Matou Shinji and the Price of Victory
A Harry Potter / Fate Stay Night Story
Disclaimer: Though I wish it were otherwise, I do not own or in any way, shape or form hold a legal or moral claim to elements of either the Nasuverse, the Potterverse, or other works I may reference in the course of this story.
Summary: It is a dark time for Matou Shinji. Though his performance at the Wizarding Schools Potions Championship was certainly impressive, his achievement was not without cost, as his actions in publicly using the Killing Curse, acting as a spy for Durmstrang, and otherwise defying British Law have finally caught up with him. On the cusp of being outmaneuvered by the authorities, the lone rebel bargains for a last-minute reprieve, gambling his life and freedom on hope of singlehandedly facing down the forces of an invading army. Yet, in the coming conflict, the boy who calls himself Matou Shinji will soon learn that the line between friend and foe very easily blurs, and that even victory carries a hefty price.
Chapter 6. Fortunate Meeting
Having received an item which would allow him to hide his identity, Matou Shinji headed to Magical London the next day, intending to both go to Gringotts and get a look around at how things looked in the wake of the battle Lockhart had told him about.
Even having been warned though, it was a shock to see Diagon Alley in ruins, with buildings smashed to rubble, gutted by flame, or twisted by magic into odd shapes. This…he'd heard about the assault on London from Tonks and from Lockhart, but what that meant had never quite sunk in until now, when could see the devastation with his own eyes.
Flourish and Blotts, the store where so many people bought their textbooks, was gone, with only shattered, charred timbers marking that it had ever existed in the first place.
Quality Quidditch Supplies was but a caved in storefront, with most of the things it used to sell removed.
Eeylops Owl Emporium…he hoped the owls had gotten out of there before the building had caught fire, because burning to death was a fate he didn't wish on anyone or anything. Well, maybe except for his enemies, toward whom he felt very little pity.
And there was no sign of Ollivanders at all.
But even so, there were people about, witches and goblins both tending to business, with some having set up carts to sell their wares, some laboring away on work crews helping to rebuild some of the more communal structures, and a few – students, he thought – even bringing a bit of color to the ruined heart of London.
Probably students from the Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts, he supposed, given that they seemed to be performing the Fountain of Fair Fortune, one of the old standbys of British Drama. Having seen one such production at Hogwarts, he wasn't that enthused himself, and so just walked on by on his way to Gringotts, where one of the goblins took him down to the vaults – specifically to Vault 76, which oddly enough, contained no stacks of gold, no sacks of gems, no crowns, no artifacts from across the sea or much of anything really.
In fact, aside for a table, two chairs, and a cabinet of some kind, the vault was completely empty, with the main oddity of the room being that the walls glowed with a soft white light, cool to the touch, and never bright enough to be blinding.
"Huh…I've never seen anything like this," the boy muttered.
"You would not have," the goblin – Graplock – responded. "It wasn't made by the likes of wizards."
"By who then…?"
But Graplock said nothing, merely gesturing for Shinji to take the seat with his back to the door – which he did, as he didn't want to antagonize the goblin.
"I will return," the goblin noted shortly after that, before walking off, with Shinji thinking that Graplock was just going to remain at a respectful distance until he heard a rumbling and whirled about to see the vault door sliding shut with a dull clang.
'He…that goblin locked me in!'
Was…was this some sort of trick? Had the goblins decided he was too dangerous to live, sensing his true nature, or—
Before his thoughts could descend to anything worse, the door to the cabinet swung open, with none other than Gilderoy Lockhart stepping down from it. He closed the door and stepped back, only for it to swing open again, with a white-haired young woman stepping through.
The First Citizen wore a robe of copper threads, while his companion wore an elegant black dress that came down to mid-thigh, as part of a set with stockings, thigh-high boots, and…a surprisingly familiar blindfold, a twin to the one he wore.
"I recognize that dress," Shinji noted, with Lockhart nodding.
"I would be surprised if you didn't, considering it was manufactured by your fashion house," the First Citizen said dryly. "Well, not the blindfold, but the rest anyway." Gilderoy Lockhart chuckled. "Mister Matou, allow me to introduce you to my assistant, Miss Emilia."
