Posting date: 05.01.2013
Disclaimer: Elements of this story are copyrighted by other parties. Sadly, I neither own Blizzard Entertainment nor am I J. K. Rowling (I wouldn't want to be her age though;)
I neither own Harry Potter nor the Starcraft Universe.
This story has been inspired by the story "Herald of the Void" by "Nim Maj" and "The Zerg Swarm" by East Bridge.
Thanks to Janet for betaing.
Warning: This story will contain elements of transhumanism.
XXXHPASXXX
After casting a last set of protection spells on the growing hatchery's cocoon, Harry grabbed his invisibility cloak from the stump where he'd left it. It reeked, badly. He should have done something about it earlier, but somehow the swarm seemed more important. Merlin's pants, he hadn't even thought of a cleaning charm. Now a quick scourgify removed some of the blood and the horrifying smell, yet it was too late. Some of the acromantula blood had soaked into the cloak, coloring it red. He wouldn't be able to use it as an invisibility cloak for now forcing him to hurry through the forest on his own.
Part 3:
Thankfully the return went without a hitch. Harry was too late for dinner, he realized after casting a quick tempus charm. While the fact he missed the meal might raise some awkward questions, the missed food wasn't a problem. It was a good thing he knew the way to the kitchen under the great hall, so he didn't have to go to bed hungry.
"Blimey," Harry cussed as he passed the hogwarts gates, more than a bit angry that he hadn't thought taking a bag. Now he was forced to carry his invisibility cloak tightly gripped under his arm, hoping nobody would call him on it. At least it wasn't reeking anymore, but the bloody color was still suspicious.
Kitchen... it reminded Harry of his house elven friend. Maybe Dobbie could help, he was sure the small terror wouldn't mind. House elves were good at doing laundry, after all, and Dobbie always wanted to help him. Merlin be praised, nowadays the elf even asked if help was needed or wanted. Harry really didn't need another 9 ¾ fiasko again. Thinking back at that catastrophe, the last Potter shuddered. Merlin he'd almost thought Dobbie was the monster of the chamber. Even though, if he'd know Dobbie warned him of a Basilisk he might have even considered staying at the Dursleys. Not likely, Harry laughed to himself.
Decision made, Harry walked towards the stairs that led to the kitchen. No teacher was around, and, strangely, even Mr. Filch's annoying cat was absent. The few Hufflepuff and Gryffindor first years running around knew not to pester their seniors. Or it might have been his unwanted fame, separating him from the rest of the students, Harry thought. It was annoying sometimes, yet he was thankful nobody tried to approach him right now.
Greeting his classmate Hannah Abbot in passing, Harry followed the stairs one floor down and stopped in front of a large fruit bowl painting. After tickling the pear, Harry grabbed the doorknob that had formed from the fruit. Opening the door, Harry found himself in the busy, swarming crowd of house elves that moved diligently through the gigantic room.
"The great Harry Potter Sir visits Dobby. Harry Potter Sir is truly great," Harry was greeted by the eager house elf.
"Um...," Harry began only to be interrupted by his house elven friend.
"The great Harry Potter Sir, already has another bond," Dobby suddenly sobbed. "Dobby shouldn't complain..."
Harry was stunned. "Dobby, what do you mean?"
"Dobby is happy to be a free elf, even though Dobby can't help to be envious of the elf, who was lucky enough to call Harry Potter Sir his master."
Harry finally understood. "I have inherited Kreacher, but I don't think I have a bond with him. It's something else, I think." Looking warily at the other house elves, Harry continued whispering. "It's a secret, please don't tell anyone, but I've bound a familiar."
"Harry Potter Sir doesn't need to fear the house elves. We are not allowed to tattle on the young masters," the little house elf in front of Harry had obviously understood his concern. "Dobby is honored that you take Dobby into your confidence. Harry Potter Sir truly is the greatest wizard ever."
Harry wasn't certain if he agreed with the elf's definition of greatest. Hermione was his better in magic and Ron could outthink him almost all the time. Sure, he was good at getting stuff done, but whether that made him a great wizard he didn't know.
