Ch.5

I spent an hour settling in before stripping down to what I called work clothes. A basic silk shirt and dragon hide pants and boots. I wore dragon hide gloves as well as I definitely didn't want to touch any of the poisonous creatures without them.

He showed me a tour of his legendary briefcase world and told me a brief summery of what and how each creature would need caring for. When we ended next to the Lethifold area that was marked on the ground by runes where the barrier was set, I knew it was my turn to share.

I looked at the lethifold that flowed over the tree branch and shook my head. "First of all, your lethifold is female. If you'd tried to breed it with the one I got then they'd have eaten each other."

He looked surprised and asked. "How can you tell?"

I pointed to the round edges of its sides. "Round means female, males have sharper edges as they prefer the screams of their victims as they dig in."

I stepped over the barrier and unleashed my killing intent and bloodthirst at the lethifold. It stilled as I continued talking. "This isn't the right environment for it either. It needs a cave or somewhere dark where it can feel at ease while you feed it live specimens to keep it constantly full. When both male and female are satiated and you make them feel as I am doing now, they'll breed. Notice it's waiting for me to react or else greet it?"

He nodded and I held up a hand as it came over and touched me lightly before sliding over me to form a scarf as it shrank to my will. I told him. "Lethifolds are predators and relish the bloodshed and struggles of their meals. You need to make them feel like they are the prey, make them understand that you can and will end them and they will submit like any other animal under indomitable force."

He frowned. "And they'll breed like that?"

I nodded. "Breed, kill, eat their own young. They respect power and bloodlust. It doesn't mean you have to stain your hands with the blood of the innocent but you do need to be willing to kill if necessary and when you're ready-"

I unleashed a small fraction of my bloodlust on him and his pupils dilated and expanded while the hairs on his arms stood up. I could tell he was fighting the urge to fight or flee. I released him as I sighed. "I am willing to kill because I believe in the law of nature. All things die and only the truly strong thrive. Wether by intelligence, luck or skill and power. In the end prey is meant to be eaten by the predator. A dragon or even a Phoenix will feel the same. All predators respect the law and fight for survival. To do so you need to be willing to kill to survive. As such my killing intent and bloodlust, the feeling of relishing the kill, is higher than say a simple minded creature like a lethifold."

His chest was pounding and I nodded in understanding as he digested my words. I continued. "As for communicating with it, when it submits, it will go still, then use Legilimency on it to create a bridge to it's mind. With that connection you can coax it to form a bridge like yours and it'll follow your commands. It's a rather forceful method I admit, but it is their way."

He nodded in understanding before asking. "How is the communication?"

I shrugged and made it slide off me before changing shapes and finally returning to the tree it was hanging on as I stepped over the rune barrier. "It's basic and yet if you refine your Legilimency, you can give very specific and detailed instructions. It all depends on you and how much you want it to do as their memories are terrible. So long as you don't leave it out when you go to bed or break contact for more than a few hours you'll be fine."

He nodded. "And can this method be used on other creatures? A nundu perhaps?"

I shrugged. "I've not tried but then again I don't have a nundu nor have I had the chance."

He smiled and pointed to the nundu enclosure not far away with a rock wit was laying on. Smiling, I sent my killing intent out, spanning the distance easily and freaking the big cat out to the point where it was rolling on it's stomach in submission. I grinned and used Legilimency and my own telepathic communications to connect with the big poisonous cat's mind.

It was highly intelligent surprisingly. I told it who I was and why I was showing my dominance and it flipped the fuck out further doing it's version of cursing at Newt by pissing on it's boarder to get him back.

Newt frowned and handed the job of cleaning it up to me. I cursed both him and the big cat now as he warned me not to use a wand and not to let it get on me as it too was poisonous. I shoveled the freshly wet ground into a bucket and got to work cleaning and caring for the beasts.

After ten hours I finished cleaning up the dragon and Erumpent dung as my last chore for the day except removing the shedding of the Runespoor. It's three heads watched me curiously while I helped peel the last of the dried shed skin off of it's tail.

