Timeline: Aroundish the sixth/seventh HP books. By the way, pretend the events in those books never occurred. For Howl, set after House of Many Ways.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Howl, but I will definitely own Howl when I marry him. Hear that Sophie, you've got competition! *maniacal laughter*

The Mission of a Lifetime

Prologue: Mission to Precede All Missions

Howl Jenkins Pendragon, also known as no-good Howell Jenkins, the wicked Wizard Howl, the renowned Wizard Pendragon, famed Sorcerer Jenkin, or just simply Howl, was on a mission.

It was a deadly mission, one that would ultimately change his entire manner of living if he failed. A mission that he had a negative percent chance of surviving should he be caught. A mission so vital, so live-altering that he dared not mention it to anyone, not even his two trusted sidekicks. Especially not his sidekicks, those little sneaks. It was a sad, sad day when a wizard couldn't even trust his demon and apprentice. Such a sad day indeed. And he would lament further on just how grievous such a day was once he successfully escaped from the enemy camp.

He slipped through the dark hallway, pausing at the corner to make sure that the enemy was nowhere in the vicinity before darting down the stairs. Normally, he would make a dashing and memorable entrance, but at the moment, it was vital that he attract no attention. He had to be one of the normal folk in order to get out of this house, he told himself. He had to be plain, and boring, and simply blend into the walls, quiet and unseen…

"Dad?"

"Shh!" He spun around and hurriedly hushed the sloppily dressed toddler standing in the kitchen doorway. He was so close, so close! The last thing he needed was for his devious offspring to ruin the entire heist for him. Fortunately for him, the toddler seemed to be only barely awake for he just stood there blinking blearily at him instead of rushing to rouse the enemy.

While this wasn't surprising for six in the morning, Howl knew from experience that the blessed silence could only last for so long. Already, he could see the sleepy haze disappearing from those blue eyes as his son's scheming mind went to work. He didn't care what Sophie said, his son was devious; though it wasn't truly that surprising once one considered exactly who his parents and most frequent companions were.

"Where're you going?" the child asked, rubbing his eyes to rid himself of the last traces of the quickly fading sleepiness, much to Howl's dismay.

"Just out." He replied, waving a hand vaguely. He gave his son his most pathetic, most pleading expression. "Don't tell your mother?"

Morgan frowned and crossed his chubby arms. "You cook today." He informed his lazy, slither-outer father. "Mum said!"

"Please Morgan?" he pleaded, briefly considering falling to his knees before dismissing it. He'd ruin his clothes if he did that. "Pretty please with all the candy you can eat on top?"

Morgan's frown deepened as he considered the offer. "Hmm…" he said, tapping his chin mimicking his mother's actions when in deep thought. "All the candy?"

"Of course," Howl hurriedly agreed. "As much candy as you can stuff into your greedy little mouth!"

Morgan smiled and Howl's hopes rose. Maybe he would be able to get out undetected yet.

"No."

And his hopes came crashing down to the earth brutally. Howl only had a second's warning before his son opened his mouth and took a deep breath. He dove for the boy, grabbing him around the waist and slapping a hand over the traitorous mouth before a single syllable could be uttered. The boy struggled, but Howl held fast.

"Don't!" Howl hissed, tightening his hold on the wiggling boy. Damn, the boy was slippery; more than once, he had nearly managed to slide out of his hold. "I'll give you…cake! And cookies! And..."

He scowled, trying to remember what other trivial and fattening things children were fond of. Fortunately, his offerings seemed to appeal to Morgan as the boy had ceased his struggling. He looked up at his father through long, thick eyelashes.

"Anth thoyth?" he asked, his voice muffled by the hand clamped over his mouth. Howl cautiously removed the hand and the boy repeated himself. "And toys?"

Howl mentally leapt with joy. The boy was caught; hook, line, and sinker. "And toys." He promised. "I'll bring you the best toys I find."

"Magic toys!" Morgan insisted with a childish glare.

"Magic toys." He repeated, releasing the boy and placing a hand over his own beating heart. "Wizard scout's honor."

In truth, Howl was not a wizard scout as such an organization did not exist, but Morgan didn't need to know that. The boy nodded, pleased that he'd gotten the better end of the deal. Howl was abruptly struck by how adorable his son looked when he wasn't screaming or crying or a cat.

"Good." The toddler looked up at the ceiling. "Mum's waking."

Fatherly feelings pushed aside, Howl turned his attention back to his self imposed mission. He had no reason to doubt Morgan; the boy had an uncanny ability to tell whenever his mother was close by. It was an ability that Howl often found himself envying. Plus, he could hear Sophie's faint footsteps, walking down the hallway, headed downstairs. He had to hurry.

Taking care to walk as quickly and quietly as possible, Howl headed for the front door. He paused at the closet only for a second to grab a long coat and hat which he planned to don if in the slight chance that the weather at his destination was colder than he had anticipated. He turned the knob to the specific place that he needed to arrive at; he had set the destination in advance the previous night having foreseen the need for speed.

The wizard opened the door and took a deep breath of fresh air. Ah, freedom. It would only be for a day, but still, he welcomed it wholeheartedly. He put on the black hat and turned back to his son who was watching him curiously. He smiled and threw him a salute.

"Until we met again, little cat." He said, fully intending to be back by dinnertime.

Then he stepped outside and shut the door unaware of just how long it would be before he returned home.

CURTAIN PROLOGUE

I love Howl, he's the first fictional character whom I ever really, really wanted to marry, which is kind of sad considering. Still, I've always wanted to write something staring him, but I didn't due to lack of inspiration. And then, today, while innocently brushing my hair, I was struck with this idea. So I skipped searching for a hair tie, and wrote this down. At 3 in the morning. Yay.

Okay, that's all, just felt the need to explain this plot bunny. :D