CHAPTER 7:

SENTINEL

Alexia watched the malformed body of Lisa Trevor with some pity, and more anticipation. Veronica was singing to her, telling her how she could do this. Through Veronica, she could shape the twisted lump of meat floating in the stasis tank until Lisa Trevor had become something pleasing to the eye. Or perhaps it was Veronica and the magic granted by Medea that could do so. Yes, that was it.

She once remembered William Birkin sneering at her for being obsessed with ants, calling them vile scavengers. She had fixed him with a look, and had told him that while they were scavengers, they also transformed what wasn't wanted into the beauty of an ant's nest, a complex structure, a city, built from nature's leftovers. A gross oversimplification, but it was worth it to see Birkin's reaction to being verbally slapped in the face. And considering she was still a child at the time, it was also highly amusing, especially to the others present, including Wesker.

It was what she was doing now, turning Lisa Trevor, already considered too dangerous to be of any use to Umbrella anymore, from a twisted lump of meat, into something beautiful. And as she said to Henry, Trevor could be the crucible for the ultimate virus. Not a disease, not a weapon, but a tool to begin bringing humanity to the next level of evolution.

Henry was still at Hogwarts, under the protection of Emma Granger. She would be sent regular reports during the week or so she was going to spend here at Rockfort Island. Supposedly, Dumbledore intended to send Sirius Black and Remus Lupin over during that time. They would have to meet Henry during one of Henry's visits to Rockfort.

Alexia pressed the button that would begin feeding the new strain of Veronica into the tank. Soon, Lisa, she thought, you will have a new body, befitting your new role as my soldier. It is not right that you are so hideous. You will be nothing like those crude Tyrants, or the Nemesis that the French are developing. You should be called Nemesis. After all, Nemesis was a goddess, one of divine retribution. Perhaps one day, I will let you have your revenge on William, and on Spencer. The irony of it, the daughter of the man whom he murdered all to keep the secrets of the Spencer Mansion safe, killing Spencer. Would you like that, Lisa?

As if in reply, one of Lisa's malformed hands twitched and spasmed, briefly forming a fist. And Alexia smiled.


Henry was peering at the Potions textbook and frowning. It was the evening, and he was having a private remedial Potions lesson with Professor Snape. Once the embittered man saw that Henry was an incisively intelligent boy, he began to test him in a way that suggested that, although initially he wanted Henry to fail and fail miserably, an increasing, albeit grudging, respect was growing.

Even so, he scowled as he revised one particular potion. "Professor Snape, these potions violate most of what I know to be true about chemistry, especially organic chemistry. I have to wonder whether magic is introduced into the process or not."

"In many cases, that is indeed the case, Ashford," Snape said. "The cauldrons and ingredients themselves are infused with magic. The different metals have different properties for retaining enchantments."

"It still seems sloppy from a scientific viewpoint. I mean, this text does not even have a reaction table, and yet, it discusses various recipes that, if there are even minor variances, there are major disasters! Even one of the simplest potions recipes, a boil cure, can be dangerous if the porcupine quills are added while the cauldron is still being heated! Whoever wrote this textbook is an imbecile!"

Snape, despite himself, chuckled. "Sadly, Arsenius Jigger's text is the best of a bad lot for the level Hogwarts teaches at. I have been writing my own text in my spare time, what little there is of it. Between teaching and my own experiments in Potions…"

"A shame. It would doubtlessly be a damn sight better than this excremental tome," Henry sneered. He then ran a hand through his hair. "My apologies, Professor. I inherited from my mother a hatred of sloppiness, especially when it comes to what should be a science. In genetic engineering and virology, sloppiness may spell disaster, even more so than in your subject, with all due respect."

"I can imagine, Ashford, but with potions…I can teach you to bottle fame, brew glory…even put a stopper in death," Snape said.

"I admit, many of the higher-level potions look interesting. Liquid Luck, the Draught of Living Death, Veritaserum, Amortentia…but many of the other ones are basically magical versions of mundane pharmaceuticals," Henry said. "And I mean no offence, Professor, but I would prefer to use pharmaceuticals that have been tested under laboratory conditions and subject to rigorous review than many of these."

"You'll forgive me if I take more than a little offence, Ashford. I am well aware of Muggle pharmaceuticals and their effects. I have even made comparisons of various potions and their Muggle equivalents. Many potions are far superior to these pharmaceuticals, in that they act fast and do more. However, I will admit that some potions are inadequate compared to some Muggle medicines."

