Ash's Story, Part 3

by Geri ([email protected])

My homepage: http://www.geocities.com/geri_chans_fics/index.html

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Ash/Takeshi (past tense); pre-slash hints between Ash and a new OC

Author's note: {} Indicates character's unspoken thoughts

Disclaimer: Based on the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling; no money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.

Warning: This is a continuation of the Always series, but the main focus is on Ash, a minor character from Aftermaths, and Snape and Lupin appear only briefly at the end. Aric, Takeshi, Lukas, Narcissa, and Draco also make brief appearances.

Sequel to: Always, Summer Vacation, For Old Time's Sake, Three's a Crowd, Return of the Raven, Phoenix Reborn, Phoenix Rising, Aftermaths, and The Revenant. (The beginning of the story starts a couple of days after the ending of "Aftermaths," at about the same time as "The Revenant," but most of the story is a flashback to Ash's childhood.)

Summary: The story of how Ash became a werewolf, and his struggle to adapt to his postwar life.
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In Diagon Alley, Ash sighed and shook his head at those old memories. Life had been harsher but simpler in the old days; the war had changed and complicated everything. The werewolves had been drawn into the conflict against their will, and his old friend Jonathan was now dead, having been slain by the Death Eaters as an example when Lukas declined to ally with them, and two other members of the pack had been killed in the final battle. Rita Skeeter had turned the werewolves into heroes with her newspaper articles, and Arthur Weasley had granted them equal rights in the eyes of the law, if not in the eyes of most of the purebloods. Lukas was now a Lord with an estate, and Ash could no longer hate all humans, because a few of them--like Takeshi and his family--had become his friends. (Well, Takeshi and his mother were not completely human, but Ash had not known that until recently.) And Lukas's new wife and stepson were human, and purebloods to boot.

And now Ash himself had somehow become a respected member of society with a coveted Ministry position. Ash heaved another sigh; he wanted nothing more than to return to being a smuggler and a thief, but he had agreed to take the job for the sake of the pack, and he couldn't turn tail and run away like a coward now.
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A man named Perkins had taken over the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Department after Arthur Weasley had become Minister of Magic. Perkins was a stooped, timid-looking old wizard who had a vaguely rabbity air about him. It might have been his fluffy white hair that gave that impression, or maybe it was the fact that he looked at his new subordinate the way a rabbit might regard a hungry wolf, his hand trembling slightly as he shook hands with Ash when Arthur introduced them on Ash's first day of work.

Most of the other people in the department--and the rest of the Ministry--regarded him with similar trepidation, and a few with scorn and contempt. But he did have some allies in the Ministry: Tonks treated him in a friendly manner, and her companion Shacklebolt regarded him with a kind of wary respect. Ash wasn't sure if he had offended Shacklebolt by being rude to Tonks during their first meeting, or if the man had instinctively picked up on the fact that Ash had once been mildly attracted to the purple-haired Auror, and saw him as competition. Ash tried to drop subtle and not-so-subtle hints that he was no longer interested in Tonks, and Shacklebolt began to warm to him, particularly after Ash blatantly ogled a handsome man walking down the street one day. An amused Ash let Shacklebolt assume that he was gay, for convenience's sake. Personally, he thought that humans worried too much about who did what to whom. If you liked someone, what did it matter if they were male or female? As a werewolf, he took pleasure and affection where he could find them, and didn't worry about putting a label on it.

Sirius Black, the Head of Werewolf Support, was a friend to the werewolves, of course, and he sometimes had lunch with Ash, Tonks, and Shacklebolt. His godson, the famous Harry Potter, began working as a trainee Auror soon after Rabastan Lestrange was captured, and a few of Harry's Hogwarts classmates were working as assistants to Sirius during the summer, and none of them seemed frightened of Ash. Quite the opposite, in fact: Harry was very friendly, and Sirius's assistants seemed almost awestruck by Ash. They were eager to learn more about werewolves, so much so that Sirius had to gently remind them that it was impolite to pry into a werewolf's personal life. Ash could not really take offense at their questions, though, since it was obvious that they worshipped their two werewolf teachers, Lukas and Lupin. He had been told before that Lukas was a popular teacher, and had found it difficult to believe, but these children were living proof of it--along with his new pack brother Aric, who had risked his life and become a werewolf in order to save Lukas.

