'Hedwig? Whilst not my name it is a good one and I assume Taoiseach you wish for it to be the name for this form so that I can accompany you without suspicion?' Aife's question whilst in her animal form came as if she was speaking directly into Harry's head in line with her hooting and ruffling of feathers.

Whilst this would normally freak him out a little Harry's mind was still stuck on the fact that of all the forms the game had to give her it was Hedwig's, it was as if the game was actually on his side as opposed to working against him constantly as he had suspected when he first saw the Bearcast. He was still out of it a moment later when Aife buffeted his head with her wing, the owl tilting its head down the corridor as with a crack the door that had been holding the Bearcast splintered and cracked, a giant claw visible for a moment before it withdrew under the door's protests.

"Taoiseach, we must go! Where is your friend?" Shaking his head to clear his mind and to get his bearings, Harry turned and ran towards where he had left Hermione, the sound of protesting wood still audible as he saw his best friend peeking out from where he had left her.

"Hermione, Run!" The girl looked confused for a moment before there was a massive bang behind them as the door obviously gave way under the Bearcast's assault. He grabbed her hand and dragged her with him, Aife taking to the wing rather than trying to maintain her previous perch which had been on his shoulder. The thundering behind him compelled him to not look back as they raced through the halls, dodging past a pair of automatons who were still stalking the halls before they could even raise their swords.

There was a crash, presumably from where the Bearcast crashed into one of the automatons, and then the sounds of fighting faded from his hearing as his burning lungs were matched by Hermione's panting and gasps for breath. Seeing a very large pair of doors in front of him, Harry slowed to a stop, whilst there was a chance the Bearcast was still after them once it had dealt with the automatons it was better for it to start catching up with them than them run into another battle zone blind.

As Hermione did her best to get her breath back from the very intense if short sprint they had just undertaken, Harry approached the doors and put his head against the crack between them to see if he could hear anything from beyond its oaken frame. He could hear the movement of multiple things and the sounds of voices which was promising, though he was still prepared to fight or run if need be as he tried to open the door.

Strength Test: 9 required- Failed

The strength requirement of 9 made it clear the doors were at least locked if not barred, so therefore Harry really had not all that many choices left as the corridor they were in had no others branching off of it before they got back to the Bearcast. To his surprise Hermione beat him to it, knocking on the door rapidly whilst Aife came back to land on his shoulder once more, the young girl obviously terrified of the fighting that could be heard behind them.

Grabbing his battle wand in readiness as the events of the tutorial had made him far too paranoid for him to hope for the best at this stage, Harry grabbed Hermione and pulled her away from the door as the sounds of wood scraping against wood made him know he was right about the door being barred at least.

"Harry, what are you..." The doors were suddenly flung open and the pair of them found themselves facing half a dozen heavily armoured men and women armed with a mixture of melee weapons that were obviously enchanted to a certain degree given the odd sheen that seemed to catch his eye upon their surface. They seemed to relax a little at the sight of the two of them but they were obviously still wary, given that Harry had personally seen one of the pocket denizens turn into a convincing human he could understand why, but he had bigger problems at the moment given the roar that echoed down the corridor behind them.

"Harry Potter." He offered his name almost out of habit, people staring at him was something he had gotten very used to in his previous 'life'. "Not to rush you but there is an angry Bearcast after us and I really would not prefer to be between you and it when it comes this way." He didn't mean for it to sound quite so... sarcastic was probably the politest word for it, but given the flashing screen that popped up a moment later he knew it was probably needed.

Charisma Check (3): Passed

"Uh, oh apologies Mr Potter but we can't be too careful with the demons out there. How can we be sure you are..." The man's stuttering and nervous response, obviously not wanting to be the one that actually accused him of being a 'demon' directly, was cut off when Harry's worst assumption about the situation came true as the roar came again, this time much, much louder.

Throwing Hermione forwards through a small gap in the line of defenders that appeared as one of them took a step back in obvious surprise and fear, Harry turned to see the Bearcast bulldozing it's way towards him, automaton sword broken off in it's shoulder but not deterring it in the slightest. He cast a couple of spells at it, both dissipating on it's fur in the same manner that he had seen when he had first encountered the Bearcast.

There was no room to dodge in a way that would allow him to completely avoid the Bearcast's charge and with the defenders behind him stood ready he didn't want to try and fall back through them only to get cut down. Before Harry could come up with a better plan though, his sixth sense went off just before something passed over his head at dizzying speed.

He just caught a glimpse of it, a magical bolt that looked almost like a large hammer, before it slammed into the Bearcast's head. It didn't seem to do any physical damage, but after a fraction of a second the Bearcast slumped, it's momentum carrying it across the floor of the corridor to land about 10 feet short of where Harry was stood.

