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Chapter 24: The Article

9th, August, Monday, 1998...

The next morning at 9am when everyone had woken up and were sitting eating breakfast, Harry suddenly thought of something.

"How are we going to go about announcing about the returnees being back?" he asked.

"We're meant to do an article about it for the Prophet." Ginny frowned, "Maybe one for the Quibbler as well." she added looking at Luna who nodded.

"Yes but you know half the time people don't believe anything they read in the Prophet anymore not after that mess in my 5th year." Harry pointed out. "They'll only half-beleive the Quibbler too."

"You could still do the article then do something at the Ministry." Arthur suggested, "People listen to you so you could announce it then give them the proof by dragging the returnees on stage."

"We could do a questioning." Dora suggested. "Like we all take a little Veritaserum and you ask us common questions like 'Are you an imposter?' and things like that."

"That's a good idea. People will have to believe you then." Molly nodded.

"There's a problem though." Sirius said, "I can't take Veritaserum." he admitted.

"Why?" Regulus asked.

"Azkaban." Sirius muttered. "While I was in there I got questioned but they never believed me even with the potion so they tortured me..." he paused, "Eventually what they done almost killed me. At first the used the standard 3 drops of Veritaserum but they got frustrated..." he trailed off. No one noticed Kingsley standing in the doorway silently.

"What did they do to you Paddy?" James asked softly.

Sirius looked up with haunted eyes. "The normal dose of that potion is 3 drops for a reason, it can kill you if you take more because it has a ingredient that poisons in high quantity. When they got frustrated they made me take 10 drops and they still didn't believe me so they left me in the cell with a healer. I only just survived it. After that they ignored me. But one more drop of that stuff can kill me." he finished in a whisper.

Everyone was shocked.

"How come no one found out about this and who were 'they'?" Harry asked gently.

"They kept it quiet for a reason and it was Fudge and Umbridge." he replied bitterly. James put an arm around his shoulder offering silent support.

"Well that gives me incentive to raise their sentences." Kingsley said making everyone jump and spin around. "Umbridge is already in Azkaban but Fudge is still around."

"Are you trying to give us all heart attacks?" Harry snapped, he had thought Kingsley was a Death Eater and had pulled his wand out and pointed it at him ready to curse him until he saw who it was, he wasn't the only one either.

"Sorry I thought you heard me." Kingsley apologized. "Merlin I forgot how jumpy you all are in the morning." he said watching warily as Ron, Hermione, Harry, Neville, Luna and Ginny all put their wands away.

"With good reason." Hermione snapped.

"Calm down you two. He clearly didn't mean it." Ron soothed Harry and Hermione. Just then Minerva joined Kingsley in the doorway.

"Hello everyone. You surprised them didn't you Kingsley?" she chuckled as Harry and Hermione glared at Kingsley.

"Um... Yes, I thought they heard me come in."

"Well we didn't." Harry huffed, "Really Kingsley, you should know better than to surprise us because the chance of you getting cursed are high." he then explained what they had talked about to Minerva and Sirius explained about the Veritaserum.

"They did that to you?" Minerva asked shocked, "Oh Sirius. If Albus had known he would have done everything he could to get you out of there. Anyone with a brain would see you weren't lying."

"What is that Verita-serum?" Dudley asked confused, Petunia also looked confused.

"I think that's the one that forces you to tell the truth. Isn't it?" Amber asked.

"That's the one. You know it's still hard to believe you're a witch. And my sister for that matter." Remus said.

Amber smiled handing Cecelia to Dudley, "That's because I didn't grow up in the magical world." she explained, "I've always been hidden away."

"Why?" Harry asked.

"Simple. Greyback would have come for me the same way he did Remus. I've known he's been after me since I was 15 when I insulted him." she added.

"Wait a minute... I'm going to guess you were the one that threw silver at him then called him a monster?" Remus asked.

"Yes but how did you know that?"

"I was at the camps he runs trying to convince other werewolves to join the light or stay neutral." he explained, "I heard Greyback was looking for 'Mysterio' because she insulted him. He called her, you I guess, 'Mysterio' because he didn't actually know who it was."

Amber grinned, "Well it was me. But with me being home schooled hardly anyone knew I existed except in the muggle world. I went to Muggle school through the day and learned magic at night." she shrugged, "I can show you something I learned if you want? I don't have my wand but I can still show you." they all nodded so she placed her left hand palm up on the table and put her right hand palm down on top of it. Slowly she started to raise her right hand and by the time it was at shoulder height there was a pretty little purple rose sitting on her left hand.

