Harry looked a bit perplexed. "Well, the reading Snape had us do suggested 50-60 at any given time." Remus nodded at that.
"Yes, that is the amount of registered wolves but the actual number is more than three to four times that amount. I'd say right now that's about 150 with one-third of them Muggle by birth. The Ministry doesn't care about them so they don't register and about half the magical wolf population never register. The wolves are divided up into five packs called the Packs of Albion. Roughly speaking the packs' territories are one in northern England centred on Leeds, one in Southwest England, than one each in Wales, Scotland, and Ireland; roughly twenty to thirty wolves per pack with several 'rogues' like me that aren't formally associated with any one pack. Each pack has its own Alpha male and female that controls their pack. There is not an Alpha over all the packs. Wolves don't do too well when the numbers get large. If a pack gets up over forty it will probably be splitting into two packs. At one point there were eleven packs.
"Now while there is no super Alpha controlling all the packs we do have an ancient Pack Law. The Pack Law dictates how the packs interact, bringing in new wolves, and each wolf's responsibilities to their packs and to the Packs of Albion. Most of them don't see their lycanthropy as an illness as I do but a gift. Maybe a third of them are born to werewolf parents so this is the only life they have ever known."
"And what does this mean to me?" Harry asked
"Some of the Death Eaters have talked about their encounter with the Beast. Greyback, the werewolf that turned me, is the Alpha of the Greyback Pack up near Leeds. He called a Gathering of all the packs to try to sway the other packs to support Voldemort. It is mandatory that all werewolves attend the Gatherings. If you do not, you are seen as breaking away from Pack Law and are a danger to all of the Packs. They call these Feral Wolves and they are hunted down and killed by all the Packs. Even the rogues like me have to attend. Since they think they know what Harry is, he will either have to show up and lay claim to his position in the Packs or prove he is in fact not a werewolf. Not showing up is taken as declaring Feral status."
Somewhat surprisingly, Harry was not overtly displaying any anger at Remus's explanation. However, his eyes were leaking power that made the two adults somewhat uncomfortable.
"So, we have a Wizengamot hearing and the werewolf Gathering almost occurring at the same time," Harry commented in a low tone. "It doesn't take a spell creator to see the way this one's going. In one or the other they will force the Beast into the open." Sirius and Remus made noises of agreement to Harry's assessment.
"Smells like a Malfoy tactic," Sirius said. Harry simply nodded his agreement. Sirius never commented on it aloud but sometimes Harry's maturity left him cold. Harry could come up with some wonderful pranks, be fun, and an all-around nice kid, but he also had a very mature and cold-bloodedly practical side. He didn't know if it was because of the Beast or growing up with the Dursleys but it disturbed him. Harry often acted more like a thirty year old than an almost fifteen year old. Sirius decided to set that aside for now and concentrate on the problem in front of them.
"I think we need to talk to Dumbledore," Harry said unaware of his godfather's musings.
"Dumbledore? Why?" Remus asked.
Harry grimaced before saying, "I don't see a way the Beast isn't going to come out. If the werewolves have heard through their Death Eater connection, you bloody well know their people on the Wizengamot know. If I get caught telling a lie my value as a witness is destroyed. We need to decide the best way to let this out. I don't know yet how I feel about the man - I'm too conflicted - but he is also the only politician that knows about me and he is Chief of the Wizengamot amongst his other titles. We need his input."
....
Remus floo called the Headmaster but the old wizard was not in his Hogwart's office. Instead he was in official office as the Chief of the Wizengamot. Dumbledore agreed to make time to see the trio and scheduled them for a meeting at 16.00. It was late enough in the Ministry day that most workers were concentrating on finishing tasks required before they could return home for the evening so the three wizards' arrival would attract less notice.
Wearing nondescript cloaks, the three wizards emerged from the floo in the Ministry Atrium five minutes before their planned meeting time. Already several Ministry employees in the ubiquitous grey robes of the Ministry worker were seen making their way to one of the many fireplaces set on making their way home. In their own grey cloaks, no one took any obvious notice of the new arrivals.
Remus led the way to where a bank of lifts was located. A full car of workers unloaded and passed the three without a glance. They quickly boarded and pressed the button for Level One. Level One contained the offices of many of the senior Ministry people including the Minister for Magic and his staff. It also contained the office of the Chief of the Wizengamot and staff that handled the legislative and legal activities of the body.
No one else joined them on the way up and shortly they were entering the waiting area outside Dumbledore's office. A middle-aged witch was sitting there at a desk. She never looked up from her file when they entered.
.....
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