I don't own Hellsing or Harry Potter, and I'm not making any money from this.
Sir Integra stood on the balcony outside of her office with her hands clasped behind her back. The night sky stretched out before her in a vast blanket of stars. The weather was clear and a gentle breeze caressed her face.
"I thought you'd be out here."
She turned her head at the sound of her husband's voice and found him casually leaning against the door-frame behind her. The lady knight set the weight of considerations in her mind to the side for a moment to address him.
"Do we have a decision yet?" She asked.
"He's agreed to stay." Edmund replied with a nod. "He seemed a little iffy about actually living here at first, but I think he's come around. The kids were happy to see him."
The corner of her mouth twitched upward a hair. "I'm pleased to hear it." She said before the smile disappeared. She turned her gaze back out toward the sky with a sigh.
A rustle of fabric reached her ears as Edmund pushed himself away from the door-frame to approach. He stepped up next to her and placed a hand against the small of her back.
"What's wrong?" He questioned gently.
"I just have a lot on my mind." Integra replied with a shake of her head. "Nothing some fresh air and a strong drink won't cure."
Edmund perked up. "Would you like one?"
"If you don't mind."
He disappeared into her office without a word and came back a few moments later carrying two glasses. He passed the scotch on ice to her and kept the whisky for himself. Integra thanked him quietly and took a sip.
Edmund let out a meaningful cough. "I noticed the Royal Proclamation that came in earlier. Is it what I think it is?"
The lady knight inclined her head wordlessly. She had been shocked by the timing of Alucard's request, but not the contents. Much had changed since the Great War and she had suspected the matter would come up at some point. However, what the No Life King was asking for would affect far more than Hellsing itself, so she had felt that the decision wasn't entirely hers to make. Permission would have to be obtained from the Queen first. Alucard had certainly not wasted any time in securing it.
"Are you having second thoughts?" Edmund prodded when she didn't respond to his first question.
"If I thought it was a mistake, I wouldn't have referred him to the Queen." Integra replied smoothly. "The Alucard we know today is not the same monster that my forbearers defeated and he has provided valuable services to both Hellsing and Her Majesty. I cannot deny him this. It has been earned."
"But?"
She sighed and placed her drink on the ledge of the railing to fish her cigar tin out of her pocket. She selected one, cut off the tip, and placed it between her lips to light. The gentle burn at the back of her throat and the rush of nicotine helped to calm her mind.
"When my father died, Alucard and Walter were all I had." She paused to blow a stream of smoke out into the air. "Walter was lost during the war. I don't know how I feel about having to let go of Alucard as well." Her eye slid closed. "I suppose it was… foolish of me to rely on him for so much."
Edmund frowned. "You were a child forced into an impossible situation. You did what you had to do to survive. That isn't foolish."
Integra wasn't sure if she agreed, but there was nothing to be done for it now. She took another sip of her drink. "It doesn't matter now, I suppose." She said. "We'll have massive restructuring to do once this takes effect. Hellsing is in a vulnerable enough position with the Queen's health declining as it is."
"Have there been any updates?"
"Her physicians have given her a year. Alucard estimates nine months at the most. Unfortunately, I believe Alucard's assessment is the more accurate of the two." She said, taking a long drag from her cigar. "That doesn't give us much time."
"We've had tighter time constraints before." Edmund reminded her, then became more thoughtful. "Maybe it's time for a family meeting. The sooner everyone knows what's going on, the sooner we can start planning."
Integra nodded. "I agree, but I'd like to get through Constance's appointments tomorrow first."
She shot a sideways look at her husband, her lips tight. She wasn't looking forward to that either.
Constance stood on an elevated platform in front of a set of large mirrors arranged into a semi-circle with her arms held over her head. She fixed her eyes onto the ceiling as the tailor's assistant, Ms. Stewart, took her measurements. The woman clucked her tongue as she examined the measuring tape, then stepped back and gestured for the girl to lower her arms.
"Very good, Miss Hellsing. I'll get these measurements to Mr. Lathmore directly." She passed her a cream colored silk robe to put on. "I'll add new undergarments to the list as well. This bra is much too small for you. You'll feel better with one that's properly sized." She pursed her lips thoughtfully and considered her chest. "Something with more support, I think."
Connie felt her cheeks warm as she wrapped the robe around herself and she muttered a quiet thank you. She would have liked to have something a bit more substantial than silk, but there was no point in getting redressed when she would be trying on the selection of clothing they brought in for her to look at. The robe would have to suffice until they were finished. At least the room wasn't too cold. The assistant excused herself with a promise that she would be back in just a moment.
"You came by it honestly, I'm afraid." Her mother quipped from her seat in the corner once they were alone. "When I was 13, I went from nothing to a D cup within three weeks. I don't know how you managed at school with the same uniform all year."
Stepping down from the platform, Constance tucked a lock of hair behind one ear. "I found some tailoring spells in the library."
It had been absolutely essential once she noticed that her clothes weren't fitting properly anymore. Not wanting to bother with alterations when there were only a few months of term left, she had searched through the Hogwarts library for something to tide her over. In the 'General Homemaking' section, she had located a book of simple mending and alteration spells for clothing. They weren't meant to last forever and were far from perfect, but they suited her needs and she had only needed to refresh them a couple of times.