"Wow." Petunia breathed. "That's quite amazing."

"It is. It takes a lot of concentration to be able to conjour things wandlessly." James said.

Dudley was in shock.

"Dud? Dudley?" Harry called.

Dudley blinked, "Sorry. That was the first time I've seen her do magic." he explained.

"And how long have you been married?" Molly asked.

"It's almost been two months. We've been together a year." he replied. "I only found out she was a witch the other day, when Harry came to see us." he explained.

"I would have, should have, told you sooner Dudley. I didn't know how you would react." Amber sighed. "When we got together you were still terrified of magic and I didn't want to lose you."

"I know Amber. I understand." he smiled. "For what it's worth I don't know how I would have reacted either." he chuckled.

Just then a wolf patronus flew into the room and opened it's mouth. "Sorry everyone we can't make it today, Fleur's feeling unwell. Should be there tomorrow though." it said in Bill's voice before disappearing.

"What was that?" Petunia asked.

"A Patronus. Hermione can you show them your's? I want to keep mine as a surprise." Harry asked. Hermione nodded and took out her wand.

"Expecto Patronum." she said clearly, a little otter burst out of her wand and swam around the room before disappearing.

"Isn't that similar to what saved us when..." Harry cut Dudley off with a nod.

"They're unique to each witch or wizard. They protect you against thing's like Dementors." Remus explained, "Which is why most people have different animals, because everyone is unique in their own way."

"They can be influenced though." Dora added, "Mine's changed because this idiot decided to play impossible to get." she elbowed Remus lightly and he blushed.

"And mine changed over the war." Ginny said. "It used to be a horse and now it's the counter part to Harry's." she said carefully.

"It can happen." Minerva nodded, "Usually it's through a severe emotional upheaval or something life changing."

"Like being attacked by a werewolf. Bill's used to be a eagle but it changed after he was attacked." Molly explained sadly.

"We don't know if that is what happened, it could have something to do with the sadness or shock of the attack happening." Remus argued. "I wouldn't be able to say if being bitten or attacked changed anything as I was only 4 and not many werewolves get magical education."

"Which will be changing once we go public about being Lycan's." Harry said, "Or at least I hope it will." he added to Minerva.

"Of course it will change. I don't see why children should miss out on education, but there's not much I can do about the adults." she replied.

"Fair enough. Let's work on that article..." Harry pulled out a piece of paper.

Ten minutes later.

"Done." Harry said smiling as the two former Malfoy's and Astoria walked in. "It doesn't say anything about Death because I'm not sure If he would mind being mentioned or not..."

"Why not summon him and ask?" Hermione suggested, Harry looked confused, "The ring Harry. Remember he told us to tell you that you could summon him with it if you had any questions."

"Oh yeah." Harry took the stone out of the holders on the ring before tuning the stone three times. Death appeared instantly.

"Yes?" he asked.

"We were wondering if you would mind being mentioned in the article that explained the returnees returning." Ginny said.

Death thought for a moment then nodded, "I don't mind but will people believe you?" he asked.

"Probably not." Harry sighed.

"Hmm... They might actually." Death said, "Show them the memory of the returnees coming out of the portal but don't show myself of Life." he explained, "We can't show ourselves to too many people and you can explain that to them."

"That sound's reasonable." Ginny nodded.

"Anymore questions?"

"Yes. The full moon is tomorrow, can you remind us of what to expect please?" Harry asked.

"Well... What to expect is a painless but forced transformation." Death looked uncomfortable as he said this.

"There's something you're not telling us." Harry accused.

"More like there's something I got wrong." Death muttered, "Once you're transformed you won't have all of your human mind but you will not be dangerous to any human you see. You can still control your wolf to a certain level but never completely. You also may find it hard to remember everything while transformed, at least for a few hours." he explained. "You don't need to worry about being separated from humans... it's hard to explain..." he trailed off.

"How could you get it wrong?" Draco asked.

"I was lied to... It was Lady Fate that gave me the information she only told me the truth today, she can be horrible when she want's to be." he explained, "Right in simple terms you will be like a werewolf on Wolfsbane but smarter, stronger and friendlier. You will find that the wolf side of you will crave human contact like a dog does." he cast a glance at Sirius who nodded, "Don't be afraid to make that contact because if you don't your wolf side will get depressed eventually and you end up losing the will to live."

"Right so basically make sure there's a human around or we end up depressed or dead?" Astoria muttered, "Brilliant." she added sarcastically.

