CHAPTER 10:
METAMORPHOSIS
Henry mentally looked over the various attributes, strengths and weaknesses of a dragon. He'd managed to track down and notify Cedric discreetly about what they were facing. When Cedric had asked why, Henry had told him bluntly that it was because he wanted it to be a fair contest (not that it would be fair with T-Veronica, and soon, Sentinel running through his veins), and fighting a dragon blindly wasn't helpful to one's health, not to mention continued existence as anything other than charred meat or ashes.
He had a few days now until the First Task. And two days of that was about to be spent in stasis, being infected with Sentinel. He knew that things had gone badly between his mother, and Lupin and Black. It was a shame, really. He'd had a brief but interesting discussion with them both about the Marauders, the group of pranksters that those two, plus his biological father, had belonged to. Now, they were currently in stasis, ready to become infected with Sentinel. But Alexia intended for her and her son to be infected first.
Though she had also started tempting Henry's friends, or rather, Hermione and Luna. Well, Hermione, anyway. Luna, upon learning that she was going to be infected with an experimental virus that could grant her immense power, or, if it went wrong, turn her into a hideous monster, had basically smiled, and asked when they could begin. Henry got the feeling that not only was her sense of danger skewed (if not non-existent), but she was really into interesting and new experiences.
Hermione was a bit more pensive. She was tempted by the possibility of having a virus enhance her abilities. But she was also somewhat worried. She had very little idea about Umbrella creating BOWs. After some substantial debate about whether to risk it, Alexia and Henry told her the truth about Umbrella, as well as what they intended to do, change Umbrella, and guide it away from creating BOWs. It wasn't the whole truth by any means, but moral indignation and the desire to change provided the spark. Hermione had, until Professor Flitwick gently took her aside, nearly embarked on a crusade to free House Elves in her second year. He had told her that they exist in a symbiotic relationship, one that too many wizards who owned them abused, in order to draw upon magic so that they could live. An appalling state of affairs, but at least Hermione understood that her efforts to free them did more harm than good.
Hermione, deciding that changing Umbrella for the better would be her cause, accepted. Alexia had reassured Emma Granger that Hermione would be all right. It was a bit of a lie: Sentinel wasn't 100% safe, but it was still safer, especially with stasis. Hermione and her mother did have something of an argument, but had managed to reconcile when Emma admitted she would gladly support Alexia in her goals to change Umbrella. They'd also gotten permission with Professor Flitwick, although they told the diminutive professor that she wanted to see Alexia's labs on Rockfort Island.
Soon, Alexia arrived, with Lisa Trevor in tow, Portkey ready. It was Friday evening. Come Sunday evening, they all would be changed, and hopefully, for the better.
"So, what does the Sentinel Virus actually do?" Hermione asked as they walked towards the laboratories. Her mother was there, along with that Lisa Trevor woman.
"To be honest, I have little idea of the S-Virus' full potential," Alexia said. "However, Lisa is an example. At the Spencer Mansion, she was turned into a human guinea pig, pumped full of various viruses. They enhanced her strength and durability, but at the cost of degrading her mind, a degradation I reversed when I infected her with Veronica, which combined with the other viruses to create Sentinel. And judging by my analysis, Sentinel combines the best aspects of the viruses, and as long as a brief period of cryogenic stasis is undertaken, the infectee retains their intelligence and sanity. The sheer durability and strength of the T-Virus, the regenerative and adaptive ability of the G-Virus, and the psychic powers and matter control of T-Veronica. Combine that with magic, and you have a heady mixture."
"So, we're becoming gods? Awesome! I want to be Eris, goddess of discord and chaos! And puddings!" Luna cheered. "You can be Athena, Hermione! Except without the whole punishing Medusa for being raped by Poseidon thing."
Alexia laughed, despite herself. They soon reached the laboratory with the stasis tanks. "Now, in the interests of privacy, you will go in one at a time. I will go in with you to help you go into stasis. Each tank will go opaque, so you don't have to worry about being seen naked."
Luna cocked her head at that. She went first. Then, Henry went next. And finally, her heart beating fast and hard in her chest, Hermione went next.
Floating in the cold darkness, Hermione only became aware that someone was talking very gradually. …And that is why the Rotfang Conspiracy needs to be exposed. Luna's voice, she realised.
Hmm. An interesting theory, Alexia's voice mused. However, as a scientist, I require evidence.
I find that funny, considering you were once part of a corporate conspiracy to dominate the world through biological weapons, Luna giggled.
She has you there, mother, Henry's voice remarked.
Umm, Hermione tried to speak, but couldn't, merely thinking the words instead, is this a private conversation?
No, join the party! Luna laughed.
It means you're one of us now, Henry said.
One of us! One of us! Gooba-gobble, gooba-gobble, Luna chanted(1).
If Hermione's eyes were open, she would have blinked in astonishment. Okay…she thought. Is this part of Sentinel?