Henry nodded. "Please do not misunderstand me, this is a fascinating subject. It is also a highly frustrating one."

"Your mother used to say the same thing. Your birth mother, Lily Evans," Snape said. "Like you, she had a keen intellect. How she got Sorted into Gryffindor is beyond me."

"Professor McGonagall said that you knew both of my parents," Henry said. "She mentioned that you knew my father first, and then said that you had once been friends with my mother."

"Indeed. I have nothing to say about your father, unless you wish to hear an endless stream of invective. But your mother…I regret her death. We were once friends, but an…incident drove us apart," Snape admitted. "You have her eyes, you know. You may have been adopted by Lady Ashford, but you have Lily Evans' eyes."

"Genes aren't all that define us, Professor. Many other things do," Henry said. "I may not be my mother's child by blood, but by word and deed I am. I may be the Boy Who Lived, but that is through something my birth parents may have done, and it is fame I do not deserve. I intend to surpass that spurious myth that had sprung up around me."

Sadly, it looked like significant work still needed to be done, when The Daily Prophet with his interview arrived not long ago. Despite Rita not being allowed to use the Quick Quotes quill, it was still a rather biased article, much of it devoted to asking rather pointed questions about Alexia Ashford and the Umbrella Corporation. Still, it could have been worse. At least it was baseless speculation rather than baseless claims.

He had to wonder how his mother was doing with Lisa. Dumbledore had told him that his godfather and his honorary uncle were being sent to Alexia later this week. He wondered how they'd get on…


It was like composing and playing a symphony, Alexia reflected, that sort of delicate work required to create a truly beautiful, epic whole. Difficult, yes, but rewarding when it pulled off. To her astonishment, she was able to not only direct the infection of Veronica as it coursed through Lisa's body, but also reshape her body, repairing the damage caused by years of experiments and viral infection. Her once misshapen body was now a thing of beauty, not as beautiful as Alexia, but even so, it was beautiful.

Where Lisa was once a malformed, hunched-over scarecrow with a mangled head and a tumour-like eyeball on her back, she was now a tall, athletic-looking woman, about two metres tall. Just shorter than Sergei Vladimir, and certainly shorter by over a foot than the Tyrants based on Vladimir. But she would be imposing to anyone. Her face was attractive, framed by a short mop of blonde hair. Her musculature was more athletic than the musclebound physique of Vladimir and the Tyrants(1). She slept serenely in the oxygenated fluid of the stasis tank.

What was more, Alexia's hunch that Lisa's body would act as the crucible for a new virus had proved true. Already, a new promising fusion had occurred between the various viruses within Lisa. She would have to wait for the analysis to be completed before she attempted to test it, but she had already decided on a new name.

Umbrella nomenclature had been somewhat pretentious at least, and at worst, megalomaniacal, when it came to naming viruses. Tyrant Virus, God Virus…at least Alexia had named her variant of the T-Virus after her ancestor and genetic donor, Veronica. But now, she felt, this virus needed a name, this potential new virus. One that would denote her new intentions for the world, to safeguard the future of humanity, to help it evolve.

A guardian for humanity's potential, a shepherd for it. Then, her eyes narrowed as she thought of the perfect name. One that would also be perfect for Lisa Trevor, the prototype for the new version of the Tyrant.

Except she wouldn't be a Tyrant, and Alexia's tyranny would be behind the scenes, a tyranny of compassion. Lisa Trevor was to be a guardian, a shepherd, a Sentinel.

Yes. The Sentinel Virus. The S-Virus.

Suddenly, she heard a whisper in her mind. She smiled, realising that Lisa's mind had acclimatised to Veronica, and even now was reaching out with a mental link. Mother? Where is mother?

Ssshhh, Alexia sent back. I'm sorry, but your mother isn't here.

After a moment, she heard, Who are you? Where am I? It's so cold…am I being experimented upon again?

Alexia raised an eyebrow at that. Had Lisa, despite her degenerating mind, been aware of what was happening to her on some level? In a manner. Do you remember your name?

Lisa. Lisa Trevor.

I am Alexia Ashford. It may please you to know that you are no longer at that accursed mansion Spencer had your father build. Indeed, you do not have to go back there ever again.