"Oh and make sure there's plenty of water and food around. The transformations will make you hungry and thirsty." Death warned.

"I have another question." Harry said, "We've all been wondering why we can hear each other in our minds. At first it was just me and Ginny so we figured it was the soul bond but after we recognised ourselves as a pack in wolf form we could hear everyone that's been changed." he explained.

"Well it is basically a pack bond. With wolves there just as strong as a soul bond, it's how they communicate while hunting. It only activated once you recognised you were basically a pack." Death explained. "There's actually something I forgot to say about the soul bonds. They will affect your wolf side more than your human side... And a few more have activated."

"Can you tell us who?" Astoria asked.

"Of course. One is yourself Miss Greengrass with Mr Draco Black, it activated when he proposed to you. Another is between Mr Ronald Weasley with Miss Granger, that one activated a few nights ago. The latest is between Miss Lovegood and Mr Longbottom which activated last night. The times are random for activation." Death explained. "Some people are better off without a soul bond so it doesn't activate." he added, "If two people are made for each other, and are meant to be together, but they'd fall apart with a soul bond then it wont activate."

"I suppose it's a good thing." Molly smiled.

"Being Lycan's with a soul bond is different, even if only one of that couple is a wolf and the other isn't. The main difference is that Lycan's are more protective of their bonded mate than the rest of their pack." he explained, "Harry and Ginny here will be more protective of all of their pack due to the fact that they changed all of you." all the Lycan's nodded. "Just keep in mind though if someone threatens one of them then it's a bad idea, especially around full moons." they all nodded again. "I know information on soul bonds is hard to find so is there any questions about that?"

"Can you just give us the basics and we can find out the rest later?" Remus asked.

Death nodded, "Well first off, as Harry and Ginny may be able to tell you, eventually you will be able to feel your partners emotions but it's not just emotions. If something is physically wrong with your bonded partner then you will be able to feel it too, so if one of you is hurt, like a broken finger or a twisted limb, the other feel's it too, not as strongly mind you, but it'll still hurt a bit. Second is the mind-to-mind talking which you know stretches into the pack bond. The pack bond is created when a bunch of Lycan's establish themselves as a pack and they will be more comfortable transforming together rather than on their own. Third is that you will be able to sense how far away or how close you are to your partner if they are within 4 miles. And lastly, if you are separated from your soul mate for more than a week at over 5 miles, even if you talk mind-to-mind, as Lycan's your wolf side will slowly take over the human side and you won't get your human side back until you make skin-to-skin contact with your mate again, or fur-to-fur as you'll be stuck as wolves. For non-Lycans your mind will play tricks on you, if you're sitting in the dark you will see and hear things, if you are sitting with a light on your mind will tell you it's dark and again you will imagine things, that will continue until you make skin-to-skin or skin-to-fur contact." he finished.

"Basically... Don't get separated then?" James asked.

"Exactly, you wouldn't like it very much." Death nodded. "If that's all then Harry just click the stone back on the ring." Harry nodded and did as Death had said making him vanish.

"Well... that was... interesting." Harry said.

"At least we found out what we need to know." Hermione smiled, "And we know what to expect tomorrow night." she added.

"We have also been told that if were separated for too long then we go pretty much insane." Ginny put in.

"Well I don't know about you but I'm not going anywhere for a week without you." Harry grinned.

"Fair enough." she shrugged.

Just then Teddy spoke up, "Mummy, Mi'k." he requested.

Dora was confused so she looked at Andy and Harry for help.

"He means 'milk'." Andy smiled.

"I'll get it." Harry said going into the cooler room where the milk was kept.

"It's usually what he ask's for in the morning's but he's not asked for it since your return." Cissy explained.

Harry walked back into the room with a bottle filled with light brown liquid in his hand.

"It's chocolate milk. He refuses to drink normal milk." Harry told them handing the bottle to Teddy who immediately started drinking it quite fast. "Woah, Teddy slow down you'll make your tummy all sore." he slowed down obediently.

"I think he picked up Moony's chocolate addiction." Sirius laughed. Remus glared at him.

"You could be right. He won't drink other flavors of milk either." Ginny commented, "We tried him with banana and strawberry but he wouldn't drink them." she shrugged.

"Anyway that's the article done for now." Harry smiled, "We just need to set up a time for a public announcement. Sirius you won't be taking the Veritaserrum but the rest of you have a choice." they nodded in understanding.