It is one of the powers of T-Veronica, one of the viruses that make up Sentinel, Alexia said. We have been in stasis for nearly two days now. In a few hours, we will be able to emerge. We will stagger our extraction from stasis, in order for you to preserve your modesty. Henry and I will emerge first. Once Henry is dressed, then you will be brought out, Hermione. Your mother is concerned about you, according to Lisa. Finally, Luna. We will bring you all back to Hogwarts. There, during the First Task, they will witness the power of Sentinel. And after that, you shall become my protégé, Hermione.
Me? Become your protégé?
Why not? You have a sharp mind. You are a more linear and logical thinker, while Luna is somewhat creative and tangential. I have need of both for my research and development. You will continue your studies at Hogwarts for the time being, but I will also tutor you in the biological sciences. Indeed, through Sentinel, I can actually implant the knowledge in your mind. I offer you this, Hermione, because your intelligence, while not as prodigious as my own, is still a colossus compared to the dull masses of humanity. It needs to be cultured and nurtured, that is all. And I am not convinced that your potential will be realised to the utmost in Magical Britain. How many Muggleborns are there in high office in the Ministry, for example? You would be fortunate to have a secretarial position. You may fare better in St Mungo's. But in the end, the magical world in general is filled with favouritism and nepotism. It is hardly a meritocracy. The idiots put a premium on the purity of blood. A person with enough intelligence can see that that is excremental rubbish. I may be a clone of my ancestor Veronica, but I am also someone who knows that I can do better. That is evolution at its finest. The unconscious striving to become better. Of course, evolution does so by accident and happenstance. Rejoice in knowing you have taken the first step along a path even evolution may never take.
Alexia Ashford's protégé? While Hermione would never consider selling her soul to the devil, there were certainly things she could be tempted with. Being infected with Sentinel was one of them. Becoming the protégé of one of the greatest unsung geniuses of virology was another, for Alexia Ashford was not that well-known outside of Umbrella, save for being a prodigy who had received a doctorate at the age of ten. Hermione could barely imagine the things she could learn under someone like her.
I accept your generous offer, Lady Ashford, Hermione eventually said.
Excellent. We will begin now…
As Henry waited on his mother to decant Hermione and Luna, he was testing himself in another laboratory, under the watchful eye of Lisa, and the bemused eye of Emma Granger. He had an oxy-acetylene torch set up, and was holding his hand in the middle of the flame. Although his hand had become grey and chitinous, he was feeling only a gentle heat, no pain, and there appeared to be no damage.
"Henry! What on Earth are you doing?!" Hermione demanded with her eyes wide, as she entered the room.
"Testing myself. I knew Veronica made my mother and I resistant to flames, but I needed to be sure. Tell me, Hermione, how hot is a dragon's flames?"
After a moment, Hermione said, "Most wouldn't be as hot as a welding torch. That's oxy-acetylene, right?"
Henry nodded. "Burning at about 3500 degrees Celsius(2)."
"The Swedish Short-Snout can reduce timber to bone and ashes swiftly, but it's the hottest by far of all dragon fires. Anyway, wizards don't bother to measure temperature in Fahrenheit, never mind Celsius and Kelvin. Even Potions rarely involve precise temperatures," Hermione said.
"Then I have no problem. Crematorium temperatures can be up to 1000 degrees Celsius, and I am enduring a much hotter flame. I will just need to ensure that I have a change of clothes prepared afterwards." He glanced over at Hermione, only to do a double take, realising that Emma Granger was also staring at her daughter.
Hermione was an attractive girl when he first met her, but it seemed like her beauty had become…refined by Sentinel. Her bushy, messy mass of brown hair had become silken, elegant waves. Her front teeth were no longer so prominent. Her figure was more elegant. For all of Luna's facetiousness, Henry reflected that she wasn't too wrong about Hermione becoming the next incarnation of Athena made flesh. And he could feel the signs of lust and infatuation truly stirring more than they had before.
Realising he was staring, he turned back to the cutting torch and turned it off. "How does it feel to be enhanced by Sentinel, Hermione?"
"…Strange. Aside from the psychic powers, I don't really feel that different. That's the strange part."
"Don't worry, you'll get used to your powers. The good thing is about Sentinel, it's patched over any potential problems I might have had with Veronica when my mother and I were taken out of stasis too soon." He smiled, before turning to Hermione. "And I know now I am ready for the First Task."
"Against a dragon?" Emma Granger asked, not actually horrified, but a little sceptical.
"I am more worried about whether Sentinel can protect me from the Killing Curse than a dragon. Though I have heard of Fiendfyre. I wonder if Veronica can protect me from that," Henry mused. "Anyway, this will be an excellent test of Sentinel's full potential."
"Of that, we are in agreement, my son," Alexia said, bringing in Luna. Luna didn't look that much different, although she seemed to be experimenting with transforming parts of her body into the first stage of the Veronica mutation. "You are ready for the First Task. It is time for Magical Britain to be educated on the true meaning of power. Their stagnant minds need some shaking up, to use a vulgar term."