Sir Integra's thoughtful hum was interrupted by the opening of the door. Ms. Stewart stepped inside, wheeling a metal rack loaded down with clothing behind her. She situated it at a reasonable distance from the platform, then turned and clasped her hands together with purpose.
"Mr. Lathmore is putting together some materials for you to look at based on your measurements. In the meantime, I've pulled out a selection of things that would suit your frame with only minor alterations." She extended several hangers of bras out to her and waved toward the dressing room. "Foundations first."
Connie accepted the hangers with a sigh and did her absolute best to walk rather than trudge into the dressing room. She didn't at all mind shopping for new clothes. Picking out more sophisticated, mature outfits for herself was the lone aspect of this farce that she had been looking forward to. All the pomp and circumstance surrounding it though, was a bit ridiculous in her opinion. Their private appointment with the most sought after clothier in London had come complete with personal service, a luxurious room with crystal chandeliers, and bottles of the finest sparkling cider kept in buckets of ice. It was an open acknowledgement that she was too young for champagne, but she could easily waltz about playing pretend if she wanted. Shaking her head, Constance frowned at herself in the small mirror in the room then squared her shoulders and decided to get on with it. She tried on bras until she found one that was the most comfortable - though she was positively aghast at the size – then they moved on to actual clothing.
The members of 'high class' society followed strict social codes to maintain order and decorum. Constance was currently in a period of transition wherein the previous vestiges of childhood were slowly replaced with more grown up responsibilities. That meant taking on a more active role in training for her future position as the head of Hellsing. Staff meetings and conference calls were making a more regular appearance on her schedule and when she wasn't busy with those, she shadowed Pip on his rounds with the soldiers and took part in physical training exercises with them. After the Debutante ball itself she would be treated, for all intents and purposes, as an adult. And if she was going to be seen as an adult (albeit a young one who was still learning), she would be expected to dress the part.
Naturally, the first thing pulled out for her to try on was a classic pantsuit. It was a practical and versatile thing to have, which is why she imagined her mother favored them. But when Constance stepped up onto the platform and examined herself at all angles, something about it just wasn't… right. There was nothing wrong with the clothes themselves, but they made her feel like she had snuck into her parents' room and put on one of her mum's suits to play dress up. While she wanted to develop a more mature image that commanded respect, she didn't like the idea of turning into a clone of Integra to do it. Besides, the suit did nothing to flatter to figure and now that hers had started to become more obvious, Connie wanted something that would allow her to show it off a little. Keeping her new curves hidden under strategically fitted clothes had become a chore and she was ready to be done with it.
"Very professional." Ms. Stewart commented, nodding as she walked around her. "The arms are a bit long, but those are easily taken in. The shoulder pads are removable if they're too bulky for you."
She pursed her lips and considered her reflection in the mirrors. "It's nice, but I don't think this one is for me." She announced. "Do you have a different style I could try?"
"Of course, Miss Hellsing." The assistant immediately replied. "Do you have something particular in mind?"
"Just something a bit more… flattering." The girl replied. "Maybe with a skirt?"
Ms. Stewart's eyes lit up in understanding. "Oh! Yes, of course, Miss." She beckoned for her to come down from the platform and over to the clothing rack. "Let me show you a few things…"
She pulled hanger after hanger from the rack to show her, making recommendations about what fit and cut would look best with her figure. When it came to business wear, Constance agreed with the notion of sticking to black and more neutral tones since they could be paired with anything. However, she also found herself drawn to skirts and blouses with more decorative elements – silk ruffles and panels of lace that displayed feminine elegance without looking obnoxious or like she was trying too hard. After trying a few things on, she discovered that if she traded the more streamlined style preferred by her mother for trousers with a wider leg and jackets that were fitted at the waist to accentuate her figure, even a pantsuit wasn't that bad.
Connie was so enthusiastic about the choices she'd settled on that she almost forgot about the primary reason for their appointment. Mr. Lathmore's knock on the door brought her back to the reality of the situation.
"Well now, we've made progress I see." He commented when he was given permission to enter the room. He shook Sir Integra's hand in greeting then turned back to Constance. "Have you finished, or shall I give you ladies some more time?"
She glanced at the display that held all the items she had picked out for herself. With at least two of each of the basics and a couple of extra tops and accessories, along with a few dresses that could be dressed up or down, she supposed she had done enough shopping for one day. When she agreed that she was indeed done, Ms. Stewart gathered up all of the discarded clothes, returned them to the metal rack, then pulled it along behind her to take back to wherever they stored their merchandise. Mr. Lathmore set a large 3-ring binder on one of the tables and gestured for Constance to come over for a look.
"I've put together a collection of styles and fabric samples for you to look through." He explained, stepping aside to allow Constance access to the binder. "The first section contains our most popular dresses from last season, and afterword they are divided into categories by style. Have you given any thought to the type of gown you would like, Miss Hellsing?"
Connie winced. No, she hadn't thought about the bloody gown. She had been trying to avoid thinking about it as much as possible. She hazarded an apologetic look at the man.
"No sir." She admitted. "I've… been kept quite busy since I got home from school."