Shinji rose as the white-haired young woman approached him and extended her hand. Perhaps she had meant for him to shake it, but the boy took it and raised it to his lips as he bent.
"Enchanté, mademoiselle," he murmured. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
"And you, Mister Matou. The First Citizen has told me much of your exploits."
"Only good things I hope."
"You may do so if you wish," was the cool reply, which didn't actually make Shinji feel very comfortable as he stepped back, raising a quizzical eyebrow.
"Now then, shall we be seated?" Lockhart inquired. "I believe you have some questions for me, and it would be a terrible thing for me to ask you to remain standing all day."
Questions? Yes - Matou Shinji certainly had questions. Questions like who the other person in the room was, as he wasn't acquainted with any busty white-haired beauties. Questions like the extent of Atlas' involvement in the rise of Albion. Questions like how long Lockhart had planned on this rebellion, and why the man thought that a Japanese teenager, of all people was the right choice to lead a squad in Albion's Home Guard.
Speaking of which - what exactly was the Home Guard? An elite combat unit? A ceremonial formation? ...glorified bodyguards? What would his duties be? Exactly how many people was supposed to command? ...and of course, was there some kind of training program, or was all going to be "on the job training?"
If it was the latter, and this was supposed to be some sort of elite combat unit, he would have to ask the Assassin to reconsider, since in her current state Tohsaka wouldn't survive a battle.
'She wouldn't be bad fighting a magus, since her fighting style is built for speed,' the boy noted, closing his eyes. 'She focuses on single action spells provided to her by her Crest, with her gems letting her use more powerful abilities without any incantation. The problem is that if we end up fighting something - or someone - it probably won't be a magus.'
Against reasonably skilled practitioners of witchcraft, such as those he had fought in the Atrium, she wouldn't have a speed advantage.
Against dementors or acromantulae, her reliance on single action spells would probably get her killed, given her lack of knowledge regarding their weaknesses.
'Well, not that even I can fight off a dementor easily - maybe I should teach Tohsaka how to craft ofuda?' Given her family's background with embedding energy into items, she probably would have a leg up on some other students. On the other hand...the fact that gems all had certain attributes that would stain the energy stored in them meant that she could largely skip the process of shaping energy. 'Well, I'll think about it. For now, to the questions...'
"If I'm being honest, I do have a few," the boy responded, shaking his head even as Lockhart gestured for him to take a seat. "There aren't enough chairs for all of us, sir, and I would be a poor gentleman if I sat while a lady stood."
Gilderoy Lockhart raised an eyebrow at this, but nodded at his reasoning.
"A fair point, though unfortunately, these chairs cannot be duplicated."
"Why not?"
"They are wrought entirely of goblin silver," came the reply, with Shinji's eyes widening as he considered just what he'd been sitting on.
"…that…that has to be worth a fortune."
"Not to goblins, but to wizards, certainly," Lockhart agreed. "If you wish to stand, I suppose I won't stop you. Miss Emilia, did you feel the need to sit?"
"No, sir."
"Very well," the Assassin noted, seating himself on one of the two chairs. "Your questions then?"
"Well, my first question is…what exactly will I be doing as a squad leader in the Home Guard?"
"Mm, yes, I suppose I wasn't entirely clear as to your duties, responsibilities, or who you would be reporting to," the First Citizen mused aloud. "Albion splits its forces into two major branches - the Albion Liberation Force (ALF) and the Home Guard. While both branches ultimately report to Albion's Wizard Marshal, their mission profiles are rather different, with the Liberation Force being the sword to the Home Guard's shield."
"The Home Guard's...shield?"
"To put it plainly, the Liberation Force will be tasked with defeating the Ministry, suppressing their forces and taking their territories," Lockhart explained. "The Home Guard, on the other hand, is meant to protect territories we already control against internal and external threats."
"...so we're more like Aurors than an army then?" Shinji asked, his eyebrows rising as he heard this.
"In a sense," the First Citizen acknowledged. "Though that doesn't mean that you won't have to deal with hostile forces. After all, one of the Ministry's main objectives no doubt will be to recapture London, or failing that, to destroy it, keeping it out of our hands."