"Wit without measure is mankind's greatest treasure," Luna said in a sing-song voice. "The motto of Rowena Ravenclaw…" Suddenly, her eyes widened. "A Lesser-Thanatic Mock-Nargle!" she suddenly yelped, before she opened up a wound on her palm, and sent blood spraying all over a corner of the room, igniting it.
Alexia stared at what Luna had just set on fire (and the sprinkler systems were just starting to activate, meaning they were all going to get a really cold shower), and then did something she normally didn't do, save for in the privacy of her head.
She facepalmed.
"Luna…did you just seriously set that genetically modified tomato plant on fire?" Henry asked, astonished.
"There was a Lesser-Thanatic Mock-Nargle crawling on it," Luna said. "They bite."
"…I'm going to regret asking this," Emma asked, as water began to spray down on them all, "but why do you have a GM tomato in your laboratory?"
"I enjoy a good salad, but I have never found the right tomato for them. I thought I would make my own between working on Sentinel," Alexia mused. "I think I may have to go back to the drawing board…"
CHAPTER 10 ANNOTATIONS:
The next chapter will be the First Task. Then, between that and the Yule Ball will be Alexia making plans to usurp Spencer, with the help of Wesker. But perhaps not the Wesker you have expected. Yes, I intend to bring Alex Wesker into this story.
Now, in case you're wondering why Hermione got suckered into being infected with the S-Virus so quickly, keep in mind a few factors. One, she's still got an authority worship thing, and Alexia Ashford is one of her idols. Two, Alexia and Harry knew exactly how to pitch joining Alexia in helping Alexia clean house in Umbrella. Three, Hermione wants to be at the cutting edge of science. The fact that Alexia offered her and Luna a position as a protégé while they were infected with Sentinel only added icing to the cake. She's now effectively part of Alexia and Harry's entourage.
As for Luna? She likes new experiences. That little gag at the end was something I made up on the fly, though. She's not actually insane, but she sees things other people can't.
Now, for those of you wondering, when I get to the sequel, the events of the first three Resident Evil games, plus Resident Evil 0, will definitely happen. Alexia will manage to take over Umbrella, but the American wing of the company will still have problems. And, of course, given that James Marcus is the one who started the viral outbreak in the Spencer Mansion…
As for how the mass outbreak in Raccoon happens? Well, I have a few ideas, but the biggest one involves a VERY petulant William Birkin…
BTW, I've written up to Chapter 13, so you guys will be getting some pretty frequent updates for a while.
Review-answering time! hadoukendave: While I have no plans to do any sort of Resident Evil crossover involving vampirism, feel free to look at my Harry Potter/Hellsing crossover, Haemophilia, based on the initial premise of sakurademonalchemist's It's in the Blood.
Sakura Lisel: Lupin was suspicious of Alexia too (and seemed, appropriately, horrific by her experiments on bioweapons and humans). And in any case, Alexia is not going to let a chance to run laboratory tests on a werewolf pass her by.
AnFan-n-More: You can stop being afraid. The Medea vector virus is a separate virus to Veronica, and in any case, Alfred was infected by Veronica long before Alexia perfected Medea. So Alfred has no magic. It doesn't mean he's not dangerous, though…
Kmon13: This story is set four years before the events of Resident Evil: Code Veronica. In addition, events in Raccoon (what little I have worked out for the sequel) will have STARS and their associates as (albeit reluctant) allies with Alexia. Umbrella, as hinted above, will basically be split in two: the European branch (headed by Alexia) and the American branch (with Birkin and Wesker being key players). Because the American branch wants its independence from Alexia, the outbreaks seen in the first few games will still happen, in spite of a nail. But unlike the games, Umbrella in Europe will try to clean up the mess, unofficially.
diagonalpumpkin: Sirius is both impulsive and highly-protective of Harry. And when Alexia made the mistake of discussing her dealings with Sirius, he leapt to conclusions. This is in character for Sirius: he wants to protect Harry, no matter what, and thinks Alexia to be a threat. Unfortunately, he charged right in without thinking that Alexia would have an ace up her sleeve. And while Hermione is not quite Harry's equal intellectually, she would get there with the right tuition: Alexia intends to make her and Luna her protégés, as seen in the next chapter.
1. This line is modified from one from a rather infamous film from 1932 called Freaks. The line comes from a scene where the sideshow performers, after the wedding between a normal (but rather nasty, as it turns out) trapeze artist and a midget, begin chanting "We accept her, we accept her. One of us, one of us. Gooba-gobble, gooba-gobble…" I remember this being referenced in other shows, including, if I recall correctly, a scene (can't remember if it's a deleted scene) from The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse. Ironically, the titular 'freaks' of the film Freaks are sympathetic, and are exploited by supposedly 'normal' people.
2. I looked up how hot welding torches can get. I also checked to see what temperatures crematoria burn at. I like to think that, although T-Veronica can resist such high temperatures, plasma (as fired by the Linear Launcher) is another kettle of fish entirely.