I'd found most of the curios creatures and more specifically the ones Newt owned didn't need a show of dominance to get along with. They were more curios by the way I was going about things as I used salt water to help the process along as all the skin was ready to come off.

When it was done I sprayed the salt water off with a fresh blast of the Aguamenti spell. Once the salt water was off, I rubbed it's chins before saying goodnight to it as I left. I took the shedded skin with me in a bottomless pouch. When it hissed, I looked back and saw the third head in the center not far from my face.

It wanted more rubs so I gave in and lightly rubbed it down before seeing the nest. It had nine eggs there and the female was wrapped around the nest protectively. I asked what would happen to the babes and it showed me an image of Newt taking the eggs that were to be given to preserves around the world.

Sighing I showed it an endless forest as far as the eye could see and bountiful with prey. I then asked if I could have two eggs for my own preserve. I showed it the other creatures there and what I planned to do. It readily agreed but suggested I ask it's mate and Newt first.

I agreed easily and approached the nest only until the female turned to me. I presented the same question to her and she said she'd rely on Newt to decide as she trusted him. I nodded and agreed to ask him.

I offered her a rub like I'd done her mate and after a look to her happy mate she stuck her heads over and I rubbed her down. She practically bobbed her head in satisfaction as rubbed all three of her heads down. I heard Newt exclaim. "Marvelous! I've not been able to get her to leave her nest when it was nesting season. How did you achieve it?"

I tapped my head saying. "I talked to her. I gave her mate a rub down and offered her the same. She was amenable as I wasn't a threat."

I gave her one last rub before backing away and walking to Newt. "By the way I asked her for two eggs and she said to ask you. Apparently she trusts you'll not give them to someone who wants to do them harm. I want them for my own preserve."

He frowned. "Do you have a preserve?"

I nodded. "Perhaps I'll show it to you as well but I'll require an unbreakable vow from you to never reveal any of my secrets unless I give you permission. I even let you borrow my male lethifold I got recently for breeding. Males are quite rare so you'll be in luck there."

He frowned before sighing. "Just a vow to keep your secrets? Nothing more?"

I nodded. "That's it. One simple vow and you have my word I'll open whole world of possibilities to you. If your wife makes the same you can bring her as well. I promise it'll be an adventure of many lifetimes."

He raised an eyebrow but sighed. "What secrets can a kid really have? Fine! Show me this adventure of yours but if you're lying I'm sure I could tempt the lethifold with your body."

I chuckled and told him. "Good. We'll make the vow with your wife's help. She can decide to make the same vow or not as well."

We headed to the ladder out and I handed him the bottomless pouch with the magical beast supplies I'd carefully collected for him to sell. They were all in stasis for ensure freshness. He took it curiously before asking. "What's this?"

I smirked. "Money. All the magical beast supplies I cleaned up today. It's worth a lot and would help with the massive food needed to feed this lot. If you want though I can have it sold for you then give you the profits. My account manager is very skilled so I'm sure it wouldn't take long."

He nodded. "Tell you what, if you can surprise me, and I mean really surprise me, I'll let you keep all the supplies you harvest over the summers you work with me. If not then you'll set me free from your vow."

I nodded with a smile. "I guarantee you're in for a surprise you'll never forget nor be able to hide the shock from."

He shrugged. "We'll see then."

He headed up the ladder and I followed. When we reached the living room a niffler named Leonard sat on my lap and sniffed around me until I sighed and took out a galleon. I gave it the galleon and it looked from the count to me and back repeatedly.

I petted it while it rolled on it's back sniffing the coin. Newt scowled. "A con artist if I ever saw one."

I smiled. "I'll take him if you want. I'm sure I can find a happy place for him."

Newt scowled but shook his head. "No, no, I've grown attached to him. Though if you're serious and have the proper setup, I'll see about getting you as many types of beasts as possible so they won't go extinct."

I smiled. "Just remember your words."

I closed my eyes while he went to get his wife to make the vow. I rearranged the landscape to my needs and when it was perfect for my needs, I opened my eyes to see the couple coming back in. His wife was frowning when she asked. "What's this about an unbreakable vow?"