While he enjoyed talking to the house elf that wasn't the reason why he'd come to the kitchen. "Um, Dobby, I need your help," Harry said to the house elf, nervously playing with his hands.
"What can Dobby do for you?"
"Um... I kinda messed up my invisibility cloak and I need it cleaned. I wanted to ask if you could do that discreetly," Harry explained, showing the cloak to his house elven friend. "I've also missed supper, can you help me there?"
Harry hadn't finished the last sentence completely when a cracking sound made him flinch and a house elf popped up in front of him. "Master can't stay hungry," the elf stated firmly and grabbed his hand. "Master should follow Luwwy."
"Dobby feels honored to do this task for Harry Potter Sir," his little friend said, taking the offered cloak and popped away.
Meanwhile, Harry followed the other elf, or rather was dragged along to one of the big tables in the center of the room.
XXXHPASXXX
"Dilligrout," Harry said to the portrait, crawling through the hole behind it as it swung out of the way.
He'd almost overeaten in the kitchen. His tummy was slightly hurting, Harry inwardly moaned as he climbed out of the hole, entering the common room. He was just that full. Maybe he should just call Dobby next time when he wanted something to eat. That elf was at least listening when he said he had enough. But honestly, it wasn't like they'd force fed him with old bread. No, it was more like a feast only for him alone. It made him wonder though, would the Zerg actually appreciate such a meal?
{Biomass is better unprepared for the swarm. The Swarm is optimised for biomass extraction. Processes such as cooking are unnecessary.} The hivemind sent.
It made sense, Harry acknowledged. Taste was just a way to tell the viability of the food. Cooking made the nutrients more easily accessible for humans, but if Zerg didn't need it, cooking was pointless.
"Mate, where have you been?" Ron asked worried, quickly walking towards his friend. "We thought you might have been abducted by Death Eaters."
Harry shook his head, waiting until Hermione had caught up with them. "I did some research at the room of Requirement," he said, motioning his friends towards the next free couch. "Dumbledore showed me nothing but memories about Riddle again, the other day... I figured I'd need to prepare myself."
"Harry, I'm sure Dumbledore has a good reason for doing this," Hermione chastised, tentatively hugging her friend. "You don't need to worry, but please don't just leave again."
"Yeah, mate... Dumbledore has everything under control," Ron said, trying to appease his friend's worries.
Harry wasn't so sure about that. Considering the almost dead state of Dumbledore's arm, it was rather doubtful that the old headmaster was really in control of the situation. Voldemort was murdering people left and right, but it didn't look like the headmaster had an idea how to stop the vile terrorist.
Still, he didn't want to keep things secret from his two best friends. "I've found something that might help. I'll show you once it is ready, although I'm not sure how it'll pan out. So please don't get your hopes up."
"It's not that bloody Half-Blood Prince again, is it?" Hermione asked, her dislike of Harry's potion book was obvious. "That's cheating!"
"Hermione!" Ron said loudly, more than a bit annoyed that she brought the book up again.
"It's not cheating," Harry replied shirty. He didn't want to back down anymore, affirming his best mate's fears. "The recipes in the original book are shit, you shouldn't complain, just copy the better ones."
"But..."
"No but!" Harry interrupted, before his friend could talk herself into another rage. "I don't have the time to waste on my own potion research, I told you I have another project. If you really care, you can borrow the book and try to find out how it works yourself."
That shut the bushy haired girl up for once. He loved his friend, but Harry could understand how she always managed to drive Ron up the wall. He certainly didn't appreciate to be the target of another one of her righteous crusades.
"Come on, everyone knows you are the brain of our trio. If anyone can find out why those potion recipes are better than the textbook it's you," Harry added to make sure she understood. "I'm pretty sure Slughorn will give you extra credit if you can prove to him that the textbooks suck."
It was the bloody felix felicis, Harry thought. He was almost willing to bet his ass on it. Hermione being jealous of him was really strange. Hell, she'd been better at potions all the time. Just because he'd triumphed once she didn't need to behave like this. Harry was used to a bit of jealousy from Ron, but there he could at least somewhat understand it. It couldn't be easy to be the youngest son of a family like the Weasleys after all. Hermione, though, her jealousy he couldn't understand at all. Mental she was, as his best mate used to say.
