whitetigerwolf's WOLF LOVE CHALLENGE

REQUIREMENTS

~story takes place after deathly hallows

Sure thing,

~Harry must take Teddy and move to America, specifically Tri-cities or Aspen Creek

Have yet to read Alpha and Omega so Tri-cities for me

~Harry must become romantically involved with one of the wolves from the pack.

Well guess that rules out Mercy but that's okay I think I'll roll with Mary Jo

~Harry must date his partner for awhile before finding out they're a wolf.

sure I can swing that.

RECOMMENDATIONS

~femharry

on it

~femharry/femwerewolf

got that too

~Harry finding out a way for female wolves to have children

ehhh, maybe, if it doesn't feel forced

~Harry being distantly related to a werewolf

same as above.

Beta read by: Crescent Sunrise and TigerCritic

Recommended Story: "Poisoned Heart" by WhiteTigerWolf

~Inside of a 1959 Ford Anglia 105E deluxe just outside Kennewick, Washington~

An odd pair ride their way slowly through the town as the sun is starting to set. Considering neither has seen a bed since waking up back in England, one can forgive the two for being tired, especially the younger of the two.

The pair is odd due to the driver being a twenty six year old woman with long black hair tied in a ponytail while her passenger is a nine year old boy with brilliant blue hair done in spikes. Neither sharing any form of resemblance in feature, demeanor, or even gender. Easily explained by the latter having been adopted by the former after his actual family passed away.

First, his parents to terrorists attacking a school in an attempt to overthrow a secret government existing alongside the normal governing body of England. Next, his grandmother to illness. His grandfather had unfortunately passed away prior to his birth thanks to the aforementioned terrorists.

The gaze from older woman to the young boy is both fond and sad. She had already bought the home they are heading to when Andromeda fell ill. And just delayed her move to take care of Teddy while she recovered. Unfortunately she didn't recover. Healers made house calls, they scanned and gave potions. When they failed to react it was muggle doctors next. Nothing they could see either. She had to wonder if Andromeda had just given up. Her husband and daughter dead she just couldn't muster the will to live anymore and her magic let it happen. The years since it happened only seemed to drag the poor woman deeper down.

Her funeral was quiet. Just her grandson and his godmother, quietly resigning her body to the earth before settling her affairs.

Teddy was old enough to know what happened but he's been on the recovery. The length of Andi's illness letting him prepare for it so after their mourning period and by the time she was ready to leave he had more or less bounced back. Choosing to instead focus on the fact that "God-mum" became just "mum".

"Do we have to go see him? I'm not even a werewolf! Just because dad was shouldn't mean anything if I'm not one too." Teddy complains tapping his head against the window more to keep himself awake.

"I told you, the werewolf packs here are a bit more territorial than the ones back home. Fortunately for us. Mr. Cornick just wants us to pop in and say hello to the local Alpha. Let him get a whiff and see if your scent will cause any issues. It's doubtful but the possibility is there. He was very polite about it too. I wonder if it's because of Greyback?" she muses, tapping her lip gently as she drives down narrow roads.

Greyback was a werewolf who worked for Voldemort and a right bastard on the best of days. He had a thing for mauling and biting children with magical kids being his preferred targets. He's the same man who turned Remus as a child and took over the packs in the UK. Vicious and powerful in a fight and blessed with magic to help him deal with wolves more powerful than himself. He had tried approaching packs in other countries hoping to rally more troops for his master but was summarily rebuffed by all for one reason or another. When the Battle of Hogwarts raged he was near the front of Voldemort's troops but disappeared almost as soon as the carnage began.

See his entire goal was to get at the children in the school. The younger the better and any he could find would be bitten and mauled by the horrible creature and left to either survive or die. The hope being that the survivors would turn and when they did, they would fall under his banner. Small surprise then that when he found a small group of overly brave young Gryffindors who snuck out of their dorm to try and help he didn't notice when Holly arrived behind him at first. He noticed when the first conjured spike pierced his leg. The fight deteriorated from there but she at least managed to save the kids, even if she did get a few new scars for the effort.