Arnold Peasegood from the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad was still grateful to the werewolves for saving his daughter from a runaway Graphorn in Diagon Alley, and he always greeted Ash warmly. He even brought his daughter Sally by for a visit, since he said that she was always asking about "Mr. Werewolf". And of course Arthur Weasley eagerly sought out Ash's company to ask him questions about the Muggle world, much to the envy of the Ministry sycophants and suck-ups.

Ash came to enjoy the company of his new friends, although Arthur's overabundance of well-meaning enthusiasm tried his patience at times. But he still felt uneasy and out of place although he tried not to show it. He carried himself with an air of confidence, as Aric had advised, even though he often felt like running back to Knockturn Alley with his tail tucked between his legs. When the snobbier Ministry workers sneered at him, Ash did not look away, but met their eyes with the cold, steady gaze of a predator, and the others would always avert their eyes first. That gave him a feeling of satisfaction and boosted his confidence slightly; he might not be the alpha of his pack, but it was easy to be an alpha wolf among these soft, pampered purebloods. People often stared at the scar on his face, but he didn't try to hide it with his long hair, and instead wore it defiantly, like a badge of honor. His menacing image came in handy with the Ministry clerks, at least, who were too cowed to snub him or shirk their duties the way they sometimes did with Sirius. All he had to do was grin and bare his teeth a little, and they would take care of his requests with alacrity.

He helped justify Arthur's faith in him when he apprehended several smugglers and owners of illegal Muggle devices in the first few weeks of his employment. His disgruntled former colleagues and customers called him a traitor and a snitch, but Ash didn't care. He felt no fondness or obligation towards them; his only true loyalty was to his pack. Besides, his appointment to the Ministry had been well-publicized, so they'd had plenty of advance warning to hide their merchandise and change their routines. The smarter ones had done so and eluded arrest; if the others were stupid enough to get caught, Ash figured that was their own damn fault.

He also began compiling a list of beneficial Muggle artifacts that he thought should be legalized, as Arthur had requested, although it would probably take a long and hard battle with the Ministry conservatives to get the list officially approved. But that would be more Arthur's job than Ash's.

So by the time his pack leader came back from his honeymoon, Ash was beginning to get settled into his new job. Soon after Lukas returned, the pack gathered at the Diggory estate to help Lukas and his new family open up the long-closed mansion. Ash had met Narcissa only briefly at the wedding, and he was still a little worried that the pureblood woman would return to her snobbish ways and treat the pack with contempt.

She certainly looked every inch the pureblood noblewoman, dressed in an expensive green velvet gown, with her hair braided and wrapped around her head in a crownlike arrangement, with jewels sparkling on her ears and around her neck. She smiled and greeted the pack politely enough, but she looked a bit intimidated. Ash thought that was probably a bad sign, although he supposed that he couldn't blame her too much for being nervous about meeting a pack of werewolves; most of her pureblood peers would have fled in terror.

But then the twins, Lance and Lyra, came running up to Narcissa and stared at her in awe, particularly Lyra. "Your wife is so pretty, Uncle Lukas!" Lance declared in his usual outspoken manner.

"She looks just like a princess!" Lyra agreed emphatically.

And then Narcissa beamed at them with a genuine smile and knelt down to greet them. "What adorable children!" she said.

Draco watched with bemusement, while Lukas looked down at his wife with a fond and amused smile. He later told Ash that the twins could not have found a better way to endear themselves to Narcissa than by appealing to her vanity. She was quite proud of her beauty, and Ash had to admit that she looked more like Draco's older sister than his mother. And perhaps being pregnant had helped to arouse her maternal instincts, because she did not object as the twins crawled onto her lap and Lyra reached up to touch the strand of emeralds around her neck.

"Pretty!" Lyra laughed.

"So do we call you 'Auntie Narcissa'?" Lance asked.

He stumbled a bit over Narcissa's name, and it came out sounding more like "Narsa". "You can call me 'Cissy' if you like," Narcissa said to everyone's amazement. "That's what my sisters used to call me."

"Auntie Cissy!" the twins chorused happily.

"Such beautiful children," Narcissa said, stroking Lyra's gold hair. She smiled at the twins' mother, Katherine, and said, "I love my Draco, of course, and I can't wait for Cedric to be born." She laid a hand on her slightly rounded belly. "But I must admit, I have wished from time to time that I had daughter to fuss over, to dress in frills and braid ribbons into her hair." And indeed, a stranger might well have assumed that Narcissa and the twins were mother and children, all three of them having the same shade of pale golden hair.

