the fallout part 1

Now the ritual finished, Alex could finally speak. Turning his eyes to Skadi, a soft purr exit his throat, intensifying when the goddess run a hand on his fur tenderly.

"You grow again, child." Still keeping her hand in his fur, said her fondly.

Hearing his mother, he looked at Susan, knowing that they should be around the same size. In front of him stood an Evans, 2,40-meter hight, a body around four-meter and a tail slightly shorter. Like him, her coat was pure white with artic blue spots. What caught his gaze was the mithril's bones sharp spikes running the length of her spine, from her neck to the barely visible hook hidden at the tip of the fluffy fur. On her front paw joints, a good fifty centimetre long, serrated ergo-like bone blade.

Snapping out of his trance when feeling the light scratch behind his ear, he turns his head back to her.

"I'm happy you finally found a mate, Dòmaldr, she will be good for you. Treat her good, or Frigg, Freya and Freyr will come after you, they didn't bless this union for you to mistreat you mate, even if I know you wouldn't. We had stayed long enough, it's time for us to return or the All-father will be displeased. Take care, children." Say here, before each of the gods returns to Asgard.

~~~

She was finally feeling safe enough to retake human form, Susan jump in Alex's arms, as much needed to hug him than being comforted after the encounter of being surpassing her comprehension.

"Shush, everything is fine." Comforted him, while running his hand in her hair, after retaking human form too.

~~~

Flashback end

~~~

After that moment, Susan and Alex had stayed on the Island for the duration of the spring break. During that time, Susan hadn't been the only one to learn from Alex, as Alex unexpectedly found a new moral compass. As the only one he recognised as equal, he was slowly re-evaluating his view on others, the further they learn to know each other deeper.

It wouldn't curb his most extreme tendencies but made him more compassionate, and slowly regain a more stable social behaviour.

All in all, while Alex relearns what it means to be human, or at least evolve among them, Susan was discovering her new self. While still present, all her past had been practically swept away. It had needed the entire two weeks for her to acclimate to her new environment and culture, but Alex was here to guide and support her at every second.

~~~

Their return hadn't been the calmest. While Alex and Susan had been isolated from the rest of the world, the British community had been once again in turmoil. With his very public rent to McGonagall, the ongoing in the castle, and more importantly, the rape of female students had been a real storm.

Even without names given, the school faced a massive loss of its female population again, from seven to fourth years, all Houses wise. From the remaining 148, barely 115 now left. The upper year's situation was even worst than the first years one, with hardly more than four students for some class.

On his side, Alex didn't face any hardship. The reason for this had been double. First was the fact, that with the contract that Amelia had been forced to reveal the existence, while still hiding the content, Alex action was validated by the old laws allowing the male to defend his female right. The second point was the fact that, while deprived of male descendant, the Flint House still had a woman in age to birth an Heir.

Ursula, the aunt of Marcus, and the older sister of the deceased boy father hadn't forward charge against Alex. The sole reason was due to her becoming regent of the Flint House, a position she would never have dreamed off. The fact that nothing could link him to the murder or the disappearance of the Flint Manor had stopped any inquiries made. Added to that, it was common knowledge that once can't apparate nor Portkey out of Hogwarts grounds. As he only vanishes for an hour, he couldn't be responsible for the last crime.

The reason they return hadn't been peaceful was due to Susan, now know to be betrothed to Alex, and her sudden 'growth spurt' during the break had been the targets of several gazes. Say gazes had immediately turned elsewhere when Alex broke the two arms of a Slytherin who wanted to cop a fill of his girl ass.

~~~

McGonagall had been too shaken by Alex scathing tirade that she didn't try to assert her authority back, still eaten by the fact they let their inaction destroy young girls future.

Say inaction, pushed by fathers seeking blood for losing potential bargains, had led the Wisengamot, through the Ministerial Departement for Education, to put every teacher on probation, without exception.

The last scandal had woken a few on the fact that Hogwarts was the best school available for witch and wizards around the world.

With the tragic end of Lockart and the impossibility to prosecute Alex, the British community had screamed murder at the colony of Acromentula in the Forest, so near of the children. Once again, Dumbledore image in the public eyes had taken a colossal blow, without the man knowing, and the heavily damaged corpse of Hagrid had been found in a shady street of knockturn alley. The half-giant smelling Firewhiskey five-metre afar, the DMLE conclude on a drinking night turning ugly, before closing the case.

As much as Hagrid case had been easily handled, the case of the Acromentulas colony had been another thing.