"Why...?" the boy asked, going over what the Assassin had told him in their last conversation. "Wait...does this have to do with...legitimacy?"
"It does indeed, Mister Matou," Lockhart agreed, seeming slightly surprised that the boy had realized this. "Albion's reason for calling the legitimacy of the Ministry as a government into question was that it abandoned its capital - and its people - to the mercy of an invasion force, without even making a token effort to defend the helpless. In their absence, we - an alliance of goblins and...individuals like myself - drove back the invaders, saving what and who we could, and declaring ourselves the new, legitimate government of Britain. For if the Ministry, after all the freedoms it has stripped away, and all the power it has claimed, could not - or would not - protect the city that has been its capital for hundreds of years, then it does not deserve to rule." The man's expression hardened. "We will not make the same mistake they did. Mistakes, rather."
"I see. Then my squad..."
"Your squad - First Squad - will be assigned to the defense of the capital, freeing up Liberation Force members to head north for the campaign against the Ministry," Lockhart explained.
"I see."
"As Squad Leader, you will be responsible for the general well-being of your squad, for ensuring that their performance is up to an acceptable standard, for requisitioning equipment or supplemental training to make up for deficiencies, and of course, for carrying out operations which are assigned to you."
"These requisitions..."
"Will be paid for by the Government of Albion of course," the First Citizen noted. "So long as you can justify what you are asking for."
"Not a bad deal," Shinji murmured. "I may have to take you up on that soon, given that my one extant squad member requires...some training to get her ready for what we might face."
"Ah. I suppose she's better versed at fighting magi, being one herself?" the man asked.
"That's..." the boy's eyes flashed as he glanced over at the First Citizen. "...you know about magi." He paused. "But I guess you would if..." he trailed off, shaking his head. "You're not just a normal practitioner, are you?"
"I think we both know the answer to that, Mister Matou."
"Right. Well, she needs training - someone to get her up to speed on the basics of this world of ours. I'll do what I can myself, but-"
"You're not longer sure what's common knowledge for both worlds, and what you only assume is common knowledge because you have been among us for so long?"
"Well. Yes."
The Assassin chuckled.
"I'll make a note of your request for Spectre Mudbutton - the local ALF Commander," Lockhart said. "He might have some ideas. Anything else?"
"Well, I would like to know who I could recruit," Shinji said after a moment. "Since I don't think a two person squad would be all that useful for...anything, really."
"Hm. Well then. Emilia, would you kindly...?"
The white-haired woman nodded, tapping the side of her blindfold twice, lightly, as a few...documents appeared in his field of vision, projected onto the back of his retina by the blindfold he wore.
Scanning them quickly, he saw that they contained information on Draco Malfoy, Andreas Tornquist, a "Green Goblin" andEmilia herself.
"Huh. I didn't know Draco's was a proficient healer," the boy murmured, his eyebrows almost reaching his hairline as he skimmed the personality profile and known history for the blond boy. "...or that he was one of the people who treated the victims of the Quidditch World Cup."
"Treat is perhaps a strong word," Lockhart corrected. "Triaged, mostly."
"...he saw Cho Chang die because her parents wouldn't let their daughter be treated?" Shinji asked, a faint undertone of horror slipping into his voice. "Is this right?"
"It is. It is one of the reasons he has become...sympathetic to our cause, as my apprentice tells."
The rest of it, including his ability to create a spear of light, and how he had defeated Fred Weasley, was...interesting, but not quite as impactful as the rest of what he'd read.
"...why exactly do you recommend him for my squad?" Shinji asked quietly. "He seems like he'd work better with Pansy."
"Several reasons. First, your squad needs a healer, and you are more familiar with what yang abilities can and cannot do," the Assassin explained. "Second, he is the Minister's son, so having him in a visible role as both a partisan of Albion, as well as a defender of London, alongside the boy who covered the escape of the Ministry's employees, will make it harder for the Ministry to tar us all as 'monsters.' Third...you need someone who is more familiar with the politics of Britain than you are to advise you about various faux pas and such, so you don't go on committing them."