Lukas grinned and bent down to kiss her cheek. "We can try for a daughter after Cedric Drake is born, if you like."

Narcissa laughed and playfully swatted at him. "And you were the one who didn't want to have children in the first place!"

"Or you could have Draco grow out his hair so that you can braid ribbons into it!" Aric joked.

"Very funny, Dietrich," Draco said, glaring at Aric as everyone laughed, but after a moment, he smiled too.

"Would you like to play dress-up with Aunt Cissy?" Narcissa asked Lyra, who immediately cried, "Oh, yes!"

And as easily as that, Narcissa endeared herself to the pack. They had been a little skeptical of their pack leader's marriage, but if she could treat the werewolf cubs like her own children, then she was all right in their book. She was not always comfortable with the rough manners of some of the werewolves, and they were not always comfortable with her fine pureblood manners, but she treated them with the respect and courtesy due her husband's kin, and they treated her as pack. Ash eventually realized that she had not meant to snub them or show them up by dressing in jewels and velvet, but rather was accustomed to wearing her finest clothes on important occasions--such as meeting her husband's family. In her own way, she had meant to show them honor. And perhaps she had been a little--or more than a little--nervous, and had dressed to impress. The purebloods did, after all, place a high value on appearance.

In any case, the children of the pack adored Narcissa, and she seemed genuinely fond of them; maybe she missed having a child to fuss over now that Draco was grown up. She took especial pleasure in fussing over the girls, braiding and curling their hair, and letting them play with her makeup and jewelry. In fact, she had to be discouraged from making their parents uncomfortable by buying them too many presents; she probably would have given each of them an entire new wardrobe if she had been allowed to. She managed to restrain herself and bought only a few inexpensive trinkets for the younger cubs, but she did insist on buying a full set of robes and school supplies for eleven-year-old Celine, who would be entering Hogwarts in the fall. Celine was human, the daughter of a werewolf father and a human mother, but still, she would be the first member of the pack to attend Hogwarts, and they were all very proud of her. Celine was a shy, timid little thing, hiding her face behind a veil of long brown hair, but she seemed to blossom under Narcissa's care, growing prettier and more confident. She no longer hid her face, but allowed "Aunt Cissy" to pull it back and weave ribbons through it. She was nervous about going to Hogwarts, but relaxed a little when Narcissa explained what to expect.

And when Celine said she was worried that her classmates might snub her for being part of a werewolf pack, Draco assured her, "Things are different now. Most of the students like werewolves; in fact, Stepfather is one of their favorite teachers. Besides, you're under the protection of the Malfoy family now. And I'll ask my friend Serafina to look after you." He smiled smugly. "Nobody in their right mind messes with Sera. In fact, I could have her teach you a few hexes..."

"Draco," Lukas said in a tone of warning, and Draco subsided, although he grinned and winked at Celine slyly.

Since there was plenty of room for the children to play in the house and on the grounds, Lukas invited the families with children to move into the Manor, and they accepted, which pleased Narcissa. Kian and Kai also moved in, and Aric gave them the Quidditch lessons he had promised, with some help from Draco. Ash visited them often, but he didn't really feel comfortable living in a mansion, so he continued to live in his old room at the London townhouse.
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Aric and Takeshi went to Japan for a couple of months to visit Takeshi's relatives, which perhaps was just as well, since it gave Ash some time to get over Takeshi without having to watch the two of them behave like newlyweds. He had a couple of casual encounters with werewolf friends, but found that he no longer took as much pleasure in them as he used to. He finally had to admit to himself that he didn't really want casual sex anymore, and sighed in disgust. He had mocked some of his packmates in the past for their romantic notions of soulmates and mating for life, and now he found himself infected by the same bug.

But now that he had decided that he wanted a mate, he had no idea where to start looking for one. He loved his pack dearly, but he was absolutely certain that he was not in love with any of them. Lupin, the only non-pack werewolf that Ash knew, was happily mated to Snape. Much to Ash's surprise, a few human women had expressed an interest in him, but he suspected that they were more interested in the novelty of bedding a werewolf than they were in a serious relationship. He had seen their kind before when he had lived in Knockturn Alley, rich boys and girls with too much time and money on their hands looking for a quick thrill--narcotic potions or forbidden Muggle devices or equally forbidden bedpartners. "Slumming" was what he believed they used to call it, and Ash wanted no part of it.

