Evolution

"How am I looking?" Harry asked, Gareth pulling away from where he had been inspecting the numerous surgical scars upon his body. He didn't know the full extent of what Gareth had done for him during the procedure to not only save, but accelerate his bodies healing, he just knew it had been incredibly straining upon him physically.

Enough so that even now, his body felt tense at the slightest of movements. It had made going out with Andromeda, Teddy, and Malia a little difficult considering he had to let his body rest on several occasions.

"Well, you will still have scars, the first of many I'm afraid, but that is the line of work you've chosen, and scars come with the job," Gareth said, putting some blood he had taken from Harry during the check-up into a tube. Reaching down, he opened up a draw in the cabinet next to him, presenting a box filled with potions inside. "However, you should be fine. Take these, once a day for the next two weeks. If the muscle tension persists or any other symptoms start showing up, come to me immediately."

"Will do?" Harry said, taking one vial and after popping the top, downed the potion whole.

"I'm serious Harry." Lord Greengrass said firmly. "You are the first to undergo this procedure and we don't know what short- or long-term effects could come about because of this. If anything does happen, you need to come to me immediately. I don't care what Croaker says, it could mean the difference between saving your life or not."

Harry paused at that but eventually nodded his head. "Don't worry, I will do."

It was at that moment that Croaker entered the room. Gareth noticed this and stood up, pushing the box to Harry. "Don't forget, once a day for the next week. Then a check-up." With that final note, Gareth left the room.

"He's pissed at you," Harry noted, pulling on a long-sleeved black compression shirt, closing the lid on the box as he did.

"He's a very emotional man." Croaker replied. "I've said it before on many occasions that his inability to distance himself from people is a weakness. But the man is stubborn and never listens. It's a lesson that you should also remember, not everyone is your friend and not everyone can be saved. Sometimes, you need to kill a few to save the many."

Once again, Harry paused, face becoming conflicted. "I'll; keep it in mind."

"Good." Croaker moved towards the seat. "Now, tell me, did Mr Weasley agree to our terms?"

Harry nodded his head. "He did. He was quite eager to see that his brother's killers were brought to justice. He's working on improving the equipment that I already have, mainly the smoke pellets, he seemed to believe that he could make more effective variants of them."

"Interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can provide us." Croaker murmured. "But you won't be able to wait for them just yet. We've gained some more information on how they operate from our contacts in the European Mainland. Those prisoners you found, they're not only unwilling to fight for the cause, but they're not in control either."

"You're saying that not only are the Betas and the Alphas able to access that transformation but now the Omegas and the unwilling ones as well?" Harry questioned. "Why?"

"Cry havoc! And let loose the dogs of war, that this foul deed shall smell above the earth with carrion men, groaning for burial." Croaker recited leaving Harry incredibly confused as to what he meant by it. "They cannot control the transformation and therefore when accessing it, they are no more savage beasts that follow the whims and will of the Alpha. They don't need to be in control, because by losing control of themselves, it makes that much easier for the Alpha to manipulate them."

"You're saying that those Werewolves that have been ravaging Britain are nothing more than prisoners? Rabid dogs who kill without even knowing what they are doing?" Croaker nodded his head. "Then what do we do?"

"If you ever encounter a Werewolf that is transformed, whether they be in control or not, you eliminate them. But, you will be returning to Cornwall, you are presumed dead, and we'll use that to our advantage." Croaker informed. "Infiltrate the base, free the prisoners and then come back to base."

"That's going to be difficult, who's to say that they haven't moved the location? What about their numbers, scent and sound blocking charms no longer work when they access that transformation? Not to mention that freeing the prisoners without them knowing and then getting those prisoners out will be all but impossible." Harry listed off, pointing out the problems with Croakers plan.

"Then what would you suggest?" Croaker asked.

Harry took a moment in which to carefully consider his options. "Provide me with a squad of Aurors. Use them to act as bait and draw out the Werewolves inside. Considering how close the Aurors would be to the base they will take their main force out, consisting entirely of willing soldiers keeping the unwilling locked in the prisons. Allow me to sneak in when there are fewer Werewolves in the base to deal with. But this all considering they haven't changed locations."

"Oh, they won't have." Croaker intervened. "From the schematics of the base, you outlined, even with the help of magic it would have taken weeks to create a base of that size and stability. Besides, you're the only one that knows the location and as far they are aware, you're dead."

"So, about the Aurors?"

"Already prepared and waiting." Croaker replied, Harry, taking a moment in which to understand what he was saying and when he did, Harry let out a chuckle.

"You're always a step ahead of me."

"It's experience, mister Potter. I have been doing this far longer than you have." Croaker informed him. "Now, I believe I should inform you of exactly, what you're dealing with."

"You've studied the body?"

Croaker nodded his head. "Researchers dissected the body and have pieced together quite a large amount of the puzzle that is the new Werewolf evolution. Well, to call it an evolution is incorrect, evolution is a natural process of life, this is anything but that."

"It's manmade," Harry concluded, Croaker humming in agreement.

"Quite." He replied simply. "Marvellous really, whoever was behind it has an understanding of muggle science and alchemy the likes of which I've seen in only one individual before."

"What can they do? A brief outline would be best, I'm not interested in the science behind it all." This made Croaker frown.

"But the science should interest you, mister Potter, but very well." Croaker replied with a sigh. "Lycanthropy can be transferred not simply by a bite, but also a scratch. They have also found a way to store moonlight, it's what allows them to transform. They store moonlight and then release it throughout their body allowing them to transform. But we believe there needs to be a unique blood transfusion. A Werewolf and Animagus."

"Someone like Malia."

"Yes, a Werewolf capable of being an Animagus is very, very rare. I've only seen it twice before." Croaker informed him. "They no doubt have been taking Werewolf-Animagi, stringing them up and draining them of their blood. Then, they give the blood to their Werewolf soldiers before undergoing the procedure which provides them with the ability to store moonlight."

Croaker rose to his feet, pulling a file from his robe and putting it down on the cabinet, next to the box of potions. "Read the science, mister Potter. You might understand what they're capable of better if you do." And as Croaker began to leave the room, he provided one last tidbit of information. "Oh, and you'll be returning to Cornwall at o-three hundred, so get some rest."

With Croaker gone, Harry looked to the file and let out a sigh. Picking it up, he sat down upon his bed and opened it up. He doubted he'd get much rest and he knew from experience that he could last up five days without rest before his body began to shut down.

'Looks like I'm in for a long night.'