Quest: Escape the Angry Bearcast- Complete (200xp)

Lose the Bearcast in less than a minute- Complete (100 xp, +1 athletics)

Sacrifice the Youngling to escape the Bearcast- Failed

There was some more rolling information below the quest completion information, but Harry's attention was drawn away from both that and the now seemingly unconscious Bearcast in front of him by an unfamiliar voice that still somehow drove a slight fear into the very bottom of his soul.

"Hadrian James Potter-Bishop-Black, what in the name of the maker do you think you are doing?" The voice reminded Harry slightly of Fleur Delacour, as there was a very clear French tinge to the otherwise very clearly pronounced words, and as the defenders parted to the sides as fast as they physically could he caught sight of who had uttered them.

Still bathed in a sought of bright light that was slowly fading to mere wisps around her was a tall woman with short cut black hair, clad unlike the other soldiers in what was clearly a fashionable but still practical black dress that reached her knees. She was beautiful, of that there was no doubt even with a long scar down her left cheek and several other minor battle scars visible, but the withering glare that she was giving him as she stalked forwards definitely made Harry realise quite how much trouble he was probably in.

"I leave you alone for less than an hour and you nearly get eaten by a Bearcast and god only knows what else. You are almost as bad as your father, both of them!" That line made it clear in Harry's head, this was Freya Bishop, the woman who had raised him in this world for the last 10 and a half years. The obvious concern that accompanied her berating of him made him mist up for a second and he was unable to stop himself throwing himself forward to give her a hug, cutting her off as she seemed a little shocked by his action.

"Sorry Mum, I won't do it again I promise." He meant it, it wasn't like he was planning on seeking out any more angry pocket denizens in the near future, though whether that would stop them coming after him was an entirely different question. Looking up he saw Freya looking down at him with an exasperated look on her face, though she was blushing slightly and seemed to be resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

"That's what Sirius says and yet every time he goes on an Auror mission... What do you think you are doing?" Her eyes had shot up away from him as her voice shifted from the surprising soft tone it had taken after he had hugged her to the same cold tone as before. Looking around, Harry saw a couple of the men had moved up to the Bearcast and one of them looked ready to stab it with his sword whilst it was unconscious. The man seemed to get that he was being questioned as he looked like a man caught eating all the pies as he pointed almost defiantly at the Bearcast.

"I am killing off the demon before it wakes up and has another go at trying to kill us all once again." Despite his tone the man was almost quivering as Freya shifted Harry to the side gently before stalking up to him and knocking his blade away with a hammer that he hadn't noticed was held almost weightlessly in her right hand.

"Bearcast are not demons you fool, this is why I retired from the Inquisition in the first place! We will restrain it, heal it and when it wakes my son or one of the other beast speakers will talk to it and work out it's intent! I will already be having words with your captain regarding this debacle, do not make me point out your inability to follow Inquisition operational procedures as well!"

Her voice had never really raised itself above what he imagined was her normal speaking voice, but when she emphasised certain parts of her dressing down speech it was like she was actually flicking barbs at the man with her tongue. She had cleared up one thing for Harry though, both that his polyglot ability was already known here and even more importantly he wasn't the only one to be able to use it, meaning he didn't have to worry about the whole thing of his second year and Parseltongue again.

Given that Freya wasn't a commander in the Inquisition any longer it was surprising how much command she had over the gathered men and women who obviously were, getting the magic users to create a solid and durable cage for them to levitate the Bearcast into whilst Harry looked around the rest of the room. It was obviously meant to be a main waiting area/entrance hall as it was about the same size as the Great Hall at Hogwarts, hundreds of children waiting with their parents as about 30 Inquisition members stood guard at various entrances to the room like the one that he had just entered in.

Speaking of children and their parents, Harry caught sight of Hermione being hugged by a tearful woman who was obviously her mother, waving politely when Hermione pointed emphatically in his direction as she babbled on, obviously about him saving her from the automaton. A moment later Hermione was dragging her mother over to him before catching him in a typical Hermione hug and speaking so fast he struggled to keep up.

"Thank you again Harry, you were so brave when that bear was chasing us and you made sure I was safe before you faced it. Who was that woman, is that your mum? This is my mother Emma Granger, my Dad was working today so he couldn't be here, he is a dentist while my mother actually runs..." It was obviously clear that Harry was a little overwhelmed by the onslaught of questions and statements in unending succession as Emma Granger had to smother a giggle as she coughed to get her daughters attention.

"Enough Spark, let the boy breathe for a moment. If half of what you have told me is true I am surprised he hasn't descended into shock, and if you want answers to your questions what have I told you?" There was something to Emma Granger that screamed soldier to Harry, whether it was her stance or her no nonsense commanding attitude as she chastised her now contrite daughter.