You're lying, like they all do. Where's my mother? Where is she?!

My apologies, but your mother died nearly three decades ago, Lisa.

A burst of anger down the mental link. LIAR! LIAR! WE WERE GOING TO ESCAPE! WE WERE GOING TO ESCAPE TOGETHER! I TOOK THE FACES OFF THE LIARS! YOU TOOK HER FROM ME!

I wasn't even born at the time, Alexia replied dryly, sending a calming sensation back down the link. And I would suggest that you calm yourself. Currently, your body is under heavy sedation. It is only now that your mind is speaking to me through Veronica.

Veronica? What the hell is that? Lisa demanded.

Another virus to add to the rather large collection you already have in your body. But I was able to direct the infection, and the tissue growth, so that your body is no longer a twisted monstrosity. And you are feeling more lucid now, are you not? Your mind is no longer that of the child you once was, or the deranged creature you were. How long has it been since you could think so clearly?

After a moment, Lisa admitted, Too long. I could…think sometimes. But…I couldn't get my thoughts in order. I can remember what they spoke of when they thought I couldn't understand them. Did you do this to me?

I gave you the gift of lucid thought once more, Alexia said. And more than that, Lisa. You remember who is responsible for you becoming that monster before, do you not?

Spencer. The two-syllable name was all but spat out by Lisa Trevor over the mental link. He imprisoned me, my father, my mother, subjected us to those experiments.

Indeed. I think I will help you get revenge. Not yet, not for a while, but when the time is right…I will allow you to kill Spencer.

Why do you want me to? You're from Umbrella too, aren't you?

Of course. I desire power, if that is what you are attempting to have me admit. But under my regime, I will make sure that nobody suffers like you did ever again. Well, save for the deserving. They shall be my test subjects. You shall be my enforcer. My Sentinel. You will get to have a life outside that dreary, pain-filled existence you had at the Spencer Mansion. You have a new, beautiful body. Here, let me show you. Alexia gently guided Lisa's mind, letting her see her new body through Alexia's eyes. See that, Lisa? That is not the body of a monster, but the body of a goddess. You have grown beyond human now, as have my son and I. We're the first of humanity's next stage of evolution. But not just humanity. Umbrella will have to evolve, or die. Soon, I will release you from your womb, Lisa. Soon.

Yes…soon… Lisa whispered from within the stasis tank. And her lips twitched briefly into an anticipatory smile, one shared by Alexia…

CHAPTER 7 ANNOTATIONS:

Sorry about the emphasis on Alexia and Lisa this chapter. Then again, much of this story is Alexia-centric rather than Harry-centric. Don't worry, we'll be coming up to the lead-up to the First Task soon, though next chapter, we'll be having Remus, Sirius, Alexia, and Lisa.

Please note that, while Lisa hasn't actually been completely won over by Alexia, she's at least going to take a wait and see approach. And she's also going to have a simple mentality, but not a stupid one. In other words, she'll take the direct approach, but she's still intelligent. Think like, say, Captain Carrot from the Discworld novels.

Also, in case you're wondering why Snape is so buddy-buddy with Harry (compared with canon, anyway), it's because of a few things. Snape has recognised in Alexia and Harry a pair of Slytherin potentials, albeit ones who have 'hidden' in Ravenclaw. In addition, while they both have haughty attitudes, Harry shows respect to the teachers, and has made an effort to be diplomatic to Snape behind the scenes. And because Harry impressed Snape with some actual intelligent questions about Potions, they've got a more cordial relationship. Not actually friends, but rather, people with a shared contempt towards idiots and idiocy. Plus, Snape is also fascinated by the concept of grafting magic onto non-magicals, despite his blood-purity leanings. I've often thought of Snape as the sort of person who would be fascinated by interesting research, magical or Muggle.

1. I wondered how Lisa Trevor would look if, instead of being the grotesque monster she was in the game, she was turned into a proper BOW. I thought of something between Alexia's first form, and a Tyrant. However, I decided she needed to look human most of the time, and I found some inspiration in what I thought she should look like in Gwendoline Christie, best known lately for playing Brienne of Tarth in Game of Thrones. I thought of her as being tall and imposing, but not actually musclebound (like the Tyrants) or unattractive. Given that Lisa Trevor would be very tall if she wasn't hunched over all the time, I thought it appropriate.