Snake Boy

17 - Little Red Werewolf

Ginny Weasley couldn't seem to stop crying. She was huddled in a rough blanket being held by her mother on the edge of the burnt out wreck that had been her home for a little over two years now.

Oh she still visited the Burrow but this, this had been where she'd learned to truly live and now it was gone.

Aurors were going over the wreckage looking for clues. A line of white sheets grew along one edge of village, taunting the young red head. He bodies of her friends lay there – or what was left of their bodies. The Dark Mark hung heavy and green in the air.

Movement along the tree line caught her eye. With a cry Ginny jerked away from her startled mother and ran to the wraith-like figure at the forest's edge.

"Dynah!"

"Ginevra," the old woman cried, wrapping the sobbing girl in her frail looking arms. "Hush darling, hush."

"Their all dead! Everyone!"

"Not everyone child, you and I are still here, aren't we," she asked lifting Ginny's face and looking into her eyes.

The youngest Weasley nodded.

"The Spirit of the Pack," the girl whispered.

Dynah smiled softly.

"Exactly, and soon you will come into your power and will be able to speak with them all again, so weep not cub."

She fell silent. The Aurors had finally noticed the old albino woman dressed only in a long white, sooty night dress. Mrs. Weasley was also cautiously approaching the pair.

Ginny gave a small smile to 'Mad-Eye' Moody. Despite his gruff manner and intimidating appearance, she knew he was a good man. He had advised her during Lupin's trial, tried to arm her the best he could against the prejudices of the Wizarding World. While he hadn't been able to save poor Remus, he had done everything in his power to protect her. He was the reason Ginny had come to live in Bizby Village and learned to live peacefully with her wolf.

She had learned that werewolves didn't have to be mindless violent beasts. Remus had been weak and sickly because he suppressed the wolf, thinking it was evil. Ginny had learned to integrate herself with the wolf. It meant as a human that the wolf was always present, enhancing her senses and influencing her behavior – but as a wolf, the human was always present as well, tempering those self same instincts.

She owed Moody everything.

Kingsley Shacklebolt however made her hackles rise. He was always proper and polite but something about him set the wolf on edge.

"Miss," He said, "Do you know what happened here last night?"

Apparently Dynah felt the same way about the large man.

"I would say it was fairly obvious what happened here, Auror Shacklebolt. Our village was attacked and all but a handful of us old folks were killed. Our Miss Weasley here was lucky enough to be visiting her family."

"Were there any others lucky enough to be away from the village last night?"

Dynah looked at the man steadily, "No."

"Do you know who attacked you or why?" Moody asked. Ginny thought he was trying to defuse the almost tangible tension.

"It was very dark Mr. Moody. There were a large number of them and they were well organized. As to their identity – I don't know. They were cloaked head to toe."

"Death Eaters," Kingsley concluded confidently.

"I did not say that."

"Who else could it have been?"

"Anyone really; the Wizarding Community as a whole has never liked werewolves and were less than supportive when Bizby was formed thirty years ago. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has not shown interest in us since before his first fall. No...this was not his work, it wouldn't gain him anything."

Kingsley snorted in disbelief.

"Well I think we'll go with Death Eaters for the official report. Only logical really considering the Dark Mark still hanging over the village and the marked Death Eater corpse we found. I would still like to interview these others you say survived."

"They will not speak to you," Dynah said stiffly.

"Oh?" He arched a dark eyebrow.

"I speak for them and you have dismissed what I have to say. Tell your Mother goodbye Ginevra and come along."

Ginny bowed her head submissively, "Yes Ma'am."

She turned to the Weasley matriarch and smiled. Molly had been virtually dancing in place during the conversation, obviously wanted to snatch back her daughter and leave this destruction behind. Luckily Moody had taken the usually rather bossy woman aside after Ginny had been bitten and explained the complexities of werewolf social interaction. It kept Molly safe and whole and Ginny had peace of mind. The retired Auror had been a gift from Merlin these last years.

She embraced her mother," I love you Mum and I'll see you next month, okay?"

"Are you sure you won't come back home with me dear? You could be in danger, you-know-who may come looking for survivors."

Kingsley had moved away so Ginny said, "If Dynah says it wasn't Him Mum, then it wasn't Him. Besides, even if it were, my pack still needs me and so I must go. I am the last Spirit Speaker. Without me the pack will lose its connection to its past and it would fall apart. I can't let that happen. I'll be back at the new moon like always Mum. I love you."

"I love you Ginny," her mother whispered as the younger red head pulled away and headed into the forest, Dynah leading the way.

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

An hour later they had gathered the other two survivors, Hodges who was the pack Omega wolf, and Lucretia, a Beta. Ginny and Dynah were both Alphas, leaders, and the albino wolf had been the leader of the Bizby Pack since its inception.

An hour after that they were still walking.

"Where are we going Dynah," Ginny asked, exhaustion pulling at her.

"To a friend's, Dear. He will be able to protect us while we finish your training and rebuild the pack."

"How much further," Lucretia asked quietly.

"It should be just...Here."

The trees ran right up to an imposing stone wall. Hodges was the tallest of them at just over six feet and the wall was at least twice that height. Dynah turned left following the wall.

After what seemed like an eternity to Ginny the small group came to a large intricate iron gate. A young man in simple black robes stood on the other side.

"May I help you Ma'am," he politely inquired.

Dynah nodded pulling back her sleeve and exposing her left forearm.

Ginny gasped at the Mark there.

"Tell the Dark Lord that Dynah of the Bizby Pack wishes to speak with him."