Teddy counters with a small grin. "Maybe the Marrok just respects the title? It's not every day you know that a celebrity calls you up to let you know they're moving in. I think I would faint dead away if I got a call from THE Holly Dorea Potter! Woman-who-won, girl-who-lived, two time slayer of Voldemort, and apprentice of the great Albus Dumbledore!" The small boy snarks getting a low groan from his adoptive mother.

Holly's head presses against the wheel for a moment before she glances over at him with a wry smile. "That right there? That's why I wanted to leave the U.K.. You do realize that I only earned one and a half of those accolades right? Albus never taught me anything personally. It was all mostly completely useless history about a man who wanted to kill me. And it was my mother who was responsible for the first downfall."

Holly knew exactly what people said about her and all of her supposedly famous deeds. From praise to skepticism. She was seen as a national hero by some and a glory hound taking credit by others. She had stumbled through that 'war' going from one fight to the next without any idea what she was doing. It was pure luck that let her prevail in the end and she knew it. So yes, She was 'The Woman who Won' and she would own that no matter how reluctant she was to do so. The rest of the underserved titles and accolades however she would resist wholeheartedly. She didn't want or need an Order of Merlin, she wasn't interested in joining the dark force defense league, and no, she wasn't planning on settling down with a nice man and starting a family in the near future, please stop asking.

He snorts before replying. "I know, you always go off on a rant every time your name comes up in the papers back home."

"Hush you little hellion. Now what are the rules?" She asks again spotting the house she's looking for up ahead.

With an over dramatic sigh he leans his head back against his chair. "No talking about magic in front of anyone. While werewolves and other magical beings are allowed to know, muggles still aren't in the loop yet." he recited petulantly.

"And?"

"And no using magic or magical items outside of the house where I might get seen unless you've put up wards first." He says irritably.

"And Teddy? The most important one?" She prods turning into the long driveway leading up to an impressive and immaculate house. Curiously placed next to a trailer park. It's newer than the park so the placing seems to be deliberate.

"No morphing outside the house, and no more than one hair color a week." He says in a grumpy tone. Ignoring Holly's apologetic look.

Teddy was gifted and some might say cursed with the magical ability to naturally shift and shape his body into any shape or form he pleased. A trait he inherited from his mother and named 'metamorphmagus'. Tonks had been more than happy to show off her ability to anyone in the room using it to change her nose from one shape to another constantly. The pig snout was always a big hit. It also meant they were masters of disguise and could pretend to be anyone at a moment's notice. It also made relationships hard.

"I'm sorry Teddy, it's just that we're living in a mundane area. That's what the colonists call muggles by the way, best get used to that change too. I bought the house before I knew you'd be coming with, otherwise you know I would have gone somewhere magical. It's still not too late for me to do so if you really don't like it."

He sighs softly as she pulls to a stop. There's a man already out on the porch watching them carefully. "No, it's okay mum. Less than two years before I start Hogwarts anyway yea? Besides, you deserve to get away."

She gets out first and walks around opening the door for Teddy before leading the way towards the house pausing at the steps leading up to face the man. He's handsome, rugged, and built strong. He is either Adam Hauptman or one of the two others Bran mentioned might greet her should the Alpha be busy upon her arrival. Mr. Cornick had assured her though that he would arrange for Adam to keep the majority of his pack away for the day and evening. Both aware that her visit is a courtesy and not in any way a requirement. Pack laws do not, after all, have any bearing on magicals and while Bran is many times older than the twenty six year old witch neither is positive who would win in a fight. Better to be respectful and pass a few small favors and concessions back and forth.

Her eyes close as a long knobby wand slips from her sleeve and twitches. She looks around nods with satisfaction sliding the wand back up along her arm. She had stopped trying to get rid of it years ago, it followed her like a bad penny and matched better than any other she had found since her holly and phoenix feather was broken. She had tried burning it, snapping it, burying it, giving it away, even blew it up and grounded it into powder a few times. It always came back and matched better than any other. She eventually just had to give up and accept it. The other hallows did the same, not that she would ever try to get rid of her father's cloak.

She sets a single hand on Teddy's shoulder leading him to the man at the door a small friendly smile on her lips as her eyes fall on the stern, brooding face of the Alpha. "Thank you for taking the time to see us Mr. Hauptman. My name is Holly Dorea Potter and this is Edward Remus Lupin. Believe it or not the last name is coincidental." She states, her smile not slipping for a moment when Teddy glowers at her for using his first name.