I sighed. "I have secrets and I'd like to keep them. I made an offer to your husband to reveal them to both of you, a real chance of many lifetimes you could say, if you and he vowed to keep them unless I say otherwise. You've my word you won't regret it and may vary we'll see things no other on this earth has ever seen before."

My words swayed her a bit but she huffed. "I'm an ex Auror so if it's illegal-"

I waved her off. "Not illegal, just a secret. Trust me when I say there's no laws governing my secrets but my own."

She looked exasperated but sighed. "Fine, lets do the vow."

I stood, sliding the niffler to the couch cushion as I went. When I clapped hands with Newt, we made the vow. I was very specific about my vow as I meant my secrets to stay that way unless I wanted otherwise. When the final vow was over and both were done, I smiled. "Good, now don't move, the sensation can be unnerving for first timers I'm told."

I took them inside my inner realm with me where I used my laws to hold us in the air. Tia screamed until she realized we weren't falling. I chuckled. "Welcome to my inner world. Here I am a god. Moving land mass, changing the very shape of the world, every single bit of magic here is up to me to manage. I'd not absorb any unless you wish to stay here-"

They both freaked but I chuckled. "Just kidding. It's completely safe to absorb. In fact this is where I dumb my magic or half of it anyway. Now, who wants a tour of a world you can literally do anything in?"

Newt frowned. "Is this real?"

I nodded. "This is a real world and it's where my soul is. All the energy you feel that's making you feel younger is my lifeforce you're absorbing. Don't worry, it's safe and rather healthy for you. I can see both of you are becoming naturally younger as your own life force is replenished."

Tia turned around until she asked. "What's the giant tree? Is it going into outer space?"

I chuckled. "That is in fact the physical embodiment of my soul. Thing of the planet below as a byproduct of growing the seed that is my soul into the tree you see."

With a thought I brought us to one of the branches where the golden apples were. I told them. "Golden apples of immortality. Yes they're real and so is the immortality you'll gain if you eat one."

Newt turned back to me aghast. "Are you a god?"

I smiled. "Got it in one. Yes, I'm a god. Not the Christian one mind you but a god none the less. I've gone by many names but as my body was freshly born in this reality you may call me Damien, got of reincarnation/rebirth and nature. I've been a god of sorts of other things but they don't matter in the long run."

With a thought I brought two apples before them both. "Now for my real offer. I'm willing to offer you and your family immortality in exchange for becoming my preserve caretaker. You'll have full reign over the beasts and creatures from all manner of worlds I collect except my personal companions. I'll have you collect all the stuff I require with the house elves help and we'll see many new worlds, preserving species that would otherwise go extinct. You'll see worlds beyond your imagination and never die or grow old. Truly immortal so long as you wish to remain so."

They both looked at the apples and back at myself before looking at each other as I asked. "So tell me my friends, are you really ready to take the next great adventure? I can already show you things beyond your wildest imaginations and I've just begun exploring."

Finally Tia asked. "How many apples do you have? I don't want to outlive my children and grandchildren only to see them die."

I sighed. "Pluck them and find out but remember, if they're to join you they must swear the same vows."

They plucked the apples and watched as two more blooded to replace the ones they took. I smirked. "Now, I need an answer."

I changed us to my inner realm as I made a throne in the sky and sat in front of them. "What will it be? Life beyond your wildest imaginations or possibly being reincarnated or simply going to a boring Heaven?"

Tia turned to me. "Heaven is real?"

I nodded. "Sure, there are many heavens and hells and everything else. Odds are you'll end up in one of them or reincarnated in a separate world and reality when you die depending on your luck. I must warn you though, Heaven doesn't change. It's just a peaceful place where you sit around with a few people you know as everyone else is elsewhere or reincarnated."

Newt snorted and I nodded as he sighed and took his wife's hand. They both nodded and Newt turned to me. "We'll do it."

I smiled and pushed more of my lifeforce into them, making them younger. "When you're ready eat the apples and you'll remain eternally the same age for the rest of time or until I die a long time from now at the hands of another god."