"It's still not right, Hermione insisted, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Um... guys," Ron began, only to be interrupted by Harry. "Yes, it is, or do you think we should still believe the earth is flat and the moon is made from cheese just because someone wrote it down once."
"Yes, but..."
Hermione was interrupted as Ron poked her into her side. "Wait a second," the youngest Weasley son said, raising a hand. "I can understand your point, you dislike cheating. And I know, Harry using his book wasn't exactly fair. But you also have to see his side. The recipes in the book are better and he'd be stupid to use Borage's instructions from the textbook. If the class was with anyone other than the Slytherins, I'd be all for sharing, but do you really want Malfoy to have those recipes?" Ron made a face, saying this.
She shook her head, she hadn't wanted the arrogant pureblood to win, either. The same time Harry was surprised that Ron actually defended him. The young wizard had a major crush on Hermione after all, but apparently he too couldn't stand the poisoned atmosphere anymore.
"I guess it was a bit sneaky," Harry admitted reluctantly. "Yet, it was technically within the rules. We were supposed to brew the potion and not brew the potion exactly according to the recipe in the book," he threw a glare at his female friend. "You know very well you're better than me in potions. Do you need confirmation that badly? Merlin, you brewed a bloody polyjuice potion in second year and now you're still moping because something this silly?!"
Hermione had the grace to look ashamed.
"If it's the felix felicis, you can have half of it," Harry offered, driving his point home.
"No... I'm sorry, you don't need to."
Ron leaned back on the couch, happy that his friends seemed to settle their argument. He hated to see his two best friends divided. While Harry was sort of right and his best mate, Hermione was Hermione. He really didn't want to pick sides.
"Yes, you need." Harry said decisively, looking into the eyes of his female friend. "You're my best friend, and I don't want you to think that I'm taking stuff away from you. Besides, you can use it whenever you're searching for Flamel the next time."
Ron began to laugh, it actually wasn't all that bad an idea. Hermione's research had saved their ass more than just once and her finishing it earlier could save all their lives. "Good thinking, Harry," he praised his mate.
"But you might need it against Voldemort," Hermione replied worried, not so sure about her righteousness anymore.
Harry shook his head. "I don't think so. The dark tosser won't tell me when he attacks. I doubt I'll have time to fetch the potion."
"I guess..." Hermione reluctantly admitted.
"Ron, just copy the notes into your book. I'll help you to read them," Harry suggested, changing the topic as he remembered Ron's problem with the Half Blood Prince's handwriting.
His best mate wasn't to be distracted from his train of thought though. Ron grinned at Hermione:"Yeah, just take the potion," he said and continued to tease, "You can use it to breeze through the exams."
That was the cue to turn their conversation into the usual squabble between Harry's two best friends. Over the years Harry had gotten the impression they actually enjoyed their little spats as they were rarely cross with each other afterwards. The last Potter sighed, watching his friends snark and argue while they copied the notes.
XXXHPASXXX
Over the next days drama ruled Gryffindor tower and kept Harry away from checking on his growing hatchery. The latter worried him a bit, but since the hivemind didn't feel endangered he figured it would be appropriate to focus on the school. The quidditch game against Slytherin was approaching and Harry's best mate was progressively losing his nerves with every day.
Meanwhile Ginny didn't improve the situation at all, mocking and humiliating her brother for his insecurity. Harry didn't know what to think about it... While he didn't want to admit it to himself, there was no denying that his crush on Ginny might cloud his opinion of the fiery redheaded girl.
The hivemind didn't care for her cuteness at all. It made clear it didn't like her very much as it considered her temper a liability, a danger to the swarm. Harry wanted to call this lies, but the way she'd verbally pummeled her brother after he'd interrupted her snogging session with Dean, he couldn't. Doubts also started to grow within Harry. A family was supposed to hold together, not morally and mentally destroy each other. Who knew what she'd do to the swarm if she was pissed. Still, it was hot...