"...noted," Shinji said, as he moved onto the next file, the one on Andreas, the youth known as the Raven Commander, listing his achievements, his abilities, and... "Won't it be a problem getting either Draco or Andreas into my squad, considering both are still at Durmstrang?"
"Not as much as you think," Lockhart noted. "Durmstang has an expedited graduation program for those offered relatively prestigious postings. As a school which exists to teach martial magic, it only makes sense that it supports the ambitions of those seeking to make a career out of what they learned, yes?"
"...I suppose," the boy agreed. "And Draco?"
"I can't say much before things are finalized, but we are in talks with members of the International Confederation about the repatriation of British citizens loyal to the legitimate government."
"To the..." Shinji blinked. "Either the ICW really doesn't like the Ministry, or some other nation has recognized Albion as the legitimate government of Britain."
"Not bad."
"Would you mind if I asked which it was?"
"Both, as a matter of fact," Lockhart said, with the boy fighting to keep his jaw from falling open in shock. Thankfully for his dignity, he succeeded, barely.
"...might I ask which countries?"
But Lockhart shook his head.
"You will find out when that becomes relevant, Mister Matou, though I will say that one of them wishes to grant you their nation's highest honor - the Sacred Order of the Lake."
"The Sacred Order...of the Lake?" the boy echoed, not recognizing the award. "Never heard of it."
"I wouldn't have expected you to," Lockhart said reasonably. "Would you care to continue looking through the dossiers?"
Shinji grunted, but did so, quickly finding that the Green Goblin was an artificer who specialized in explosives and mechanisms, as opposed to the usual enchantments, and that personality-wise, he could be somewhat difficult.
"...what exactly is an artificer?" he asked Lockhart, as he'd never heard of the term before. "Something like a smith?"
"You will have to be briefed about goblin culture in more detail soon, given that the goblins are an integral part of Albion, but for now, what you need to know is that crafting is a core part of their society," the Assassin explained. "Every goblin is expected to have some level of skill at creating beautiful and functional items, with the best of the goblin-smiths being given the throne when a King resigns or dies."
"Kingship isn't hereditary?"
"No. They have no goblin nobility, and do not put any stock in blood as a reason for ruling," Lockhart continued. "What matters is the respect they command through their works."
"Huh. And artificers? Where do they fit?"
"They don't, exactly," the Assassin noted. "The title of Artificer is rarely awarded, and then, only to goblins who have completed a great work that might advance goblinkind as a whole. One of the historical Artificers, the one they will talk about with closer associates, was the one who invented the process by which goblin-silver is created and shaped. There are others - the one who worked out the process of embedding runes into metal."
"...so...they are paragons of their race?"
"Yes, considered greater even than their Kings."
"...I think I'll pass on him, then, if it's all the same," Shinji said after that.
"May I ask why?"
"...with all due respect, I'm not sure it would be a great idea to have the Green Goblin working for me, given his position in goblin society," the boy reasoned. "I'm not sure he would follow orders, especially if he considers them...foolish."
"Fair enough," Lockhart allowed. "And what of Emilia?"
"Haven't read her file yet, but she seems competent and dutiful from what I've seen of her so far," Shinji quipped, proceeding to open up the final dossier. Apparently, Emilia worked with Lockhart as an infiltration and close personal protection specialist, with a talent for mimicking the mannerisms and abilities of various targets. In fact... "...she...uh, you use her as your body double?"
If there was a note of incredulity in Shinji's voice, that was because the assertion seemed improbable, given that Emilia was a busty young woman and Lockhart was neither busty nor a young woman. That and their features didn't look remotely alike, contrary to Tohsaka's grumbling about white people all looking the same.
"What can I say? Being in two places at once is sometimes a useful ability."
"But...how?"
"Did it slip your mind that there are ways by which a person might transform into another?" Lockhart questioned. "I did give you some vials of Polyjuice for Christmas, did I not? Which, I am told, you used to transform yourself into one of your fellow Champions, a young woman if I recall correctly. You even achieved some controversy by killing someone while wearing her shape."