'Just like his mother. Well, his real mother.'

Holly had been shocked to say the least when Tonks and Moony named her the godmother of their son. Shocked, but incredibly honored. A position she took seriously, she planned to be as near a constant in his life as she could manage. Even with her moving to the Americas it was always her intention to return frequently to spoil him rotten. Adopting him with Andi's passing put a damper in that as she now had to be responsible.

"And the middle name?" The Columbia Basin Alpha asks his brow lifting.

"His father's name. Also a coincidence, Remus was turned by the werewolf Greyback as a child. He was still a wizard though. I'm unsure how magic changes the transformation process but I know enough that a magical turned suffers different complications than a mundane such as yourself." Holly replies.

"Mundane?" Adam asks letting just a small hint of warning enter his voice. It's enough to cow most people. When an Alpha speaks, others listen. Holly Potter rolls her eyes.

"It's not meant as an insult. Or would you prefer the term 'muggle'? That is the current word used to designate non-magicals. I was trying to be polite so we can move on. I assume Mr. Cornick has already contacted you?" She asks reminding him that it was the Marrok who arranged for this meeting. The 'top dog' in North America as it were.

Adam grimaces at the alternate name and nods his assent before turning to his door and opening holding it for the pair like the old fashioned gentleman he is. Holly walks in with a smile, waiting for her host to lead the way deeper into the house.

When he takes her into the kitchen she speaks up. "I can tell you have visitors often. Large spacious rooms down here and although the house is relatively new there's evidence of it being lived in. I won't point out the little things because you already seem a bit controlling and they will drive you up a wall." She says and watching him twitch and look around the room werewolves, as a species, are territorial and controlling. Every last one from the Marrok to the lowest wolf, the only exception being the more submissive Beta's like Remus himself. Fortunately for Holly she's not a wolf or any kind of animagus they would take note of. They are notoriously foul tempered to other predators in their domain. "Or does it bother you more that certain things stand out and now you feel the need to fix them?"

Adam seems annoyed by this more than anything but says little seating himself down at the table and waving for Holly to join him. Which she does after pulling a chair for Teddy. They sit in silence until Holly tilts her head encouraging Adam to start.

"You look a bit young to have a kid that old, teen pregnancy?" Adam asks making the witch giggle covering her mouth with her hand.

"No, no. Teddy is not my biological son. I have no children, His father was a kind of uncle to me. and I was good friends with his mother. When Teddy was born they named me his godmother. They died during the last battle against a terrorist group. The same group that approached Mr. Cornick about sending wolves to aid them in Britain. I'm quick glad he turned them away. Greyback and his lot were bad enough and the american wolves I've met seem nice enough. Takes all types though I imagine. Sorry, I'm getting off topic. I adopted Teddy officially after his Gran fell sick and passed away. I have a bit of a name back home and wanted to move out where I could be left alone and in peace." Holly explains before taking a deep breath and soldiering on. "You won't see any children from me. I… oh what was that delightful phrase you colonists use… Oh yes, I play for the other team." She finishes with a small smirk. "Though the term magicals tend to use is 'Witches Witch', hmm but you are from an older generation aren't you… Very well let's not sugar coat it. I am shockingly homosexual."

That gets a snort from her ward before the Alpha's presence seems to get him to clam up again. Holly however seems to remain unaffected as she taps her chin. "Although, magicals also tend to age slower once we reach maturity depending on the power of an individual the aging process can turn to a crawl."

Adam takes a moment to swallow all of that before speaking again. "And why was I asked to send my pack away when meeting with you? You have to know how suspicious that sounded."

"Mr. Hauptman, despite my cheery nature and looks, I am not showboating in the slightest when I tell you that I could very well have placed a ward around your home to keep you inside and then burnt the building to the ground. But I'm not here to fight you, I'm just here to make sure there's nothing about Teddy's scent that will make him stand out to a wolf. That and common courtesy, I'll be letting the leader of the local vampire Seethe know about my presence as well." Holly states clearly her brilliant green eyes flashing with power. "I asked that this meeting be held in private to make sure that no one knows me here. Not even your wolves. If I meet them on the street it will be as strangers, we could even become friends. I don't ask you to tell me who they are but I will ask you to keep who I am to yourself. If you agree I will even offer an incentive." The witch says, her smile is bright, cheery and completely at odds with the display of withheld power she had before.