Besides, Ash wasn't sure that he was ready to start dating a human. Most of the humans that Ash knew regarded with him fear, scorn, or awe, none of which were particularly conducive to a relationship between equals. Tonks and Sirius were among the few humans who seemed at ease with him and treated him no differently than they treated anyone else, and they both already had mates. Ash thought that there was simply too much difference between himself and a normal human; it seemed like a gap too wide to be bridged, however well-intentioned both parties might be.

And the only non-humans outside of the pack that he knew were Lupin, Takeshi, and Satoshi, the tanuki teacher at Hogwarts. Satoshi was the only single member of the trio, and Ash found him amusing but was not particularly attracted to him; besides, the raccoon man's taste seemed to run strictly towards the opposite sex, judging by the way he drooled over every pretty woman that he encountered.

So a disgruntled Ash decided that he might as well resign himself to being single for the rest of his life. It was a pity that England didn't have a large non-human population like Japan did, but Ash thought that it probably wouldn't be practical to go looking overseas for a mate. Then again, humans often did such things, with mail-order brides and internet dating services... Ash laughed and shook his head; what a ridiculous idea! Besides, there was nothing special about him that would make a stranger want to move to different country just to be his mate.

When Aric and Takeshi returned in mid-August, Lukas decided to throw a dinner party at Diggory Manor to welcome them back. When Ash arrived, he was a little surprised to see that Lupin and Snape had been invited, too.

"So how are the cubs doing?" Lukas was asking Lupin.

"They're just fine," Lupin replied. "Theodore is working on his apprenticeship, and he actually seems to be getting along with Master Tremayne, which from what Severus tells me, is something of a miracle. As for Dylan--"

"He's visiting that blasted Muggle girl and her family," Snape growled.

"His letters say that he's having a fine time," Lupin said cheerfully. "He's quite fascinated by all the Muggle technology. They went to the cinema the other day, and he said that Hermione's teaching him how to use a computer--"

"It's partly Kimura's fault as well," Snape interrupted crossly. "He's corrupted my sons, showing them things like television and video games--"

Just then, the doorbell rang, and Narcissa opened the front door. "Well, speak of the devil," Lukas said with a grin as Takeshi and Aric walked in.

"Oh dear," Takeshi laughed. "Is someone taking my name in vain?"

"Your old Professor was just saying what a bad influence you are on today's youth..."

Ash felt a brief, wistful pang in his heart when he saw how radiantly happy Takeshi looked with Aric, but it didn't hurt as much as it used to. He opened his mouth to greet his friend, and then his jaw dropped as a stranger glided through the door.

The strange man bore a superficial resemblance to Takeshi: he had the same slim, willowy build, and the same flawlessly fair skin and midnight-black hair. His hair was waist-length, like Takeshi's, but instead of being braided, it was tied back with a bit of gold cord, leaving a loose tail to fall down his back like a skein of black silk. He was dressed like a samurai from one of Ash's video games, wearing a short white kimono like a shirt tucked into a pair of loose black skirt-like trousers--hakama, he believed they were called. And over that ensemble, the stranger wore a wide-sleeved kimono of deep blue silk that fell to mid-thigh. On his feet he wore a pair of straw sandals that seemed incongruous with the rest of his outfit.

The stranger seemed to glide rather than walk into the room, with supernatural grace and elegance. He moved like a dancer...no, not quite like a dancer, Ash corrected himself. He moved gracefully, yes, but there was a certain air of tension and deliberation in each step, a certain watchfulness in his brown eyes, which seemed to sweep the room with an appraising gaze, as if searching for potential threats. The stranger moved like a predator, Ash realized with a start, and that realization aroused his inner wolf and made his blood run hot. He stared at the stranger, transfixed; he had never seen so beautiful a creature in all his life.

Meanwhile, Takeshi was introducing the beautiful stranger to the pack. "This is Tsubasa, my cousin from Japan," he said. "He is one of the crane folk. Tsubasa, this is our host, Cyril Diggory, known to his friends as Lukas, and his lovely wife Narcissa, and his stepson Draco. You already know Remus and Professor Snape, of course..." Ash continued to watch in a daze as Tsubasa murmured polite greetings and Takeshi named everyone in the room until he finally came to Ash.

"And this gentleman with his jaw hanging open is my dear friend Ash," Takeshi said, grinning mischievously. And then Ash's face turned bright red as he realized that he was still staring openmouthed at Takeshi's cousin.