They ate the apples and I clapped my hands saying. "Finish the apple and we'll move on to other endeavors. For now, look around. This preserve is as infinite as my imagination and so long as I know the elements in a substances I can reproduce them here with a thought. I've a few beasts here already and I've changed the geography to match your own suitcase, only bigger."

They continued to eat their apples while I told them what I'd done to the place and the areas out of bounds, being the lethifold and doxie caves and the reasons why. I showed them the unicorn foals and manticore while warning them. "The poison can no longer kill you and I doubt a killing curse would when your body finishes the transition but it'll still hurt like hell until your body ejects it through your pores or less pleasant ways."

They both nodded seriously and I sighed. "Oh, getting eaten will suck but you'll survive it, not that you'll want to my the time you come out. As for the one thing you'll definitely not want to piss off-"

I whistled and a loud banging was heard as Fiona squawked angrily as her nest was disturbed. A giant two headed dog the size of a, well, giant, came running to us. I smirked. "How's my good boy?"

The two headed dog barked merely and I told it. "Alright now, puppy mode."

It jumped at me to the couple's surprise and changed mid leap into a puppy bullet I had to stop in midair before it hit me. When I helped my Orthrus puppy I showed him to the couple. "See this little fellow? Never get in between him and food or between him and me. I'll be kind and tell you now, if he kills you, it's permanent death. He and the apples share the same origin so he's one of the few things capable of killing you."

I handed him to Newt saying. "Orthrus, behave, they're not like me, they can't play hard."

He whimpered before barking and licking the couple all over while expecting petting. Newt asked. "What's he eat?"

I shrugged. "I've been feeding him cattle I have growing In a large nearly endless grassy plain not far from here. He comes when called and he knows not to eat anything else but honestly? He'd eat any type of meat. I've been thinking about getting dinosaurs just to feed his massive appetite. For now though the deer and cattle of the forest will suffice in a pinch."

I gave them the details of what all I had stored in this place except the magical stuff as I didn't want them practicing a new magic until they've mastered the one they have. When I finished I said goodbye to Orthrus by making two giant bones appear and sending them flying back to his territory. I made a giant tree for Fiona to nest in and apologized before leaving.

They fed her their apple cores and joined me back in their living room. I sat down and relaxed. "So, surprised or what?"

Newt snorted. "That's an understatement."

I chuckled and handed them two bands I'd made once for my old coven. "Here, these will allow you in and out of my inner realm without needing me to take you in and out. You have admin privileges so you'll be able to control the surroundings and environment to your whims to a limited degree. No thunder storms in the cattle area and such but if you need to change the weather in a certain area, you can just ask out loud and I'll hear you so long as you call my name first. You'll also be able to pressure and force the beasts to obey if necessary but it's cruel so I don't recommend doing it for fun."

They both nodded and I tossed them two vials saying. "That's polyjuice potion. Add some of your old hairs to make yourself look older when you're dealing with the outside world. And be warned, the vow will kill you but I'll do far worse to your souls if you betray my trust."

They nodded and looked far more serious until I stood up. "I'll be off to bed now, I look forward to seeing what you can do with an infinite amount of time space and resources. I'll of course want to continue my learning as it'll make your jobs easier as well because when I know how I can have my realm do it automatically."

Newt agreed to teach me and I turned back to Tina, his wife. "I'd like you to teach me wizard dueling and battling. I'm not proficient with a stick and I wish to know how you all battle. I may be a god but I'm new to this world. My child form isn't for show after all."

Tina asked. "How were you born into this world anyway?"

I snorted. "A being stronger than me that I call father made a deal to cure the Greengrass blood curse for good in exchange for my birth. He possessed my body's current father and well, you get the gist. Anyway, they don't remember the deal so I'll thank you for not mentioning it to them. It's a profound experience for mortals to have proof of the divine, well you understand now more than ever I'm sure?"

They nodded and I headed to my room for the night. I ate a simple precooked meal after grabbing a shower and went to bed. They were both quite busy during the night but it didn't matter much to me. By morning I was ready for the new day. There I was a bit surprised to meet with a lovely couple I assumed was Newt's son and daughter in law.