"I can imagine." He said kindly. "I understand we're working with a shorter schedule than usual, but we still have time." He tapped on the binder with a finger. "Have a look and mark the pages that interest you. If a particular dress doesn't stand out to you, try to focus on details that you like. Your gown will be constructed to order and we can make modifications as we go along once the basic silhouette is decided. Your accessories and jewelry are generally selected last to complement the dress, but some young ladies prefer to build a design around a family heirloom or favorite piece of jewelry they'd like to feature. We'll be somewhat limited by time constraints, but that is also an option."
Constance didn't have a special attachment to any of her jewelry, so she didn't see how that would help her make a decision. She opened the binder and slowly flipped through the pages. The dresses within were beautiful to be sure, but nothing in particular stood out to her. The only notable thing she saw was that every single dress pictured looked eerily similar, and each one was the same disturbing shade of stark white.
"Is there a problem, Miss?" Mr. Lathmore asked, noticing her frown.
"I'm sorry, it's just…" She shook her head and thumbed past a few more pages. "Do you have anything that isn't white?"
He blinked at her in confusion and glanced at Sir Integra. "Well…" He began with a cough. "White is the traditional color for Debutantes, Miss Hellsing. Anything else would be highly unusual. However, I have seen some lovely gowns in slightly different shades, if that would better suit your preferences. Ecru would be nice, as would a soft cream or ivory…"
The girl took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She could appreciate the subtlety of different variations of color, but when it came to the family of white shades, the differences were usually so tiny that they weren't worth fussing about in her opinion. How many people could truly tell the difference between cream, white, and ivory when it came down to it?
"I'm not sure." She said at last. "I'll have to think about it. Do I… have to make a decision today?"
Mr. Lathmore shook his head. "Today is only the initial consult, so there's no need to make a choice right now. There's too much material in here to cover in one sitting." He gestured to the binder of dress designs. "You may take this home with you to look through at your leisure. It is a matter of professional pride that we craft something for you that you love. We will settle for nothing less." He gave her a warm smile. "There is still time left but we will need at least a basic shape chosen soon to begin working on a mock up for your next appointment. How do you feel about a rough deadline of two weeks? If you decide on something in the meantime, you may send a message to me or my assistant and we'll set up a time for you to come in sooner."
Two weeks wasn't long, and Constance didn't know if she would be able to make a choice in that amount of time. However, she also understood that if the dress was being constructed by hand, he and his team would need time to make it. The longer she stalled, the more they would have to rush to meet the deadline, meaning that shortcuts and mistakes were more likely to be made. It was incredibly rude and dismissive of their talents to not allow them the time they needed to give her what she wanted. She sighed in resignation and agreed to the two week deadline.
"Very good, Miss Hellsing." The man replied with a clap of his hands. "We'll set up your appointment on the way out." He motioned toward her selections of clothing that had been left hanging on a display rack. "Ms. Stewart is quick with a needle, so we should have your other alterations finished in the next 2-3 days. We'll notify you when they're ready to be picked up."
With that, they discussed a few other minor issues that needed to be addressed about her new wardrobe, then Mr. Lathmore escorted them to the main entrance to retrieve his appointment book from the front desk. An appropriate date and time was chosen and written down, and then they were free to leave.
Constance had thought they would move on to her other appointments once their business with the tailor was concluded, but her mother had other plans. When they climbed into the car Jackson brought around to the front, Integra directed him to take them to a small but upscale restaurant for a spot of lunch. It was a bit odd, but perhaps she meant for it to be a 'mother/daughter bonding' sort of thing. The knight didn't particularly like shopping excursions either, but had set her preferences aside for her daughter's sake. It was possible she felt that the situation called for some one on one time between them.
The restaurant was relatively slow when they arrived and the hostess showed them to a table the moment they walked in. The young woman provided them with menus and took their drink orders before returning to her station by the entrance. Connie stared down at her menu without bothering to open it.
"You need to eat something, Constance."
The girl sighed. "I'm not hungry, mum."
Integra looked at her over the top of her menu. "You had a single slice of toast for breakfast. You need something more substantial than that."
She thought about arguing that she was still full from the previous night's meal, but it would be a lie. She hadn't eaten much then either. Lack of hunger wasn't the issue. Though she had been doing a good job of hiding it so far, the knowledge of what they'd be doing today had her insides so tied up in knots that she feared she'd be ill if she ate too much. With an annoyed huff, Connie snatched up the menu to browse her options. Perhaps a salad and cup of soup wouldn't be so bad…
"I've been told by others that the Debutante is one of the highlights of a girl's life." The lady knight commented as she scanned the pages of her own menu. "Most don't think too deeply about the meaning behind what they're doing. I wasn't terribly excited about mine either."
Connie glanced up to see the placid, yet understanding expression on her mother's face. "I don't know what there is to be excited about." She proclaimed with a sniff. "It feels like an excuse to put girls on display for men to oogle at and argue over which of their sons should have them. It's so…"
"Offensive." Integra finished for her with an incline of her head. "I agree, and I felt the same way when I was your age. Unfortunately, women in our position aren't given a choice in the matter. You are more than the daughter of a high-born family. You are my only child and heir to a very powerful position – which many people believe should be held by a man. You'll be faced with a wide variety of situations in your life, and many will be unpleasant and uncomfortable for you. As a leader, it is your job to navigate within the rules you're given while still asserting your own will."