"So that was the stick and this is the carrot?" Adam asks his eyes turning a rich golden color as his voice grumbles. His ire must be rising Werewolves are controlling by necessity as it helps them maintain control over the wolf inside of them. For an Alpha to be showing the signs so easily either he's trying to intimidate her, which wouldn't make sense as they both knew it wouldn't be very effective, or his agitation is growing quite profound. So unlike the Marrok, he had been charming, and even witty despite putting out an aura of strength that had even her swallowing spit. The Marrok was rumored to be ancient, older than even Myrddin Emrys or as people today more common think of him "Merlin Ambrosius" the wizard behind the famed King Arthur Pendragon. Still, for someone who couldn't die even if she wanted to there was little that intimidated her.

"Why, dear lord, did I ever bother to get in contact with anyone? I should have just moved in, it's not like they could have stopped me." She says under her breath. He hears her, and there's little doubt she knows he can hear her but says it anyway. "No Mr. Hauptman, as I said I have no intention of causing anyone any harm, I simply want to be left alone to live in peace. That I could do something does not mean I will. Just because you can turn into a wolf and run around slaughtering humans with abandon does not mean you will. Now do you want to listen to what I'm willing to offer or not?"

"Spit it out." He says reining himself in. His wolf is not at all pleased at having someone in his home willing to make eye contact and hold it so easily. It screams of challenge and that she can ignore his Alpha speech points to a very dominant streak in the woman in front of him or some kind of magic. From her demeanor, probably both.

"I understand you employ the occasional services of a witch named Elizaveta yes? From what I understand she is a coven witch. A magical who more or less spurns more civilized magical society. They don't attend the magical academies instead learning from the coven they are a part of, learning powerful and oftentimes questionable spells in regards to morality. I would be willing to provide you with emergency services. I am not a cleaner. You make a mess somewhere, don't call me. But if someone has a nasty run in with silver or a particularly bad turn? I will help. Here is my number. Remember, if you call me someone's life is on the line or I'll hang up and change my number. I won't stand by while someone is dying but I don't work for you." She adds sliding a folded paper across the table.

"Now, can we do what we came for? It's been a long few days and I'd very much like to get to my new home." She says and after taking the paper the Columbia Basin Alpha stands circling the table and inhaling deeply near Teddy before shrugging and backing away again. "There's something but it's faint. You would have to be looking for it to notice." He replies and Holly stands drawing the silent young man up with her. As Adam leads them back through the door and outside Holly pulls her wand and casts a small spell removing their scent from the home.

"What did you do?" Adam asks her eyes narrowing at the witch as she slips her wand back up her sleeve.

"Just removed our scent from the home. Its an old law enforcement spell used when a suspect has a familiar or known animagus form with a strong sense of smell." Holly replies failing to mention that, while the spell is used for that more recently, It was originally designed for the purpose of hunting werewolves. Mr. Hauptman doesn't need to know that.

Conversation from that point is dead as she and Teddy get into the old Ford and start heading the rest of the way to their new home. It's now Teddy finally speaks up.

"Well, that was terrifying. Was dad ever that intimidating?" He asks trying before trying to escape the hand tousling his hair.

"Only when he was really angry. Moony never had a commanding presence. I suspect his wolf was more of a beta. It's a pity really, The impression I have here is that beta males are cherished. Remus would have done better here I think." Holly replies her voice taking a more sombre turn.

"Not gunna tell them about the wolfsbane potion you got stored away?" Teddy asks next getting a shake of the head from his guardian.

"No, somehow I don't think he would have gotten the right idea. Maybe some other time if he ever needs it. Or I'll just let Mr. Cornick tell him." Holly replies with a shrug.

"Still bloody terrifying." Teddy comments before wincing as Holly gives the back of his head a swat.

"Language."

"You say it all the time!"

"Well when you slay a dark lord you can cuss to your hearts content too." The witch replies smugly.

"So unfair."