"And I'm going to make sure Umbridge and Fudge are punished for their actions." Kingsley promised. "Do you know who the healer was?"

Sirius nodded, "It was a man called Emerick Grant. He was called in after the two others left so he didn't know who did it but he saw my condition." he explained.

"If he's willing we can get a statement from him on what your condition was." Kingsley nodded. "I'll also send an article about your innocence out with the one about the returnees'." he explained.

Harry suddenly groaned.

"What's up?" Charlie asked.

"I've just realised something. The fame is only going to get worse." he explained in a whiney voice.

"Oh yeah I can see the head lines, 'The-Boy-Who-Lived's Family Returns From The DEAD'." Ron said in an announcers tone making Harry groan again as everyone else laughed.

"You know I'm dragging you into this too don't you?" Harry pointed out to Ron and Ginny. "Especially because of Fred, so this is going to affect us all."

"I never thought of that." Ginny groaned, "Don't worry we still love having you back. But the fames just going to go higher and higher." she explained. "You haven't seen what it's like if one of us leaves the house un-disguised."

"We get swamped by reporters as soon as they recognise us." Hermione put in. "It's annoying."

"I told you that in 1st, 3rd and 6th year and you didn't believe me." Harry said.

"We believe you now." Ron pointed out, "It is annoying."

"Well you six have it worse than the rest of us." George said indicating both Trio's.

"You can say that again." Neville muttered. "Harry's fame is the worst though. Because he was already famous before, it just piled up when he killed Voldemort."

"Actually it started climbing again at the end of 5th year after 'The Battle of the Ministry' as the reporters creatively called it." Harry muttered, "It just exploded when I killed Voldmort once and for all."

"True enough." Arthur sighed. "To be honest I don't think it ever stopped growing except during your 5th year when it paused for a while."

"I think what happened was this... When you were first attacked and Voldemort fled you disappeared right after it and no one had seen or heard from you for 10 years when you re-joined the magical world, no one knew where you were so the mystery added to the fame and as you grew older your achievements and triumph's just kept growing and growing until you killed Voldemort a few months ago." Minerva explained.

"The not knowing where he was part is true. Albus never told me either." Remus muttered.

"He was afraid you'd try and kidnap him." Minerva sighed, "And he told me that he would tell you."

"I probably would have kidnapped him." Remus admitted, "Werewolf or not. Besides Harry would have come with me gladly." he smirked.

"He's got a point Minerva." Harry chuckled. "I would have went with him quite happily after finding out who he was and how he knew me."

Petunia frowned, "Wouldn't the wards have stopped that though?"

"Probably not because Remus didn't want to cause me harm." Harry said.

"They would have allowed anyone not wanting to cause harm to Harry passed." Dora nodded, "His advanced guard was able to get passed them with no problems."

"Advanced guard?" James asked.

"Yes. The Order of the Phoenix decided he needed more protection." Sirius chuckled. "Kingsley, Moony and Dora were on it along with some others. I was in hiding otherwise I would have been too." he explained.

"It was after Voldemort returned." Harry added, "I spent most of my time being followed around when I wasn't at school."

"Yes and most of the time it was me." Dora smirked. "If it wasn't me then it was Mundungus or another Order member."

"Your all terrible at hiding." Harry rolled his eyes, "I wasn't meant to be able to tell you were there but I almost always knew you were. The only one I couldn't tell was following me was Mundungus." he frowned.

"That's because he's good at hiding." Kingsley grumbled. "I've been trying to find him for weeks."

"I've asked Kreacher to look for him when he's not busy. I still dont know if it's a good idea or not." Harry said.

"Why?" Regulus asked.

"Kreacher hates Dung." Hermione smiled. "I believe the last time they met Mundungus was left with a concussion because Kreacher hit him over the head with a frying pan." she giggled.

"Yeah Kreacher really doesn't like him." Ron laughed.

"And I may have told Kreacher he can attack Dung all he likes as long as he doesn't kill him." Harry added. "I don't like Dung much anymore either." everybody chuckled at that.

"What did Dung do?" Sirius asked.

"He was caught stealing from me." Harry admitted. "Well technically you, it was old Black family heirlooms, but he stole something that was important as well."

"It caused us a lot of problems." Hermione added grimly.

"Was it, by any chance, a locket?" Regulus asked.

"Yep. The locket that was essential to bring about ol' Voldies downfall." Harry nodded.

"How was a locket essential to his downfall?" Lily asked confused.