"That's kind of hard to do when there are so many rules and requirements." The girl replied.
Integra hummed. "Rules can be fickle things." She told her. "Sometimes it is best to follow them to the letter, while other times it is more appropriate to bend or break them to follow the spirit of what they were intended to accomplish. Determining the best course of action depends heavily on the situation, and one person's methods may or may not work for someone else. Knowing the difference is a skill that is only learned through experience."
A waiter arrived at their table to deliver their drinks and take their orders, effectively shutting down the conversation. He wrote down their selections on a small notepad that he pulled from his apron, then declared that their food would be out in a few minutes. Neither of them ordered anything too complex, so it wouldn't take long to prepare.
"How are your friends fairing?" The knight questioned after the waiter left. "I recall you saying that Harry's family moved?"
Connie blinked at the sudden change in topic. "He sent me a letter last week with his new address, but I haven't had time to respond." She replied. "They're in a flat in Croydon now. I… was going to ask if I could go visit him sometime since he's closer now…"
"Considering how his family normally treats him, what makes you think they would agree to a visit?" Integra asked, arching a brow.
The girl had been considering that problem herself, but she was sure there was a way around it. "Croydon has plenty of things to do and Harry said they live within walking distance of several places. His aunt treats him like a servant and sends him out alone on errands, so I'm sure we could meet somewhere in town if we had to."
Integra took a sip from her glass as she thought it over. "We'll discuss it with your father when we get home. If the protective enchantments he placed on the house in Surrey didn't travel with them, he may want to do something for the flat as well. And we'll have to see what your schedule allows."
Of course, she would still be beholden to those ruddy schedules. However, the fact that she hadn't outright refused was a positive sign, so she figured she shouldn't complain.
"Is Hermione settling in well?"
Connie's brow furrowed. "As far as I know. It's hard to tell from a letter. I know Ginny's excited about it, but Hermione is still getting used to so many people living in one house."
A sympathetic expression crossed the knight's features. "I can imagine it's quite an adjustment. She seems like a capable girl. It will get easier for her in time."
Time could heal many wounds, but telling someone that rarely helped move the process along. She was relying on Ginny for an accurate assessment of how she was doing, and she hadn't seen anything terribly concerning yet…
"And George?"
Constance shook herself out of her musings and snapped to attention. "Sorry?"
Her mother arched a brow. "How is George?" She asked, rephrasing the question.
"Oh. Um… well enough, I suppose." Connie said dumbly. "Like I said I've not had the time to respond to anyone yet, so I've only gotten one letter so far…" She perked up a bit. "He and Fred are expanding their mail order service because it's been so popular. They think they should have enough money saved by the time they graduate to purchase a location for a store."
"That's wonderful." Integra commented with a restrained smile. "They should be proud of themselves. Getting a business started is quite an accomplishment, especially for young men their age."
Fred was certainly proud of it. George was too, of course, but he tended to be more humble about it than his brother. Constance was more than happy to be proud on his behalf though. They had worked hard and stuck to their plan – and she was tickled pink to see how well their budding business was coming along so far.
"How long have you been sleeping with him?" Her mother asked in a conversational tone.
Everything stopped. Ice flooded through Connie's veins, making her freeze in shock. "I…. excuse me?" She sputtered.
The knight quirked a brow and lifted her drinking glass to take a sip of water. It was usually hard to get an accurate read of her expressions, but she could make out a flash in her eye – disapproval mixed with a challenge to prove her wrong. "There's no point in lying about it, Constance." She said. "You should have known you wouldn't be able to keep it a secret for long living in close quarters with vampires. They can sense the difference."
Connie grit her teeth and took a deep breath. There was no way to get away from this. She would have to face it. "I'm aware of that, but I had hoped that they would mind their own business." She spat. "Who ratted me out? Was it Mihnea?" She'd kill him if it was. He had no right.
"No, and I'm rather shocked by that, to be honest." Integra replied. She set down her glass to fold her hands on the table in front of her. "How I found out doesn't matter, but I would have preferred to hear it from you rather than an outside source."
What did she expect her to do? Rush to her office as soon as she got home to excitedly gibber at her about what she had gotten up to on the Hogwarts Express? There were some things a person just didn't talk to their parents about – and intimate encounters with one's boyfriend was one of them. She couldn't believe this was happening. Suddenly the oddness of her mother's insistence on accompanying her to her appointments made more sense. She had wanted to get her out of the house so the two of them would be alone together.
"I expect an answer, Constance." Her mother pressed.
Connie shook her head, feeling like she had been knocked completely off balance. "What do you want me to say, mum?" She asked.
"You could start with how long this has been going on."
The girl opened her mouth, unsure of what to say or how to say it, only to be interrupted by the arrival of their food. Their waiter greeted them with a smile, oblivious to the tension that had arisen between them. Integra thanked him quietly when their plates were set in front of them, then turned her attention back to Constance when he walked away to see to his other customers.
"I'm waiting."
Constance stared down at her plate. Any hunger she might have felt before was gone now. "It… was only once."
She dared to glance up and saw her mother's deep frown. "You were… safe, I hope?"