Newt introduced them. "Damien Greengrass, this is Lorcan, my son and his lovely wife Jules. They're Rolf's parents."

I bowed slightly. "A pleasure to meet you both."

Jules smiled and Lorcan nodded to me before asking. "Why's my father going on about a silly vow?"

I raised an eyebrow and sighed. "Go ahead but if they don't accept you'll be responsible for erasing their minds."

After I said those words I turned and left the spluttering couple with their immortal in laws and parents. I grabbed a bite to eat before dressing for work. When I arrived back in the living room the man, Lorcan, made an angry face. "I don't know what game your playing but you'd better release-"

His words were cut off as I unleashed a mountain of killing intent on him and he fell to his knees. I stared at him coldly. "I understand your skepticism, but you'd do well to remember your father's warning boy. I've killed more powerful beings than yourself with less effort than it takes you to breathe! Be careful when you make demands on me!"

I released him and the blood flew back to his cheeks again as his heart had nearly stopped. He started coughing and spluttering and I turned to Newt. "You've raised an idiot at best. If I were any other of my ilk he'd be dead and probably take half the planet with him. Anyway, I see you've moved the beasts into the preserve, care to take a walk with me while your kids make a decision?"

He nodded and stood up and I turned back to the scared couple. "I'll be straightforward with you. Either you'll agree and become immortal, or your minds will be erased and you'll forget today. If you try fleeing, well, there's nowhere on this planet you could run that I can't find you. If you make me work for it I might say screw it and destroy the planet and move on to the next reality."

They paled further and I went into my realm with Newt following me. He showed me what all special thing about each beast that needed taking care of at times and I showed him the pregnant lethifold. It was laying on a tree branch in the cave that I added. It was clearly showing and the male was agitated by our presence but the female lashed out, making the male back off.

She was more in tune with me than all but Fiona. Only Orthrus came close to her and that's just because he's known me so long. She floated over to me and I ran my hand over her silken cloak. I murmured. "Beautiful. Go rest, I'll send some bears in for you to enjoy from now until the birth. You deserve a good death struggle for your efforts."

She fluttered and headed back to the tree. I turned to Newt. "Do you see what I mean now? They're creatures that personify bloodlust and revel in it. To them it is mother's milk. It doesn't make them evil or dark though. They only kill to eat or if asked to. They feel no guilt or remorse about it because they're killing to survive. They just enjoy the act more than others. Wolves are similar in that they love the thrill of the hunt and kill. It doesn't make them dark or evil though. Just a part of nature."

He raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Like you I take it?"

I nodded. "Indeed. At my core, my origin, I am both a werewolf and a vampire. It is what I was originally born as and what my main body, the point of my father's exercise in sending me to these worlds is. I suspect he's trying to make me see that just because I'm a beast created by him and Gaia, doesn't make me evil but apart of nature. Life, death, destruction and creation. A perfect storm. He's trying to get me to see my roots while making me stronger for future battles."

Newt nodded in clear understanding. "I'm the end all a parent can do is prepare their kids for the worst while hoping for the best."

I smiled and took us to the air. There I began making the changes he mentioned while making an endless thunderstorm for the thunderbird to enjoy in it's habitat. When I finished I told him. "It's done. All the special needs will be taken care of automatically. Now, let's go see what the kids are up to."

We arrived in the living room where Tia was telling them the benefits calmly. They'd all calmed down now and I sighed. "I can't say you'll never die because I can't say the same for myself but I can say it'll be so long off that you'll never have to fear death or persecution by my own hand. All I ask is that you keep my secrets and not betray me. Anything beyond that is up to you to decide. Immortality is offered and should you get tired of living forever you'll be able to turn yourself mortal by wanting to be mortal once more. Eternal youth and adventure is all I can offer."

Lorcan asked. "Eternal youth? But they both look old still."

I chuckled. "Polyjuice for your benefit I'm sure. It'll wear off in a bit. Now, will you make the vow to keep my secrets or does Newt here have to erase your minds? I need an answer as I'm a busy god, man, kid, well, you get the picture."

Jules spoke up quickly. "We'll make the vow."

