who, Dumbledore?"

Harry held up his hand. Then, in the distance, I heard Jason shout, "Man, you seriously need to back the fuck off!"

"Back off, werewolf?" an unfamiliar voice exclaimed. "After what you did to Harry?"

Harry went so pale his skin looked grey. "Remus, no," he choked out as he pulled out his wand and started to run.

Fear exploded in my head. I pulled my gun out of the holster and bolted after Harry, wishing I could run faster, wishing I could move walls, wishing I'd never let Harry come back here at all.

"You've still got his blood all over you!" the unknown man shouted, his voice half-gone into a growl.

Then Jason screamed and we went around the last corner and things were moving too fast for me to know what was happening. I saw Jason flying backwards, blood and thicker things spattering on the walls, a ragged-looking man with hands half-shifted into claws moving after Jason.

Jason hit the cold stone floor, belly ripped open from hip to sternum. It was too much like seeing Nathaniel cut open as so much meat on my living room floor, but this was real, this was Jason and this was almost worse because I was the one who sent him back alone into this.

Harry screamed, "Remus, stop!" as I raised my gun.

I emptied the entire clip of silver bullets into the man before he hit the ground.

... to be continued

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

From:

neviditelny.livejournal.com

Oh. My. God.

You cannot end like this, you just CANNOT!!! How am I supposed to concentrate on prehistory when Jason is eviscerated and Remus is shot full of silver?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

"That's why we love you, Anita," Jason said. "Your boundless levels of positivity and sunshine."

This is awesome though. Total awesomeness. And Jason smacking Harry's ass? Kickass.

From:

mhalachai was here

FIC: Inevitable 72/80: Ten Silver Bullets (AB/HP)

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