Oh, for God's sake… "Yes, mum, we were safe." She grumbled with a huff. "I'm not an idiot."
Integra's lips pressed together in a firm line and her good eye narrowed, as if she didn't at all agree with that statement. "Do you realize the seriousness of what you've done?" She asked, her voice thick with gravity. "You are a child, Constance. You have no business…"
The girl immediately bristled with indignance. "I am not a child!"
"You are fourteen years old!" Her mother snapped.
That might be true, but there were other considerations to take into account. Connie felt her temper begin to well up. "And how old were you the first time you killed someone, mum?"
Her mother hesitated briefly before clearing her throat. "That has nothing to do with this."
"How can you say that?" The girl challenged. "Mum, I've been training with the soldiers ever since I've been home. I've led missions. I've been in the thick of an attack and shot a vampire in the face to keep them from killing my friends. You're using me as a spy in the magical world. And you and I both know that damn binder I got today is full of glorified wedding dresses and the bloody Debutante is just a glamorous way of announcing that I'm old enough for men to start considering as a marriage prospect! All of that is perfectly fine, but you're angry about me having sex with someone I love? One time?" She crossed her arms over her chest with a resentful huff. "I may be young, but I'm not stupid. I knew exactly what I was doing and I wanted it. I'm sorry if you're angry at me, but I don't regret anything and I refuse to apologize for it."
She punctuated her outburst with a defiant glare, then clenched her jaw and stared down at her bowl of soup. The knight sucked in a sharp breath and Connie steeled herself for the tongue lashing that was surely coming her way. Tears of frustration stung the corners of her eyes as she swirled her spoon around in the amber colored liquid and she furiously blinked them back. She would not cry, damn it. Not in a public place, and certainly not in front of her mother. She would be able to see her side of things if she was a 'normal' person, but Constance had never been, and never would be, normal. If she was mature enough to carry a weapon at all times, train with soldiers, and make life or death decisions, then she felt that she was mature enough for other things as well. It didn't make any sense at all for one to be acceptable and the other forbidden.
Her ears picked up the quietly muttered 'Lord, help me' before her mother cleared her throat to speak. "Connie?" She asked, her voice surprisingly soft. "Please look at me."
Her spoon paused mid-stir and her eyes flicked upward. Integra's face was slack and her blue eye glistened with some emotion that Connie couldn't readily identify. She looked stricken and uncomfortable – as if, despite her wealth of experience and training, this was a situation she had no idea what to do with. The woman examined her closely, not moving or speaking for a long time before finally taking a deep breath.
"We have… put a lot on you." She admitted, speaking in slow, carefully controlled tone. "I know that, and I'm sorry we've had to do it. In a perfect world, you'd never have to worry about any of this and could have the normal childhood you deserve. But we don't live in a perfect world and there's nothing I can do to change that." She sighed and reached across the table to lay her gloved hand on top of Connie's clenched fist. "I love you and I care about your happiness, but I also know how easy it is for everything you have to be taken away in the blink of an eye. My only intention has been to make sure you would be better prepared than I was. There is no guarantee that your father and I will always be around to help you, and our position dictates that if anything happens to us, all power and responsibility will fall to you. It may not be right or fair, but that's how it must be."
There was a genuine note of concern in her voice that made Connie's anger falter. Her fist twitched, then relaxed a bit under her mother's hand. "I know." She said quietly. "I understand and I want to do the best I can. It's just… a lot." She tried to suppress the urge to sniffle and lost.
"Yes, it is." Integra agreed and gave her hand a light squeeze. "You have done admirably so far and I am proud of you. But if you are going to lead, you cannot think only of yourself. You must also consider the people under your command and those you are sworn to protect. Everything you do reflects back onto Hellsing itself. Having a… sexual relationship with someone at your age will destroy your reputation if it becomes known, and you cannot afford to be in such a vulnerable position. Not to mention the other consequences. George will be seventeen in April, will he not? What do you intend to do when he's considered a man while you're still a girl? I don't know how magical society views such relationships, but our world would label him a rapist whether you were willing or not."
Constance went very still and her eyes widened in horror. She hadn't thought of that. Her lower lip found its way between her teeth. "I…" She began haltingly. "I'll be fifteen soon. I don't intend for anyone to find out, but if they do, there are Romeo and Juliet laws…"
"Which only apply to the common people." Her mother pointed out. "Her Majesty holds the nobility and her knights to a much higher standard. He may be safe while you're both underage, but you won't be able to hide behind those laws once he's considered an adult." She pursed her lips in sympathy. "I don't disapprove of George. He seems like a fine young man from what I've seen. If you feel as strongly for him as you say, then you must be careful. A moment's pleasure isn't worth the risk of ruining both of your lives. Now," She pulled her hand away and straightened, becoming more serious. "I may not be able to control what you do when you're at school, but I will not tolerate such behavior in my house. Do you understand?"
Connie winced at the thought and hung her head. As if she would really do something like that. "Yes, mum."
"There will be no more overnight visits to the Burrow either." Integra went on. "I understand you have other friends there, but I know how sneaky you can be and I won't have you using them as an excuse to get around the rules. Day visits only. And if George ever happens to come to our home to visit you, there must be a chaperone present."