I nodded and told Newt. "Take their vows, so long as you word it as my secrets it should be fine. When you're done there's an old city in my inner realm, take them there by touching them and thinking about going in and they'll go with. There they'll be returned to there youth and you'll find two golden apples and wrist bands."

He nodded and I told Tia. "Care to teach me to duel like a wizard? I've a battlefield prepared."

She nodded and I went back inside with her. There she walked me through the steps and rules then we began. I didn't cheat as I wanted to really learn not to show off so I ended up on my ass several dozen times throughout the day until I called it. She herself was still energized saying. "You're getting better. Why aren't I tiring?"

I chuckled. "Immortals don't need to eat or sleep as they're always naturally energized, not that you can't if you want to though. I'd suggest you practice this-"

I handed her the mind arts to preserve her sanity over the coming centuries. She looked it over and before she could say she already knew Occlumency, I waved her off. "It's different trust me. In fact give these to the others as well. It helps shouldering eternity when you don't loose your mind after the first few thousand years."

I gave her more copies of the book and left to grab a shower and an ice pack. Newt was at least amused as he watched me ice my back and ass. "I thought you'd be immune to magic or something."

I snorted. "I may be a god but this body is entirely mortal. It can die like any other it's just I'll be reborn like a phoenix in the nearest human baby conceived. That is until I break this world's shackles."

He raised an eyebrow and I sighed. "Every reality has laws, like firing being hot and dirt being hard, stuff like that. Once a god understands those laws they can break them and exceed that reality's control. They can then choose to leave or rule there as a real life god. The only one I can think of here is death and I can't sense it's presence which means it's a living law. Therefore once I understand everything about this worlds laws and gather the artifacts death left behind here, I'll be able to leave or stay and do as I please."

He nodded slowly before saying. "These artifacts, they would be something death made itself?"

I nodded. "Yes, they're the deathly hollows and I already know where each of them reside. Once I'm ready I'll retrieve them and go to death's door, what your ministry calls the veil of death or the arch in the department of mysteries. With the hollows acting like a key I'll open the door and see what death really left behind. I'm personally hoping it's a suit of armor or a shield. I already have god weapons and I could use more defense as even at my strongest with all the unique bodies I've made put together I'm still not ready for a battle with gods at my level or stronger. I just got to this level of power after all."

I then explained the hierarchy of gods and why I'm so determined to get stronger. I wasn't nearly as ready as I hoped to be by the time the battle of the gods comes around. We talked until diner time as I expanded his horizons and explained why wizards now a days were stupid.

While we are he told me. "Your argument reminds me of an old friend of mine, Nicolas Flamel."

I chuckled. "I'd very much like to see him as well. If you'd make an introduction-"

He waved it off. "Of course. Are you going to-"

I nodded and he smiled. "I'll at least have an old companion to talk shop with then."

I chuckled. "True, and I'm sure he'll be interested in the two philosopher stones I have. They're from a different reality after all."

He seemed less surprised by that than anything else. (I truly think he's getting used to the idea of being friends with a god.)

When we finished supper he asked. "So what's next? I mean, you know all I know about caring for beasts so what are you going to do next?"

I shrugged. "I'll meet with the Flamel's first then I'll continue to at least pretend to look after the beasts so that when my sisters and Charlie come to visit they can experience it and play whenever they want. I'll ask that you teach Charlie what you know about dragons and let my sisters play with the harmless ones. Once we leave after a month or so, you can continue to train Charlie and have him muck out the dragon dung or something. When school starts up again we'll both be busy."

He nodded while his son asked. "Why will you both be busy?"

I sighed. "Newt here will be traveling the world to gather more beasts for the preserve and I have my own things to accomplish. As for Tina, I'd like you to join the Hogwarts staff as the defense against the dark arts professor this coming year so that you can continue my dueling and battle training."

She nodded lightly. "Easily accomplished, besides I'd like to continue my own studies if they're as important as you say."