"...right. I guess that makes sense," Shinji said reluctantly, as he continued to read about Emilia and the various things she had done. "Magical energy absorption? Skill duplication?" The boy blinked. "You're quite talented, Miss Emilia."
"Thank you," the busty young woman said quietly, but otherwise did not react.
"She has been quite a valuable operative, and one I think you would find quite useful as well, especially if you are learning how to construct cover identities for your own use. A disguise is meaningless if your mannerisms and actions betray it, after all," Lockhart noted. "Ordinarily, I would hate to part with her, but given First Squad's charge, I thought it might be a better place for her."
"Would you be interested?" Shinji asked, turning to the young woman.
"I would not mind."
"But you're not particularly keen?"
"One assignment is much like another. So long as my skills are being used effectively, and I am respected for what I can do, I do not mind where I go," Emilia stated, her voice quiet but professional.
"Then if you don't mind, I would very much welcome having you in my squad," Shinji said smoothly, with the young woman nodding.
"Splendid," Lockhart said, with a hint of a smile. "I had thought you might say that. Mister Matou, that is about all the time I have today. Miss Emilia has contracts for you and Miss Tohsaka to sign, and can provide more details about your squad's first assignment. Incidentally, since you will be squadmates, you may as well go home together and begin to get use to one another."
"Wait. What."
"I believe your residence is quite capable of accommodating guests, yes?"
"Well, yes, but-" The boy trailed off as something occurred to him. "Did you change your mind about recommending Hilde?" he asked.
"No."
"Then why didn't you let me read over her dossier?"
"Ah, but I did," the First Citizen replied, with Shinji having a sudden premonition of doom as the man said those words. "You not only read it, but invited her onto your squad, right, Hilde?"
"It will be an interesting experience working with you, onmyouji," "Miss Emilia" said with a curtsy, as Shinji's eyes went wide.
"No...I...that...that is...you tricked me, Professor!" he exclaimed, his control leaving him for a moment as… "Why?"
"Because I am aware of how poorly your interactions with Maeve went, Mister Matou, and I did not want that to influence your impression of Miss Emilia," Lockhart explained reasonably. "Aside from the omission of her alias, the dossier was correct. Indeed, I will personally attest to Miss Emilia having been an invaluable help to the cause of Albion."
"I see." Shinji took a moment to consider this. While he didn't particularly appreciate the deception, given that he thought himself capable of making his own decisions, it was true that if the dossier was accurate, Hilde - or Emilia - or whatever name she went by - had a number of useful talents in areas he lacked. That, and if he went about changing his mind now, after having just invited her to join his squad, it would make him look indecisive, weak - unable to accept the consequences of his own decisions. "Thank you for the clarification. The offer stands, if you will accept it, Miss Emilia. My apologies to you and to the First Citizen for my outburst."
Perhaps his words were a bit stiff, but it was the best he could manage on short order.
"In that case, I expect you both to work together for good of the nation, whatever differences you may have had in the past," Lockhart note mildly. "I trust that will not be too difficult for either of you?"
"...no, sir," Shinji responded, with Emilia nodding.
"Good. Miss Emilia, do make sure to fill Mister Matou in on the details regarding his squad's first mission."
"First mission? Already?"
"Ah, did I not mention it?" the Assassin questioned, with a quirk of his lips. "For your first task, you are being deployed to the Wizarding Academy of the Dramatic Arts, where you are to serve as a protection detail for Miss Hermione Granger, a high-value asset who has agreed to run Radio Free Britain."
"Wa—Hermione?! As in—"
"Indeed, as in the one who was formerly at Hogwarts," Lockhart confirmed. "Under normal circumstances, I would have relocated her, but she refuses to leave the grounds of the Wizarding Academy of the Dramatic Arts, on the basis that she does not deserve special treatment, and is like any other student."
"There's more to the mission than just protecting her, I take it?"
"Yes. I will let Miss Emilia tell you the details, but your objectives, other than keeping her safe, are to persuade her to move to a more secure location and accept a permanent bodyguard."
"I...we don't begin immediately, do we?"
"You have...two weeks to prepare, so the groundwork may be put in place."
"Very well, sir. It will be as you wish."
"I certainly hope so, Mister Matou. For all of our sakes."