"A chaperone?!" She exclaimed. Her head snapped up and her eyes widened in disbelief. "I've never needed a chaperone to see him before! That's not fair!"
The lady knight held up a finger to stop her complaints cold. "You should have thought of that before proving that I can't trust you." She said, giving her a serious look over the top of her glasses. "If you manage to earn that trust back, I may be willing to revisit the matter later. In the meantime, you will be chaperoned by an adult at all times, or you will not be allowed to see him at all. Do I make myself clear?"
There was a bite to her voice which warned that she wouldn't tolerate an argument. Connie knew better than to try to bargain her way out of it. Knowing her mum, she'd probably come up with a way to make it even worse. She wasn't sure how exactly, but she'd find a way. Since there was nothing she could really do but accept her fate, the girl slumped down in her chair with a huff and nodded.
"Good." Integra said, looking satisfied. She gestured toward her with a finger. "Sit up straight Constance, and eat your lunch. We have an important meeting to attend later, so we'll need to keep closely to our afternoon schedule."
Constance wasn't aware of any meetings scheduled for today, so she found that a bit odd. However, she was too sullen about her punishment to worry about it too much. Perhaps it was something sudden that had come up and needed to be addressed. She straightened her posture as instructed and scooped up a spoonful of soup, forcing herself to swallow it down. Once she'd eaten about half of the bowl, she pushed it aside and poked at her salad. That too, was left half-finished, but she managed to get enough down to satisfy Integra that she had eaten something.
She sincerely hoped that there wouldn't be any more uncomfortable situations to deal with today. What she had endured already was more than enough.
The History of Magic OWL somehow managed to be nearly as dull as the class. One would think the subject would have been more interesting without Professor Binns' ghostly monotone, but the exam proved otherwise. Did professors advise the Ministry on how to set them up, or were they just awful at it in general? The only thing that saved Mihnea's sanity was the mp3 player he'd brought along. The official proctoring his exam had no clue what it was and allowed him to keep it because he imagined it was some harmless muggle device.
Mihnea would never cheat on a test – certainly not one that was so important – but he was amused by the idea that he easily could have if he felt so inclined.
Now he was looking forward to crawling back into his bed for the rest of the afternoon. After studying all night and forcing himself to wake up at an ungodly hour of the morning, he was ready to catch up on the sleep he'd missed. The traffic in London was terrible, so he slipped into the underground transport tunnels to cut some time off his drive. It was a bit excessive perhaps, but he was tired and using the tunnels allowed him the freedom to drive faster than he could get away with on the main roads.
He had just gotten back home and was parking his car in the garage when he spotted Rebecca out of the corner of his eye. She had her skirts gathered up in one hand and was moving at a brisk pace across the garage, as if she were on a mission. Curious, Mihnea gathered up the few things he'd taken with him and stepped out of the car.
"You've made it back." She greeted once she reached him. "Very good. How did your exam go?"
Mihnea responded with a shrug. "Boring, but it could have been worse. I'm glad it's over."
Becca hummed in sympathy. "I'm sure." She offered, then cleared her throat. "We detected your car in the tunnels and your mother sent me to fetch you. A family meeting has been called. Sir Integra and Miss Constance got back a few minutes ago and they wanted to start as soon as you arrived."
He blinked in surprise. Family business was usually handled over the dinner table, if possible. A separate meeting called in the middle of the day implied important news that couldn't wait until later.
"Meeting?" He repeated. "Do you know what it's about?"
"I wasn't told sir, but it seems to be something serious." Rebecca told him with a shake of her head. "It was specified that only family be present and it's to be held in the SCIF."
That got his attention. SCIFs were only used for discussions involving highly classified information to ensure that only people with the proper clearance would be involved. The entire manor could technically serve as one, so if they were going to the trouble of even more security, it had to be for an important reason. Rebecca took his notebooks, music, and keys to deliver them back to his room, which Mihnea thanked her for, then he set off to find out what was going on.
Hellsing's SCIF was a special conference room just down the hall from Integra's office. In his experience, it was only used when it was their turn to host Round Table Conference meetings. When he finally got there and slipped inside, he found that everyone else (save his father) was already present and waiting.
" 'ey!" Pip greeted, his eyes lighting up. " 'ow'd eet go?"
"Fine." Mihnea replied as he selected a seat next to Connie. He looked around the room at everyone, then leaned over to whisper to her. "What's going on?"
Connie shook her head, looking a bit worried. "I have no idea, just that mum said it was important. I didn't realize we'd be in the SCIF though…"
So she found that concerning as well. Interesting. Noting something different about his cousin's appearance, he took a moment to study her. "Aunt Integra let you dye your hair?"
Constance blinked and sheepishly ran a hand through her dark locks, which had been highlighted with shades of reddish brown and copper. The tones suited her coloring well and were subtle enough to look natural while still giving her hair some extra dimension.
"I wanted to try something different without chopping all my hair off, so the salon recommended balayage." She explained. "They said that it will look like an ombre as it grows out, so it won't be awful if I can't get it touched up while I'm at school."
"I like it!" Seras declared from across the table. She smiled brightly. "The color looks good on you."