"Well... You know how you came back... It was sort of a reward for us three getting rid of 6 objects that made Voldemort immortal..." Harry explained, "We can't reveal what they were right now, but I promise you will know soon enough."

"There's only 6 people in the world that know exactly what they are." Ron added, "Which is me, Hermione and Harry obviously, but Ginny, Minerva and Kingsley know too."

"It's true." Hermione sighed, "We've not gotten around to telling anyone else yet. We had a really tough and traumatizing year last year..." she trailed of and her eyes, as well as Harry and Ron's, went glassy. It was as though they were trapped in their memories.

"Even we don't know the full story." Kingsley said quietly, "They've been recovering after the war and we didn't want to force it out of them."

Ginny was trying to get Harry's attention, "Harry? Harry snap out of it." she said. He blinked twice before looking at her, "Your not there anymore your here, nice and safe." she soothed, he nodded slightly.

"Thanks Gin." he smiled, "OI! You two! Wakey wakey!" he clapped his hands in front of Ron and Hermione a few times. They both shook their head's.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"Memories." Harry explained shaking his head, "We really need to stop getting sucked into them."

"We really do." Ron nodded.

"You can't help it." Minerva pointed out, "Anyone would be the same way."

"But we still need to stop doing it." Harry sighed, "It's not good to dwell on bad memories too long, they eventually turn against you. I'll be back in a minute." he went upstairs.

"What did he mean?" James asked, "That bad memories can turn against you?" he added.

"Well... He has a theory that if someone was to keep thinking about how unfair their life has been or is..." Hermione trailed off looking at Ron for help.

"Harry believe's it can make you resent everything good in the world... and eventually lure you to the Dark Arts and make you evil..." he sighed. "We don't know how he came up with it but we can't convince him otherwise. That's partly the reason Harry hates it when we get pulled into our memories of the war."

"I'm guessing you two don't believe it?" Remus asked.

"No we don't." Hermione admitted.

"Madame Pomfrey agrees that it's a bad thing but not about the it can make you evil part." Ginny added as Harry walked back in holding three vials filled with purple liquid.

"Here." Harry handed one to Ron and Hermione then all three of them opened and drank them. "Glad that's done for today. They taste awful." he made a face.

"Well we're on Madame Pomfrey's orders so we can't argue. It's better than being stuck in the hospital wing that's for sure." Ron chuckled.

"Oh well. They keep us sane and that's the main part." Hermione shrugged.

"What do they do?" Fred asked.

"They... It's hard to explain... But what we went through became a little too much for our minds to handle after the war when we had time to think about what exactly we had been through... The potion is one we have to keep taking for the rest of our lives unless we find a cure, it helps for PTSD." Hermione explained.

"What's PTSD?" Dudley asked.

"Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder." Harry told him, "The three of us were told we all had it by Madame Pomfrey in May, those two on the 4th me later on. She gave us that potion and we have to keep taking it until she say's we can stop. It's for our safety and the safety of everyone around us."

"We don't want to be dangerous but it's a risk with the PTSD." Hermione explained. "We could end up attacking people to the point of killing and it would be out of our control." she shuddered, "So we take the potion and we're fine."

"How often do you have to take it?" Sirius asked.

"Just every two days." Harry smiled, "Or three depending on how stressed we are and right now it's every three day's. Will be until we get to the worst memories of our lives, then it'll probably be every day or every second day." he added with a dark chuckle.

"We usually take it in the morning's before we come downstairs but we forgot this morning and we were overdue for it." Ron added.

"Well it's a good thing Harry remembered then." Molly smiled softly.

"Yep. No attacking anyone innocent today." Harry grinned cheerfully, "Or ever if I have anything to do with it."

"Oh goodie. None of us would be able to stop you if you did attack. The Lycan strength and speed and your magic combined would be too hard to stop." George chuckled.

"You know you three are probably the strongest three in the wizarding world right now?" Kingsley asked.

"We know." Harry nodded, "Bet your glad we're on the light side because there's something you should know as well. My pover level reached 1000 a few night's ago."

Kingsley's eyes widened in shock. "Wow."

"That's what we said." James laughed.

"And probably how some of the power escaped yesterday when the room got all cold." Hermione mused. "Your not used to it yet so it will take a while to adjust."

Harry nodded, "Probably. Right onto more cheerful things, who want's to start the memories?" everyone nodded happily before going into the living room Dudley putting Cecelia in a cot that had been conjured by Harry and Dora sitting Teddy, who had finished his chocolate milk, on her knee.

TO BE CONTINUED...