Kian leaned over and whispered, "You might want to wipe the drool off your chin," and Ash hastily closed his mouth and glared at his pack brother.

Tsubasa smiled, looking faintly amused, and bowed deeply--a smooth, effortless, and graceful motion. "I am honored to meet you, Ash," he said politely. Ash noticed that he spoke fluent English, but with an American rather than a British accent. "Aric and my cousin have told me much about you."

Ash wondered whether that was a good or bad thing. He bowed, a bit jerkily, and stammered, "Ha...hajimemashite. I'm very pleased to meet you."

"Ah, you speak Japanese!" Tsubasa said, looking pleasantly surprised.

"Only a few words and phrases," Ash said modestly. "I learned them from watching movies and playing video games, mostly."

"Yes, Takeshi has told me that you...ah...used to deal in Muggle merchandise," Tsubasa said, looking amused again, which probably meant that he knew Ash used to be a smuggler.

"I live a life of virtue and respectability now," Ash said lightly, and was delighted when Tsubasa laughed good-naturedly, along with the pack.

"Yes, our dear brother Ash is a paragon of virtue," Lukas said dryly. "Come, let us eat."

Ash found himself seated next to Tsubasa at dinner--not by chance, he suspected, because Aric seemed to deftly maneuver the two of them into those particular seats. Which caused a flicker of hope and excitement to arise in him; he didn't know if Tsubasa liked men or women, but if Aric was attempting to matchmake, the answer was probably the former. Aric looked a bit smug and self-satisfied, which probably meant that he was trying to get rid of a potential rival by pairing him off with someone else, but Ash didn't mind. In fact, he was almost tempted to kiss Aric in gratitude--and if he hadn't wanted to give Tsubasa the wrong idea, he might actually have done it. He was sure that Aric's reaction would be hilarious.

He tried not to stare at Tsubasa, but it was difficult for him to take his eyes off the beautiful shapeshifter. Ash was sure that if he had been wearing that kimono, those wide silk sleeves would have ended up in his dinner plate, but Tsubasa deftly and gracefully managed to keep them out of his food without seeming to make a conscious effort at it.

"So you're visiting Takeshi?" Katherine asked Tsubasa politely. "How long will you be staying in England?"

That suddenly burst Ash's little fantasy bubble. He hadn't stopped to consider that Tsubasa was probably only visiting for a few weeks, or a few months at most. Well, perhaps they could at least have a brief liaison of pleasure--a few nights of stargazing, to use the polite crane euphemism that Takeshi had taught him. But the thought of that was suprisingly unsatisfying to Ash.

"Actually, I am not just visiting my cousin," Tsubasa replied. "Although I am delighted that I will be able to spend time with him."

"He's been hired to teach at Hogwarts," Lupin interjected cheerily.

"What?!" Ash exclaimed, filled with a sudden sense of elation.

"Yes, that is so," Tsubasa said calmly. "I met Professor Dumbledore when he came to attend Princess Chizuru's wedding, and he offered me a teaching position. Professor Lupin and Professor Snape have kindly agreed to help me get settled in at the school and show me around."

"Then...you're here permanently?" Ash asked, trying not to sound too eager--probably without much success.

"I have been contracted to teach at Hogwarts for one year," Tsubasa replied, "with the understanding that I will be offered a permanent position if the Headmaster is pleased with my work."

"What will you be teaching?" Draco asked curiously.

"I will be assisting Professor McGonagall with her Transfiguration classes," Tsubasa said. "The Headmaster thought it would be beneficial for them to get a slightly different perspective on the subject. My stepmother is American, and I have been educated in both Western and Eastern forms of magic."

That statement was a bit intriguing; Takeshi had told Ash that the crane folk mated for life. Perhaps Tsubasa's father had been widowed and then remarried. He supposed that he could ask Takeshi about it later. Or maybe if he got to know Tsubasa better, he could learn about it directly from Tsubasa himself...

While Ash was woolgathering, Tsubasa continued, "And I will also be assisting Lukas with his Physical Defense classes."

"Really?" Ash asked, his curiosity piqued again. "I thought that the crane folk were not warriors."

"For the most part, we are not," Tsubasa agreed. "Most of my people are weavers, artisans, and healers. I am something of an anomaly in the crane clan." For just a second, a shadow fell over his eyes, and his smile turned a little bitter. Then his features shifted themselves back into a polite, pleasant expression, and he continued, "I have studied the arts of war with the tengu clan."