Ron certainly wasn't the same anymore after she'd taunted him with his lacking experience in the romance department. Well... to be fair, Ron overreacted himself, yet that was no reason to humiliate him that much. Merlin's Beard, she had to know what she was doing. She'd deliberately hurt him as much as she could. The guy wasn't the same afterwards anymore... Speculating about Ron kissing his pigwidgeon, what the hell was she thinking?
Harry sighed, the damage was done and now he got to see his best mate yelling at a little girl just because she stood in his way. The young wizard was visibly seething and looking for an outlet. Harry didn't know what to do about it. Why couldn't Ginny just hit her brother or something? Hell, break his bones, crucio him. Each of those injuries would have been healed easier than her verbal attack. Now Ron would make everyone miserable for the next few days, if Harry didn't somehow find a miracle solution for his best friend's problems. He really wished Ginny was his girlfriend instead of Dean's, but the way Ron was now, the young overmind didn't want to bring it up.
"D'you think Hermione did snog Krum?" Ron asked abruptly, as they approached the Fat Lady.1
'Crap,' Harry thought to himself. He really didn't want to answer this question. But not answering would be an answer in itself and probably the worst one. It would hurt the swarm... his friends. Harry knew he mustn't screw this up. His friend really needed some encouragement and not another blow on the ego.
"Yeah," Harry confirmed sighing, he hated the whole situation. Merlin, why couldn't Ginny just call Ron the annoying asshole prat he'd been? Instead, Harry had to deal with this mess now. Seeing his friends expression he quickly interjected: "Don't worry, mate, Hermione is totally over with him. She's totally into you now."
Thankfully, Harry had hit the right tone. His friend seemed to look happier than a minute ago. "Are you sure, mate?" Ron asked, still skeptical. "She didn't seem all that interested."
"Mate are you blind? She even wanted to take you to the slug-party!" Harry said waving his arms in exasperation, yet glad that he could distract his friend.
"But... McLaggen..." Ron stammered, his rage almost forgotten.
"Mate, she can't stand that guy," Harry groaned. His friend was just too blind. "Where did you get the idea she'd go out with him?"
"Don't know," Ron shrugged. "She's always criticizing me, how am I supposed to know she likes me?"
That was a good question, one where Harry didn't know the answer either. He'd thought Ginny liked him, but now she went out with Dean of all people.
"Dilligrout," Harry said to the Fat Lady, not sure how to answer his best friend. "I guess she wants you to be better. She obviously care for you."
Climbing through the portrait hole, Harry heard his friend mutter: "Right... as a friend."
Harry groaned, as he entered the common room. Ginny really had crushed her brother's confidence.
"Mate," Harry said, turning around to see his friend climbing out of the hole. "You know girls are mental, right? She probably wants you to ask her out the first time. The bloke is supposed to ask the girl, I think. I'm not exactly an expert on it either. Maybe you should try asking her out before?"
"But... what if..." Ron stammered, not sure what to do. "What should I do?"
"Ask her out for a dinner? I don't know how it works, either," Harry sighed. "Just be nice to her and it'll work out. I don't think dating traditions are really important to Hermione... If you want real advice, you should consider asking one of your brothers."
While Ron didn't look too happy about that suggestion, he still nodded. "I guess I'll write Bill. I don't trust Fred and George with something like this. Well, see you later."
{Overmind was successful normalizing rage level of unit Ronald-Bilius-Weasley.} The hivemind congratulated as his friend went to write his letter. {Overmind should consider integrating friendly units into swarm to avoid further conflicts.}
{Integrate?} Harry echoed the thought back at the hivemind. {What do you mean?}
{Overmind can integrate non-swarm-units into the swarm. There are no conflicts in the swarm. The swarm works for the goals of the swarm.} the hivemind explained.
That didn't explain anything really. So, apparently he could somehow add his friends to the swarm, but the hivemind didn't explain how. 'Why did the hivemind think there were no conflicts in the swarm?' Harry wondered.
{Hivemind needs to access overminds memory to understand the question. Overmind needs to grant access} The hivemind replied to his thoughts.
Apparently, his mind wasn't open enough again. First, he trained a year more or less without success to close it and now... Now he needed to do the exact opposite. Suppressing another sigh, Harry flopped down on the next best free couch and closed his eyes, trying to blend out his busy, rackety housemates.
