Only once they finished did Dumbledore speak. "First let me say I am humbled that you have brought this to me. I know I failed in ensuring your wellbeing after placing you with your Aunt and Uncle. I see this as the second greatest failure of my life.
"But now to the matter at hand, I believe that Mr Potter is correct in what our opponents plan for the Wizengamot session tomorrow. That is in fact why I am in this office today;" Dumbledore said. "May I cast a spell on you, Harry?"
At Harry's agreement Dumbledore drew his wand and cast. " Lychanus " A soft blue glow surrounded Harry. Then he cancelled the spell and cast again. " Pecus comissor !" Now a soft green glow formed around Harry.
"Fascinating," Dumbledore mumbled as he cancelled the spell. I've started reading Ms Granger and Ms Patil's studies but to see it for myself is most fascinating." Harry was tempted to ask if the Headmaster had pointed ears after that comment.
"As fascinating as this is from a magical perspective, I fear I have no way of truly blocking this from coming out somehow in the Wizengamot. Their strategy is to divert the focus from Tom's return to the identity of the Beast. However, not everything is bleak.
"As you know the Nott family is no longer in existence. This has left their seat empty until a new family can be named and approved by the Wizengamot. This removes one vote from the Dark block at least for now. In a remarkable coincidence, three other Dark-leaning families lost their Family Heads that same night."
"Pure coincidence, I am sure," Sirius added sarcastically.
"Indeed," Dumbledore agreed. "Now all three of those families have Heirs but they cannot take their seats until the next regular session. In fact, I already received their petitions to be included in the agenda."
"Were the Malfoys one of the families?" Harry asked with a smile. Dumbledore gave him a disappointed look.
"No, Lucius Malfoy appears to have survived that night. I would assume he was wounded as he has not made an appearance in the Ministry today."
"So what do you suggest?" Remus asked.
"I find that the best thing to do it to tell the truth - or at least as much of it as required to prevent their strategy from working. If we provide the whole memory of that night and simply say Harry has achieved a type of animagus transition than much of their strategy will be thwarted before it can truly begin," Dumbledore answered.
Remus frowned. "That may work with the Wizengamot but not the Packs. The first time I saw Harry I knew he was an Alpha. I don't know if it has gotten stronger or I am just more sensitive to it but I can feel it now even when he's in human form. From Charisa's reaction in the Alley she felt it too."
Sirius shrugged. "What does that matter?"
Remus stood up and started to pace. Harry recognized the werewolf slipping into his professor-mode. After a moment Remus started to explain.
"Werewolves are pack animals like wolves. Being an Alpha is something ingrained into the wolf's personality. A young male wolf with Alpha potential will start to challenge their Pack leader. Since the juvenile wolf will almost always lose to the adult the bachelor wolf leaves and becomes a lone wolf or rogue. If he can pull a female along, they may eventually start their own Pack. Most wait and grow stronger with age until they can confront an older Alpha taking their Pack.
"Werewolves are similar. When we are bitten - or a few are born into it - we are the 'cubs' of the Pack. Some seek to become Alphas as they grow into the Pack. It is not just ambition but a power and charisma that make the Alpha Male special. Each Pack has two to forty wolves at any given time. If a potential Alpha Male arises in a Pack he has two choices. Either challenge the current Alpha Male or leave and seek out their own Pack. If a Pack grows too large one of these rogue werewolves may steal some away to form their own Pack.
I am something of an oddity in the Packs. I am considered a rogue but not a potential Alpha. I rejected the werewolf and sought only to keep my humanity. I didn't realize it then but I simply formed a new Pack with the Marauders. James was the Alpha Male of our group and Moony accepted him as such. Lily was the Alpha Female…"
"No shite," Sirius snorted.
"When James and Lily were murdered Moony was devastated. Even more so at the belief that one of our own Pack was responsible. Moony rejected the idea of seeking a new Pack until that night outside Hogwarts when I first saw Harry as the Beast. Now Moony knows the Marauder Pack is reformed with Mr Jack as the Alpha Male. Just my body language would tell every wolf at the Gathering that I was now a Beta in a Pack. If Harry is there they will know who my Alpha is even without the transformation. But I have to attend or every werewolf in Britain will be after my throat. And possibly Harry's too if the Gathering declares him a feral wolf."
"That is indeed fascinating," Dumbledore commented. "I never realized any of this community existed with werewolves. In that case, my I propose this?"
The conversation continued for another three hours. Eventually a plan was hammered out and agreed on. It quickly became apparent to the 'Leader of the Light' that the three Marauders had come to him as allies rather than followers. He actually found the give and take refreshing.
As the Marauders were about to leave, Dumbledore looked over at Harry and said, "I am most impressed with your behaviour and maturity in all of this, Harry. I may not deserve any of the credit but I am proud of you. May I give you a small piece of wisdom I gained too late to help myself?"
Harry nodded looking a bit mystified.
"Harry, I lost the only person I ever loved and the chance to ever have a family of my own. So to fill that void, I became what the Wizarding World needed of me. My work became my life. I would like to think in my pride that the students of Hogwarts are my legacy. Alas, I know that in a generation, I shall be simply a dotty old wizard in a portrait with a name on a brass plate. When all this is over, find someone that completes you and restore the Potter family with many children. Don't lose yourself into your work or what others tell you is your 'duty to the Wizarding World'. Our children are the only true immortality we humans can ever really attain."
...
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