Connie smiled and thanked her for the compliment, but everyone stopped and became more serious when Integra and Edmund finally ceased the quiet discussion they were having and the knight called the meeting to order. Uncle Edmund wordlessly passed a folder of documents to her, which she accepted before turning her attention to Syn.
"Where is Alucard?"
As if he'd been waiting for her summons, the vampire in question stepped through the wall in a swirl of shadow and approached the empty chair next to the redhead. "I'm here, master."
"Good." Integra waited for him to be seated, then cleared her throat to begin. "I realize this is unconventional and a bit sudden, but a situation has arisen which has serious implications for each one of us, as well as the Hellsing Organization itself." She paused to open the folder she'd been given to pull out an official looking document. She looked down at it for a handful of seconds before straightening her spine and holding it out across the table. "Congratulations, Alucard. Her Majesty has seen fit to grant your request. She has ordered that your 'sentence', for lack of a better term, is to be commuted and you are to be released."
A slow smile crept across the vampire's face, as if he'd been expecting the announcement. Integra, Edmund, and Syn all remained quiet, like they too had some previous knowledge of it. Everyone else though, was shocked.
"Pardon?" Pip said, blinking.
"Wait… what?" Seras asked with wide eyes. She whirled in her chair to look down the table. "Master?"
Mihnea and Constance looked at each other, both wearing twin expressions of surprise and disbelief. They hadn't known what to expect, but this was the last thing either of them would have thought of.
"I don't understand." Connie said, turning toward her mother for some kind of explanation. "What does that even mean? And why?"
Aunt Integra closed her good eye with a sigh. "Alucard, if you would be so kind as to explain?" She shot a look at him over the top of her glasses. "From the beginning."
"The very beginning, master?" He asked.
"Don't test my patience, vampire." The knight snapped. "This is no time for games."
"Very well." He said with a light smirk. Leaning back in his chair, he dropped the heels of his boots onto the edge of the table and made himself comfortable. "We vampires are solitary creatures for the most part, but we are capable of working together to reach a common goal when it is necessary to do so. As human society advanced through the centuries, many of our kind realized that in order for us to thrive in a more modern world, we would have to make similar advancements. To… band together as one people, just as you have. This process was begun in my homeland, but my resources were limited at the time. Expanding my reach required a move." His eyes flashed with intent and meaning. "My decision to come to this little island wasn't random. In the 1890's, the United Kingdom was a vast empire with power and influence around the world."
Integra's good eye narrowed. "So you decided to use England as your base of operations."
"Precisely." Alucard replied. He waved a hand through the air. "Your family interfered, obviously. My plans had to be set aside when I was bound to your bloodline. And that damned novel Abraham VanHelsing commissioned convinced most of the world that I was dead. Many of those who supported my vision believed that no other vampire would be powerful enough to unite us all under one banner. However, the idea itself never died and the desire for it has only grown stronger with time. When the Great War brought our existence out into the open, stories of how Hellsing managed to defeat Millennium began to spread – and those of my supporters who still lived started to suspect that I had survived after all. A small group of them came here several months ago to investigate the rumors and one has just recently initiated contact with me."
No one moved or spoke for a long time afterward. Pip let out a deep groan and ran a hand down his face. "Merde." He swore under his breath, "Zhis iz bad…"
"Aye." Aunt Integral said, shooting a quick glance at him before turning her gaze back onto the elder vampire. "And I suppose these vampires have come here to convince you to take up your original mission?"
"In a manner of speaking." Alucard told her with an idle tilt of his head. "The world is very different from how it was when I was bound, and no one could have anticipated Millennium's effect on human kind. Vampires no longer have to hide in the shadows. The subcultures that have arisen since the war are an attempt to integrate with human society to give us a better chance at survival in this new world. The oldest among us could see the direction humanity was heading centuries ago, but not how far the path would lead. The need for vampires to organize has become inevitable and if I do not seize the opportunity for myself, then another eventually will."
The meaning of his words was clear. Vampires were attracted to power in all of its forms, and if this was what they truly wanted, then Alucard was the natural choice to lead them into that future. He had an established history and reputation and still carried the title of 'No Life King' to this day. It had become little more than an honorific in modern times, but those who knew who he was still acknowledged it. If another vampire tried to step into that position, they would be an unknown variable. Alucard was, for all intents and purposes, the devil they knew as opposed to one they didn't.
Mihnea cleared his throat uncomfortably. "What does this mean for us?" He asked, not sure if he really wanted to know.
He felt, as well as saw, his father's gaze fall onto him. "It means that drastic action must be taken now to ensure the situation remains within our control." He replied. "The vampire community is hungry enough for leadership that some may be willing to reveal my existence publicly to force me into action."
At the head of the table, Sir Integra inclined her head in agreement. "My ancestors' actions caused a large portion of Hellsing's reputation to be built upon a falsehood. When the people learn that we didn't kill Dracula as they were led to believe, it could destroy their faith in us and our mission." She glanced at Alucard. "And I don't believe the vampires will be too pleased about their chosen monarch being magically compelled to obey a human. We cannot change the past and we cannot avoid this information going public eventually, but if we put damage control measures in place now we may be able to lessen the blow before it comes. We have been discussing the matter ever since Alucard first approached me with his proposal. Since it's reasonable to expect some degree of backlash from both sides, our best option as far as optics are concerned is a division of our households."