I nodded. "They are. Once you've mastered the magic of this world I've so much I can teach about other types of magic's you've never even thought about. Some could grow worlds from a desolate rock and even destroy them if you wish. Magic is a living force, a soul if you will and the more in tune with it you are, the more you can accomplish. Bringing back the dead, immortality, these things are just the very beginning. Just remember that magic is neither good nor evil, it is like a person, it can be used for either purpose and swayed but in the end, if you break it's rules, you pay the price. Well, unless you're a god then magic is like a fickle lover."

Lorcan snorted and asked. "You sound like you mean that in more ways than one?"

I nodded. "I once slept with a different reality's personification of magic. Damned if she wasn't in it for the power she gained. But that's magic, it always comes at a price. Big or small it's up to you to decide if you're willing to pay said price."

Newt sighed. "Like alchemy."

I nodded. "Exactly. Believe it or not they run off the same principle, equivalent exchange. It's one of the things I wish to talk to Nicolas about. Even my philosopher stones have a price but then they have no limit either so I want to understand how he created one that costs nothing for eternal life, or as close to it you can get in this world without being a Phoenix."

I frowned. "I really hope he didn't sacrifice a Phoenix to create it. That just feels wrong."

Newt choked before coughing on his drink before asking. "You don't think he did do you?"

I shrugged. "A Phoenix and a unicorn have something to do with it of that I'm sure but I've no idea what he used as the catalyst, perhaps a a dragon for it's vitality or maybe a basilisk for it's longevity. Either way he'd have to use something of each of those creatures unless he found death like those three brothers and simply asked for the stone."

Lorcan asked. "Death is real?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Really kid? You're asking a god if death, a being that reaps mortals is real like it's surprising. Seriously, wizards here are weird."

The weeks following were quiet and filled with ass pounding pain as I got slammed around by Tina my torturer. When I wasn't getting my ass kicked, I was reading up on the books in Hogwarts's library with the source book. Finally something interesting happened three weeks after summer vacation began.

My father contacted me to be at the trial for Lucius Malfoy and defend our family's honor if necessary. I may or may not have told him Tina the ex-auror and Newt's wife was tort- training me and from her words I was improving rapidly. If by improving she meant I tripped and stunned her once then I clearly have a long way to go.

I'd put severe limitations on myself including gravity to increase the difficulty and push myself further as I didn't want to just improve, I aimed to perfect. For my efforts only pain was the reward though I have been getting faster with my reactions and my metamorphmagus ability.

I could almost fluidly change disguises and even shrink or grow as the battle required. I'd even begun changing my tongue to track by heat signature as a snake can and my eyes into an eagles to scan the surroundings when she set up obstacle courses like auror training required.

I'd used my muggle tracking and trading at first but when your opponents can literally turn invisible and make fake tracks, the skills I had weren't enough. I'd lost most of my other knowledge on magical tracking so starting fresh was all I could do.

For now though, that all meant I had to participate in Malfoy's trial of slander and theft. I arrived as my father to the Wizengamot trial. I sat amongst my peers and greeted them in turn while paying attention to the flow of the court room.

When it started, Dumbledore abstained as he had a clear dog in this fight. It was left up to Madam Bones to run the trial and so it began. "Lord Greengrass, you have accused Lord Malfoy of stealing from the funds set aside by this governing body to better the education of our children at Hogwarts. Lord Malfoy has accused you of besmirching the Malfoy name. As this is a serious accusation on both your parts you are required to show evidence of your claims."

She turned to Malfoy saying. "Both of you."

I nodded. "As I've a family legal representative, I call for Ted Tonks to represent my claims."

She nodded. "Acknowledged. Ted Tonks please come forward and present the proof and defense of the slander Lord Malfoy claims your client has done."

He stood up from the guest seats and came to the center of the court room. "Very well your honor. Here is a sworn testimony and bank statement from the goblins of Gringotts showing Mr.Malfoy has transfered nearly all the funds every school year into his personal accounts while several far smaller transfers have been made to six known school board members from his personal account at nearly the same time each year since he joined the school board."

He handed the papers to the auror that brought them up to Madam Bones. She looked them over before asking. "Are the goblins the only proof of your claims?"