~~~

A week after their return, Alex was cuddling with Susan in their quarter, in front of the fire, as the temperature was still low. They weren't bothered much by the cold, but the fire brought a nice ambience in the room.

Seated in Alex lap with her head resting against his chest, and his hand around her waist, Susan was reading a numerical copy of one of the numerous books available in the Evans library. Alex had judged better to take her education in hand. He had crafted her a pair of a bracelet like his own and had slowly introduced her to his brand of magic.

While she had some difficulty, due to the past half-year of Hogwarts education, she was rapidly growing accustomed and better. Looking at the far side window, his gaze attracted by a splotch of red against the green and brown, Alex see a group of twenty Aurors made their way in the forest.

"Seem that Amelia will lose twenty Aurors." Say him in an indifferent sight, while squeezing her waist a little more, snuggling with her.

"How so?" Asked Susan, without taking her eyes off the tablet.

"They just enter the forest wand in hand."

"Only twenty?"

"Yep!"

"Morons." Snorted her, while taking a seep of her hot chocolate, made from the island production, and eating three of the floating marshmallows, before sighting in bliss.

Never before the young girl would have thought that her life could take such turn, and she thanks Skadi each night for it.

~~~

As expected, both young ears the news of the fallen twenty Aurors the following morning, announced by McGonagall.

'Seriously, what can do twenty messy Auror facing against a colony of 869 Acromentulas, that was as if the ministry was feeding them at his expense.'

-Well, they did not bother earing you about their number, and it not like you didn't try to warn them.-

'Hmm.'

-What are you doing about it?-

'It time I had an encounter with the centaur tribe, they will surely be more open to hearing my proposition.'

-Better approach them as an Evans. Otherwise, they will shoot you down, not that they would be able, but still.-

'I know.' Just before he does anything, Frost suddenly appears. Looking at the insistent look of his familiar, Alex knows that he wanted him to follow.

"Sue?"

"Hmm?" Raising her head from the book she was reading at the Hufflepuff table, she looks questioningly at Alex.

"What to go for a walk?"

"Sure." Closing her book, both raised before exiting the Hall under the fleeting glances of students.

~~~

Following Frost leading them in the first part of the forest, Alex morph, imitate a second later by Susan as both strolls to the tribe they now could send. Its job is done, Frost climbs on Alex's head, standing proudly.

The instant both came half a kilometre from the tribe camps, the thundering sound of hooves resound, and ground vibrate.

Stopping, both waited for the centaur to appears. Not a minute later, tens of centaur with bows ready to be drawn. From them, a greying centaur approach. Looking at the wrinkled face, they both understand that it was due to age and not his natural coat colour.

"The centaurs had long since waited for your appearance, hunters." Said him, surprising Alex and Susan for it still strong and authoritative voice.

Seeing the elder of the tribe start to turn back, both slowly followed. Surrounded by tense centaurs, who led them to the tribe resting place in the forest.

The only signs betraying the presence of the tribe in the clearing was the odd large covered spots in the lower branches. There was no habitation, no fire; as the centaurs had perpetrated their wild lifestyle inherited for their days in the steps.

When they stop at the centre of the clearing, another two elder rejoint them, while all other centaurs returned under the shade of the forest, their bows still ready to fire a rain of arrows on them.

"The eight-legs had always been a festering wound in the forest. Our once clear and peaceful forest had been slowly dying. Even then, the eight-legs had stayed clear of our place, but ever since the reds-one came yesterday, our foals had been attacked. We already lost three youngs. Now that they know of the half-giant disappearance, they will no respect the rest of the forest anymore and destroy everything." Say the only female among the three elders.

Taking is human appearance while still keeping his animal traits, tail and hears. Alex looked at each of them straight in the eyes.

"Even if I help you take out the eight-legs, you know that this would only be the start. Because of my action, the Darks-one will slowly retake the power of the land. In their quest of power to satisfy their greed, they will turn their eyes on the tribe, seeking its destruction."

His words send a wave of nervousness among all centaurs, perfectly knowing it.

"While I can help you clean the forest, the tribe will still be in danger."

"What want you of us, hunter." Asked the last to have yet spoken.

Turning to it, Alex could see that it seems to be even elder than the other. The centaurs eyes were milky white, surely blind, while his legs were frail and shaking, his voice barely audible.

"The herd of unicorn and Therstral. The first will either became food for the eight-legs or butchered by the wizards for their parts, while the other would be killed out of their unfounded belief of the ominous omen they think them to be. I'm am willing to offer them, and the tribe asylum. You will take care of both herds in exchange for delivering collectable parts form them: Tailhair, horn, hooves clips, and corpses of naturally deceased ones.