Mihnea and Constance both went ramrod straight at the pronouncement. Across the table, Seras and Pip were equally shocked.
"Division?" The Captain repeated. "You mean we 'ave to leave?"
Seras' eyes were wide with disbelief. "But… where would we even go?"
"I used to own several pieces of property in and around the London area." Alucard offered casually. "They were seized by the crown and placed under the Hellsing Organization's control when I was captured. I'm sure several of them have been swallowed up by time, but some should still exist."
A flash of movement caught Mihnea's attention and he turned his head to see his Uncle busily flipping through a stack of papers in the folder in front of him. "I've done some digging." He said once he reached the paper he was looking for. "The London area has changed a great deal over the past century and lot of your property was either sold or donated toward various building projects over the years. However, it looks like Abraham VanHelsing secured at least three of the properties for his own use, and reclaiming them would only involve us signing over the title."
The vampire king's brows rose in interest. "Which ones?"
"Leeds Castle in Kent, a mansion in Piccadilly, and the Carfax Estate in Purfleet." Edmund reported.
Alucard ran a finger along his lips, thinking it over. "We'll begin restorations at Carfax first." He declared. "The other two may prove useful at some point, but they will have to be reserved for future projects."
"Very well." Aunt Integra said with a nod of agreement. "We'll contact the caretakers of the property to obtain the keys and inform them of the transfer. Now that we have that out of the way…" She turned to Seras and Pip. "This division is mostly for appearances. Alucard and I have already agreed to collaborate our efforts, but too close of an association may lead people to believe that Hellsing is being manipulated by the vampires. Our hope is that once the situation has settled somewhat, we'll be able to negotiate a way for you to work here on a contractual basis if you still wish to do so. In the meantime, we'll need to develop new protocols for the soldiers. You know your men best, Captain. Do you have a recommendation for someone you trust to take your place?"
Pip rubbed his chin. "Johnson 'az always been my right 'and man." He told her. " 'e knowz 'ow to keep zhe guys in line and zhey'll listen to 'im." He scratched the back of his head and huffed. "Zhe Geese won't like zhis, Sir. Zhey've gotten used to 'aving vampires on zhe team. Zhis iz going to be one 'ell of an adjustment for zhem."
"None of us like this, Captain, but we must soldier on regardless." The knight replied, looking like she fully agreed with him. "All we can do is hope for the best and plan for the worst. Thankfully, we have been blessed with forewarning and a few months to prepare."
"Wait!" Connie exclaimed as realization hit her. "A few months?"
"Roughly speaking, yes." Her mother confirmed. "Her Majesty's proclamation takes effect immediately, but Alucard cannot truly be freed without removing the seals binding him to our bloodline. While Syn is working on how to solve that problem, Hellsing will be in a transitional phase. We must be prepared to have all of these changes in place before the seals are removed."
"But if this goes public when that happens, we won't be able to stay in the magical world." The girl pointed out.
Integra's good eye honed in on her with sharpened focus. "Which is precisely why it is so important for you to be prepared when then time comes and do everything in your power to ensure that you are above reproach." She told her. "If our enemies get their hands on any compromising information, they will not hesitate to use it against us. The damage will be exponentially worse if we're already in a weakened position."
Connie's face flushed pink for a second before all the color slowly drained away. Understanding flashed in the girl's eyes and her mouth snapped shut. "I… understand." She murmured.
"Good." The lady knight said simply, then turned her attention back to the group as a whole. "That will be all for the time being. We will meet regularly to discuss any updates and to work out our strategy moving forward. Given the sensitivity of the matter, I must insist that this remain classified for now. Do not discuss anything relating to this with anyone outside of this group unless I give you clearance to do so. The staff will be informed in stages as we finalize and confirm our plans. Understood?"
Everyone agreed that they did and with that, the meeting was adjourned. Alucard remained behind to speak to Integra and Edmund alone while the others filed out of the conference room. Constance excused herself to her room, looking extremely upset. Mihnea figured she would probably want to be left alone for a while to allow time for everything to settle in her mind. Seras and Pip disappeared off to the barracks – probably to have a private discussion of their own. Since everyone else had gone and he was unsure of what to do with himself, Mihnea wound up falling into step beside his mother.
"You're quiet." She commented, glancing at him sideways.
Mihnea lifted his shoulders in a shrug. He didn't really know how to react to the news and after the instructions they were just given, he imagined there was little he could say out in the open anyway. When he offered no verbal response, the redhead pursed her lips and reached out to rub the space between his shoulder blades.
"It's going to be fine, Mihnea." She told him.
Was it? He wanted to believe that, but wasn't sure if he could. He could see the concern written in his mother's features, though she was doing an admirable job of trying to hide it, and he was keenly aware of what his father was capable of. As much as he wanted to trust that they were doing what was best, he could sense the new level of tension coiled up just beneath the surface and he didn't like it at all.
What were they not telling him?
A.N: I fully intended to post this last weekend, but some things came up that pulled my attention away. I am now officially an aunt, and my husband and I have been making super-secret plans for how to spoil our niece rotten. – happy dance –
Please leave a review and let me know what you think!