"He's an expert swordsman, much better than me," Lukas confirmed. "I thought he could take over some of the weaponry work in the Defense classes. And I'd like to take some time off to help Narcissa when it's time for the baby to be born, so I thought Tsubasa could cover for me while I'm gone."

"Tsubasa is really good," Aric said with a grin. "We sparred while I was in Japan, and he kicked my arse."

"Aric was a most worthy opponent," Tsubasa politely demurred.

Well, that explained why the graceful crane man moved like a predator, Ash mused to himself. Aloud, he said, "You know, I've always wanted to learn swordfighting."

"Oh really?" Kian piped up innocently. "I've never heard you mention it before."

Ash kicked his friend under the table and glared at him. "That's because you weren't paying attention."

"Ow!" Kian whined plaintively. "You didn't have to kick--" Then he fell silent as Ash kicked him again.

Tsubasa smiled politely, although a hint of laughter gleamed in his eyes. "I would be happy to give you lessons in my spare time if you wish, Ash. If the Headmaster permits it, we could arrange a time to meet at the school during off-hours, or if not, we could meet here."

"Oh, Albus won't mind," Lupin said blithely.

"Probably not," Snape agreed wryly. "I'm sure that he'll be delighted to have another werewolf running around the school. Better watch out, Randolf, or he'll have you teaching classes, too."

"I can't think of anything that I could possibly teach the students of Hogwarts," Ash laughed. "Except perhaps how to play video games, and I doubt that their parents would approve of that."

"Well, perhaps Muggle studies," Lupin said with a grin. "You seem quite knowledgeable about the Muggle world. Although we do already have a Professor in that position."

"My job at the Ministry is more than enough for me," Ash said firmly. "But I would like to take you up on your offer of lessons, Tsubasa."

The shapeshifter gracefully inclined his head. "Then I shall contact you to make the arrangements after I am settled in at the castle."

They continued to make small talk over dinner. Tsubasa was polite, even friendly towards Ash, but he had an air of reserve that made him difficult to read--unlike Ash's fellow werewolves, whose emotions were usually all too obvious. Ash had no idea whether Tsubasa found him attractive, or at least might potentially find him attractive in the future. But there was no need to rush, he told himself, although his inner wolf was growling impatiently. They had plenty of time to get to know each other, and he had a perfect excuse to visit Tsubasa on a regular basis.

All too soon, the evening was over, and Tsubasa politely bid the pack goodnight before leaving with Aric, Takeshi, Snape, and Lupin. As Aric turned to go, he gave Ash a wide grin and a wink behind Tsubasa's back.

As Ash got up to leave himself, Kian teased, "All night you've looked like someone smacked you in the back of the head with a board, Ash."

"The infamous playboy and breaker-of-hearts Ash has been bitten by the love bug!" Kai chimed in.

"How the mighty have fallen," Kyra said with a grin.

"Uncle Ash is in love?!" Lance exclaimed.

"With who?" Lyra wanted to know. Celine, who was old enough to understand what was going on, just giggled.

The pack laughed uproariously as Ash glared at them all, and finally Brian took pity on him and told the children, "They're just teasing Uncle Ash. Don't pay any attention to them."

"I'll be going now," Ash said coolly, trying to hold onto his dignity. "Good night."

Lukas gave him a hug and said, "Don't be a stranger, Ash. Stop by for dinner again soon."

"I will," Ash promised.

Lukas winked at him and added, "Perhaps we'll invite Tsubasa to dinner again, too. We have to make Takeshi's cousin feel welcome, after all."

"Of course," Ash said coolly. "He is pack, after all, through Aric." Then he stepped through the Floo and returned home to London, ignoring the knowing grins that his pack brothers and sisters gave him as he left.

But when he was alone in his room, he stretched out on his bed and grinned widely. He had felt unsettled and discontent in his new, respectable life, but things were finally looking up. He didn't know what would happen between himself and Tsubasa, but for once he was not troubled by the uncertainty of the future. Instead, it seemed to stretch before him invitingly, full of possibility and hope.

THE END.

(I plan to write more about Tsubasa in a story covering Aric and Takeshi's summer vacation in Japan, and in another story about the new school year where we'll see how things develop between Ash and Tsubasa. And of course there will be more of Snape and Lupin, too.)

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