"So is life, you've heard the stories of mine right?" Holly counters and he snorts. "Very charming that. I'm sure the ladies will love you."

"Like they love you mum? How many girlfriends have you had?" Teddy asks innocently.

"Oi! Cheeky boy. It's not about the number, it's about finding the right one." Holly replies turning her nose upwards and driving on, Holly hadn't had much luck in the department of love. She had crushes develop after she entered Hogwarts but it wasn't until her fourth year that she finally decided to act on one. She had tried for her crush at that time, the pretty Susan Bones. She went the whole nine yards. Got her alone, offered her a rose and asked if Susan would accompany her to the Ball, well she tried but the stuttering was awful. At least she got the message and her intentions through well enough to be understood. She was shot down politely, Susan wasn't into girls. And a few days later Holly's orientation was all over the school. The next day it was on the front page. She was mocked, sneered at, and given looks of disgust. So more of the usual only slightly more varied at that point in her life. Fortunately the Beauxbatons students were a bit more open minded. Amie was a nice girl and they were still friends today. The yule ball date didn't lead anywhere but at least they had fun. It was also the closest thing she'd had to a relationship. After she was outed to the magical world at large she only met two types of girls. Those that wanted to date her for the fame, and those that didn't for the same reason. Unfortunately it was only the later she had been interested in.

The silence in the car lasted for a short time before the two share a long look. Tiny smiles growing into helpless grins and ending with both laughing, tears entering the corners of their eyes.

The good mood extends between the two as they pass into Kennewick. The Tri-cities consists of Kennewick and Pasco separated by the Columbia River with Richland to the northwest, this is where the witch has set up her home. Plenty of people around but very few who would know Holly's name before she's met them. The most she will stand out here is due to her speaking proper english. Exactly what she had been hoping for when she arranged to buy a home out here.

It's late, both are tired and more than a little worn out by the time the old car pulls into the driveway. Greeting the neighbors will have to wait. With the garage door closing behind them Holly leads the way into the home ignoring the mundane trappings she had put in from her old home, along with a few simple furnishings she liberated, cleaned and had sent over from the storage space at grimmauld where Sirius had stuck them. Honestly, furniture is furniture and having very old fancy furniture makes the older looking magical things not stand out so much.

Teddy looks around and blinks in surprise. "It's like Gran's house, only the muggle things look newer and the wizard things look older." He mentions as he looks around the home. "So, where's my room?"

Holly flinches a little at the title he uses for his late grandmother. She had learned real quick that anyone saying anything that could remotely imply that Andromeda Tonks nee Black was getting on in years they would suffer greatly for it. Holly made that mistake only once jokingly calling her that after hearing Teddy say it. He was the only person she ever let get away with it. Even now after her passing Holly still felt a cold shiver run down her spine.

"It's upstairs, end of the hall, last door on the left. I'm on the other end if you need me." she mentions before starting to look around herself. A few rooms were bare and empty upon request. These would be for her to go through later and ward to keep inquisitive visitors from stumbling into them. It just wouldn't do to try and explain to a curious neighbor why she has a room filled with jars with dubious items filing them and a large cauldron in the center.

She finishes her little walk about turning off lights in the rooms as she goes before entering the master bedroom and sighing in relief as her back hits the bedding her hands lazily pushing off her clothing before she wiggles herself under the silken sheets after deciding it would take entirely to much effort to crawl under them. She takes one last look around the room and smiles. Here is a fresh start. No haunting memories stalking the halls like the ghosts of old friends and family. No pitying gazes of friends. No endless adoration of a far too grateful public that couldn't have been bothered to help her when she had actually needed it. Just her, Teddy, and a chance at starting over.

AN:

So I said I would pick this fic up over half a year ago and promised the first chapter around November. Obviously I lied. But I wasn't lying about doing the fic. I've been sitting on this for some time just hunting for a Beta Reader to look it over who has some knowledge of the Mercy Thompson verse. I've read all except the most recent at the time of this posting but it's been awhile and I don't remember all the small details. I'm still looking for that Beta while making due with what I remember and my friends who have generously agreed to look this over for me.

Also, WhiteTigerWolf, I'm sorry this took so long, I hope you enjoy. This ain't a one shot my friend.