"To stop after each one for five seconds to let the other person have a chance... And I've told you not to call me that!" Seeing Hermione this, at ease with someone was something Harry could quite honestly say he wasn't used to, even with him and Ron she had always been a bit hesitant at times when talking about herself.

It was a nice change that made him feel a little guilty at the times he had sided with Ron against her on various things, but the guilt didn't stop his prankster's mind from instantly jumping on the chance offered to poke a little fun at his new/old friend.

"Thank you Mrs Granger but it is okay, I don't mind. Though I have to ask, why do you call Hermione Spark?" Hermione froze up at his asking and even though she was facing away from him Harry could tell that her face was currently fixed in a pleading expression directed at her mother for her not to tell him whatever embarrassing story was behind the nickname.

Charisma Check (5): Failed

With the Game prompting him Harry was unsurprised when Emma shook her head a moment later much to Hermione's relief, the two Granger's attention being drawn a moment later to Aife's arrival, the Werekin landing gracefully on Harry's shoulder and making very sure not to dig her talons in too hard.

"Taoiseach, are these fellow clan members of yours? They do not look like they are of your line but the large one reminds me of mother." Harry couldn't help but chuckle at the comparison of the small, lithely built woman in front of him with the giant bear that had been just trying to kill them.

"No Hedwig, these aren't my clan members but just some new friends I have made." The bit about the mother comparison would have led to questions that Harry didn't particularly want to answer at this stage, so he was grateful when Hermione pointed at Aife with a small look of wonder.

"Are you talking to your owl? Can you understand her, is this like the magic the professor from the school talked to us about? Can I learn to do that?" Harry chuckled even as Emma sighed at the stream of questions, he could definitely say that things were better now he had one of his best friends back.

It was another 20 minutes before reinforcements arrived, two more groups of automatons attacking in that time though Freya and the Inquisition troops had no real problems in dealing with them. Captain Hargrove had led a group of survivors to them from deeper in the corridors, obviously the man had gone back to look for Harry given his raised eyebrow as he caught sight of him across the room.

Then the fireplaces in the room lit up and black armoured soldiers armed with wands and axes began pouring into the room and into the corridors beyond, cloaks billowing behind them like the ripple of a disturbed ocean. Given the respectful and slightly fearful distance that the other Inquisition soldiers were giving these people Harry decided there and then not to try and piss these particular soldiers off, it would probably be bad for his health in both the short and long term.

Freya had moved next to him almost as soon as the black cloaks had arrived, his adoptive mother watching them almost with disdain on her face as she gripped the handle of her hammer that little bit tighter. Suddenly there was a man stood in front of him, looking down at Harry in the same manner that a child might look at a family pet that they dislike but cannot do anything about. He was dressed in the same armour as the other black cloaks, but he instead had a rapier attached to his belt and a small eyepatch over his left eye.

"So the chosen one is safe despite the extremist's best efforts. Some would find your continued survival most relieving Mr Potter, a sign that god is looking over you perhaps." The fact that this man was definitely not one of those people didn't need to be said, his tone and suspicious glances between Harry and Aife made that very clear.

The man honestly reminded Harry of Lucius Malfoy with his attitude, but whereas Lucius had a very regal bearing about him because of his pureblood status, this man was like a viper, eye calculating each little movement and gesture around him to work out how to use it to his advantage. Realising that the opening was there for him to reply, though his mother seemed ready to start into a tirade of her own, Harry decided to be honest from the outset, trying to lie to this man would only make him more suspicious in his view.

"I imagine that god has better things to do than watch over an ordinary boy like me and the attack didn't seem to be focussed on me in anyway, it was only as I made my way here to meet up with the others that I encountered any kind of opposition. Perhaps they wanted everyone to think it was targeting me so as to disguise their true target?"

Combined Test: Wisdom/Intelligence (9)- Pass (+1 due to Luck)

+50 Relationship ?

+50 Relationship Inquisition

+100 Relationship Freya Bishop

+1 Honesty

+1 Humility

Moral Indicators-

Various actions and dialogue responses will give you points on various characteristics that influence how your character will be perceived. If for example your character is particularly honest throughout the game people will start to trust the character more implicitly when he says things or gives his view on a set of events. Whilst not directly influencing the characters development, these characteristics will give a good indication on the public perception of the character's path through the game.

The man seemed to consider this for a moment and then to Harry's surprise nodded and extended his hand out to Harry with what was obviously meant to be a smile on his face.

"Good reasoning, especially from one so young, perhaps I have fallen foul of assuming that you would be like any child of your status. Unlikely but we shall only see with time. I am Inquisitor Reilly and I would be interested to see what other 'insight' you might be able to provide me Mr Potter about the other pocked denizens that you encountered whilst making your way here." As Harry took the man's hand to shake it he did not miss the man's glance to Aife as he said pocket creatures, obviously the man knew exactly what she was and wanted Harry to know that as well.