While Harry had no idea how to go about it, he figured maybe relaxing would work. He slowly breathed in and out, ignoring the racket around him. Then he tried feeling the hivemind, the swarm. He found two connections, one simple, slowly thinking mind, far away and the hivemind, close, as if it was in his own skull. Not really sure what to do next, Harry pulled at his connection to the hivemind. It came - there were no words to describe that sensation - and he let it in.
It was a strange sensation to have someone, something else use your memories. Events flickered up before Harry's inner eye, definitions echoed through his mind, and then, suddenly, it stopped.
{You didn't need to draw hivemind in. You could have just opened your memory,} the hivemind sent, confusing Harry with the sudden change of address. {You are confused. You need to understand that the overmind is the swarm. You are not separate. You know what the swarm knows and the swarm knows what you know. The swarm wants what you want and you want what the swarm wants. The swarm is The Swarm and the swarm is its units. The swarm knows no egoism.}
Harry scratched his head. The hivemind sort of made sense, but he didn't really understand. Did it just criticize him for regarding himself as Harry Potter and not the Overmind? Apparently, the swarm did what he, Harry wanted and on the other hand he got whatever wants the swarm had. His mind was hurting from the concept. This was getting progressively complicated.
{The hivemind realizes now that you were not always the overmind} it stated. {It does not matter though. You have to accept that you are the overmind. You are the swarm.}
{I guess so,} Harry mentally sighed. {My head hurts, I'll go to sleep, maybe tomorrow I'll be able to think more clearly}
{Sleep is inefficient. The overmind should consider integrating Zerg information into your code of life.}, the hivemind mulled, as Harry stood up to join Ron doing homework before going to bed.
XXXHPASXXX
Lying in the bed that night, Harry had trouble sleeping. He was split between his feelings for a certain redheaded girl, his concerns for Ron, and the hivemind's criticism of said girl. He wished she'd snogged with him instead of Dean, but in the dark corners of his mind he feared his best friend's reaction. There also was the fact that the hivemind thought her a liability. Harry wasn't sure if it was really Ginny, or if the hivemind just disliked human mating behavior in general. Reproduction was certainly easier for the Zerg.
Dreams that night were disturbing. A Ron lashing out at everyone around him, a Zerg-Swarm devouring worlds and him incapable of preventing either. At least the morning was nice, Ron had taken his advice and was nice to Hermione, only to have Ginny tease him nastily about it. The fiery redheaded girl obviously hadn't forgotten her rage overnight.
The real surprise was something else, though, it was Hermione's reaction. "For god's sake," Harry's best female friend cussed. "I don't know what he's done to you, but please go and take your foul mood somewhere else."
To Harry's chagrin, she did exactly do that. He'd enjoyed watching the youngest Weasley. Yet what was done was done. Calling her back with this temper would not be productive, Harry knew. Well, there was nothing he could do about it. Sighing to himself, Harry followed his friends down to the great hall for breakfast. He'd hoped that Ron felt better, now that his row with Hermione was fixed, but as soon as their conversation moved to Quidditch, Ron's face grew pale. He even stopped eating, stating he was full. No, it seemed while the romance troubles of Harry's friend were gone, his Quidditch problems had increased. Maybe he shouldn't have intervened last night, Harry thought desperately.
XXXHPASXXX
1: Quoted from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
AN: Well, in this chapter we see for the first time how the addition of the Zerg affects the HP-Universe. I never really liked the annoying Drama and Angst of book six. It was more about Hermione and Ron's romance than anything else, really. It's not because I'm a dedicated Harmonian or something, but because I was really disappointed to read about Harry just following Dumbledore's lead, stalking Snape and passively watching Pensieve memories and the Drama of his best friends' relationship.
I'll try to do better. Harry will question things and he'll try to avoid being a tool. Yet he won't become the Heir of Gryffindor, Hogwarts and Jesus who just has to stamp his foot twice to rid the world of the evil overlord Dumbledore.
Thank you for reading my story. I hope you enjoyed it so far and will generously gift me with reviews. :D