He shook his head. "No, though they've sworn on there honor and are ready and willing to defend it it the death of need be that these are accurate and real transfers. I also have testimony from one Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall as both the headmaster and assistant headmaster staring the trifling sum they've received each year coincides with this."

Murmurs broke out as at the moment Dumbledore's word was as good as gold. To have him and McGonagall swearing to it plus the goblins backing them up, it really was a proverbial nail in the coffin. Now it was just time to hammer it home.

Madam Bones asked. "Have you anything else to add?"

Ted nodded. "I wish to add that while not all of you may realize it yet. The money taken was in fact donated by each of you each year into the funds for the school from your family's accounts as is mandatory for being apart of this governing body and one of it's founding laws. So in fact when Lucius Malfoy stoke from the school fund, he was actually stealing from both your children's future and your own families."

Total chaos ensued as threats and yells were hurled across the Wizengamot. Malfoy paled at the last bit as he'd been hoping to pay off the majority with small sums to make this go away but the curses were being yelled not just from the light and grey sides but even his own acquaintances.

Madam Bones demanded quiet and after everyone settled down, Malfoy gave me a sneer while Fudge looked apoplectic. His biggest 'donator' was getting the money from stealing from everyone else. When it was fully quiet again Madam Bones asked. "Might I ask how much was taken?"

Ted nodded. "Approximately fifty thousand galleons every year for the last ten years. So around half a million galleons. But that's not the total sum in all because the special funds set aside by the ministry when Hogwarts agreed to the governing of the school in the eleventh century has been emptied as well. A hundred thousand galleons every ten years equaling a grand total of nine million eight hundred thousand has also been shown to go into the Malfoy family accounts on Thursday, September tenth of the year 1980. As it stands the goblins can prove and swear to the very fact that Lucius Malfoy has stolen no less than ten million three hundred thousand galleons from this governing body and Hogwarts itself."

He cleared his throat as he continued. "From that money, the goblins have also been able to find the paper trail leading to the Malfoy families investments and businesses all across the globe. It's safe to say that as much as seven tenths of the current Malfoy family fortunes are from the stolen money he's invested into his own business ventures. Some of which are proven to be highly illegal from this governing bodies standards."

He passed on the files and I watched as the blood drained from Lucius's face as Ted continued. "The goblins are reluctant to give us an exact figure of what Lucius Malfoy has made of your monies because of their own policies, but it's been estimated at around nine hundred million and counting."

Lucius Malfoy wanted to spit blood as I could tell that amount was accurate enough to hurt. Madam Bones nodded. "Very well then, you may return to your seat."

Ted bowed and headed back to the guest stands while Madam Bones turned to Lucius. "Lord Malfoy, you may present your case."

I could see him turning green as he looked to be sick now while the Wizengamot members all looked at him like starving wolves at a tender lamb. He spoke reluctantly. "I've no proof that can halt these claims at this time. Though if you'll give me a week-"

Madam Bones scowled. "You've has almost a full year to find your defense and proclaim your innocence. Are you intending on wasting this governing body's time? After all, don't you always say that time is money? I believe you most certainly wasted enough of this court's money by now."

She gave him a cold glare and asked. "Do you have anything at all to say in your defense then?"

He sighed in defeat before saying. "Only that I've held a seat on this body and the school board with the utmost honor and integrity that I have and while I cannot disprove these claims now, it does not make them true."

When she nodded she turned to me. "Lord Greengrass, have you anything more to add?"

I nodded. "As Lord Malfoy says it's a matter of honor now. By claiming I besmirched his honor, he claimed me a liar and if there's one thing I am not, it's a liar. I proper he be forced to drink Veritaserum and be asked, as honor demands it, whether I am lying about the money being stolen and perhaps how much in actuality he stole from us all, investments included as they are rightfully ours to begin with. As for any other crimes he may have committed in that time, I'm sure we can all agree that they pale in comparison to the subject at hand and need not be rectified at this moment."

My words were meant to sway both sides and they did. The dark because if he's only asked about the money then their asses are saved and the light because I was pinning a target on the largest faction head of the dark side. As for the neutral families, well, it's just good business if they agree now.