But he didn't say anything further as Freya stepped in between them, her face now expressionless as she shook her head disapprovingly.

"You know that I cannot allow that Inquisitor, in the rules laid out between the Wizengamot and the Council..." Reilly nodded his head, not looking at all surprised or irritated at being refused but instead pointing to the Bearcast in the cage that now had two black cloaks standing guard over it.

"Also according to those laws any attackers against the chosen one are to be dealt with by your family Knight Commander Bishop, unless you wish for us to take this one off your hands?" Freya scoffed and shook her head even as the fireplaces lit up once more, this time the more familiar red cloaks of Aurors appearing with wands ready.

"And give you another experiment to mess with until another scheme demands your attention Reilly? No, we shall take this one with us, my son can decide it's fate considering that he is the one that it was endangering." Harry was a little shocked at his mother's announcement, wasn't that a bit much of a weight to be putting on his shoulders? He was eighteen mentally but to these people he was only 11!

But he quickly decided that it had probably been said as much to get rid of this Reilly as it was to actually mean anything, the man shrugging and nodding his head towards Harry.

"Very well, I will inform the council of your decision when I have ensured this place is swept clean of possible threats. Thank you for your time Mr Potter, it is good to see that you haven't picked up any 'unsavoury' habits from your dog I mean godfather..." Freya stiffened at that last comment but Reilly was already turning away from them and stalking off towards the doors that Harry had entered in.

Seeing as Freya was still glaring at him rather than paying attention to Harry, Harry used the opportunity to throw a quick observe at the retreating Inquisitor, the chance of him getting anything particularly useful was unlikely but better to be disappointed than surprised. This man sent shivers up his spine just by talking to him.

Inquisitor Reilly (Lvl?)

Hp-?

Mp-?

Relationship- 50/200 (Interesting pawn)

A man of obvious power and influence, Inquisitor Reilly considers everyone a piece on a chessboard to be moved and influenced at his leisure. It is not as though he cares nothing for them, in fact he has one of the highest survival rates for any member of the European branch of the Inquisition, but the mission and the order will always come first when it needs to, regardless of any personal cost.

(Observed from interaction with character)- Reilly seems to have some history with both Freya Bishop and Sirius Black and it doesn't sound like they are on the best of terms, especially your godfather. Perhaps further investigation will elaborate what that history is and what effect that might have on your relationship with Inquisitor Reilly.

So not the most useful information but it confirmed most of what Harry had already thought about Reilly. Any further thought was put on the back burner when a familiar face amongst the aurors moved through the people towards them with a very familiar playful grin on a much less drawn and sickly face.

"Pronglet, what is this I hear about you taking on a Bearcast so that these girly Inquisition types didn't have to?" Sirius' grin didn't falter even as Freya's hand shot up to cuff him round the back of the head, the woman huffing before pulling the marauder into a loving embrace. Sirius returned it enthusiastically before pulling back and looking round, his grin fading as he eyed the casualties that were starting to stream in.

"I told you they would try something today Freya, even Minister Fudge objected to this farce. I wonder if this will perhaps convince the Inquisition that trying to hunt down and imprison or kill every staunch traditionalist is not the way to prevent further attacks." The look on Sirius' face made it clear he doubted it, but he shook it off and the grin returned as if it had never left, winking at Harry a moment later as he gestured towards the nearest fireplace.

"Anyways, I think we better head home, I am going to need you to calm Lyra and Corvus down Harry and then you can tell us about your little adventure..." It was a sign on how the long day had tired Harry out that it took him a moment to react, looking up whilst trying to school the shock he was feeling from his face as that would be out of character. Who the hell were Lyra and Corvus?

A/N: And that is pretty much the 'tutorial' wrapped up for this story, as a reviewer correctly pointed out in the previous chapter there hadn't actually been a notification that they had in fact escaped the Bearcast when they locked it in the room. Though for the purposes of the bonus mission the locking it in counted for 'losing the Bearcast in less than a minute'.

On that note, people will probably have noticed the second bonus objective and it's rather dark implications. Whilst that kind of idea would never have entered Harry's head it is the sort of thing more morally ambiguous characters might have pulled off and I don't want it to seem that the game is solely geared to Harry's particular mindset.

There will be missions he doesn't agree with or choices that he would never make, but this is as much to show that whilst he can fail bonus objectives and sub-missions that won't be the end of the world or mean that he necessarily is hugely disadvantaged by his choices.

If people don't automatically jump to this conclusion, Inquisitor Reilly is based on Rochefort from the 3 musketeers, I particularly like the version played by Mark Warren but of course Reilly doesn't have the 'tortured in a Spanish prison' thing weighing down on his sanity, which makes him much, much more devious and unpredictable. Is he a good guy/bad guy? I guess you will just have to wait to find out…