CHAPTER 13:

ENCOUNTER AT HOGSMEADE

Harry couldn't help but smile as he went down the secret passageway. He had been planning on spending this day, like he did many of his Saturdays and Sundays, working in the Chamber of Secrets. Dani couldn't come, as Miranda was staying at Castle Dimitrescu to discuss various experiments with Alcina, and Daniela's absence would be noted.

But then, while on his way to the Chamber of Secrets, he was intercepted by Fred and George. They'd presented him with something they had stolen from Filch's cabinet years ago: the Marauders' Map. They had decided he could use it to infiltrate Hogsmeade, and he had to admit, he liked the idea.

The Duke had told him that the group his father led, the one Lupin told him about, was called the Marauders. In other words, the Map was an heirloom of sorts. A tangible thing from his father, and from the others. He ought to show it to the Duke, and to Lupin as well. But later.

He also mused on the Map itself. It showed representations of himself on it, but he noticed that, for some reason, it only displayed his name as 'Henric Stan' when he shapeshifted. He had to wonder why, before chalking it down to the Mutamycete hybridising his body. Hopefully, Fred and George hadn't noticed anything.

The Map wasn't without limitations, though. It didn't show the Chamber of Secrets, and it only showed the Hogwarts grounds, not Hogsmeade. Anything further, he'd have to learn. And of course, he was still a little wary of it after that bullshit with Tom Riddle's diary last year. Arthur Weasley had pointed out, quite rightly, that you should be wary of something that thought for itself if you couldn't see where it kept its brain, wise words indeed. He'd take it to Lupin to confirm its provenance.

What he knew for sure, though, was that he was going to have some fun with this…


And so it turned out. Hermione and Ron damn near crapped themselves, and after deflecting Hermione's demands that he bring it to McGonagall (he took her aside and explained what he believed to be its provenance, and she seemed assured he would take it to Lupin), they explored Hogsmeade. They'd gone to the Three Broomsticks for Butterbeer, only to overhear a conversation between some of the teachers and Fudge.

Harry despised Fudge, thinking him an incompetent bureaucrat who listened more to the clink of money and what meagre thoughts rattled around in his skull more than doing anything useful. However, he seemed genuinely distressed about what Sirius Black had done to the Potters. He overheard them discussing how Black apparently betrayed the Potters: by being the Secret Keeper while they were hiding under something called the Fidelius Charm.

Despite his anger being renewed, he looked at the situation rationally. He noted Fudge's words, that they thought Black was coming after him after seeing him in The Daily Prophet, an issue Fudge gave to Black to do the crossword. According to Arthur Weasley, Black was said to mutter 'He's at Hogwarts'. But surely there would have been previous times when Black could have learned that Harry was at Hogwarts?

Something wasn't right. He resolved to talk to the Duke at the earliest opportunity. He needed information, on the Fidelius, on what could possibly have triggered Black's escape. Because there was something nagging at Harry that it wasn't him.

It was at that point that Ron parted ways with them, for now, as Hermione had an appointment. And she said Harry could come with her if he wanted to. She was heading to the Shrieking Shack.

She was going to meet with her godfather.

"So, what's he like?" Harry asked as they walked towards the Shrieking Shack.

"Oh, he's a genius and a philanthropist," Hermione said with a smile. "I don't usually bring him up because I don't want to seem like bragging…that, and he does have some enemies. Believe it or not, my mother is his personal dentist. He can be a bit…aloof at times, but I look up to him."

"My dear Hermione, I am genuinely flattered. And in a world where corporate bootlickers perpetually try to curry my favour, that means something."

The old, querulous voice came from around the corner of the Shrieking Shack, a dilapidated house that had the reputation of the most haunted in Britain, supposedly. And around said corner came a pair of figures. A pair of intimidating ones.

More overtly intimidating was the coated figure of a tall man with hard features framed by silvery hair. But the elderly man he accompanied, despite being a little hunched over and using a walking stick, was perhaps more disconcerting. Power and assuredness boiled off him, his features intense and intelligent.

What was more, Harry recognised him. Lord Ozwell E Spencer, the founder of the Umbrella Corporation. And one of the richest and most powerful men in the world.

"Lord Spencer, I presume?" Harry asked.

"Harry Potter, I presume?" Spencer asked in return, smiling. "I've heard a lot about you from my goddaughter. Please, there's no need to stand on ceremony."

The man's demeanour seemed genuinely friendly, but something was setting off alarm bells in his head. Someone who could end up that close to Miranda was someone to be wary of by default. He did shake the proffered hand, though. "Uhh, good to meet you, I suppose," he said, feigning a little confusion and surprise (not that he had to fake the latter) as he did so.

The tall man next to Spencer chuckled. "He does not know what to do when meeting someone more famous than he is," he said, his voice having a husky Slavic accent. "Then again, Hermione did say he despised his fame."

"Harry, this is Colonel Sergei Vladimir," Hermione said, indicating the tall man. "He is the head of security for Umbrella, and on occasion, my godfather's bodyguard."

"I can see why," Harry said, looking at the man. "He'd probably scare away anyone wanting to kill Spencer."

"Ha! I wish that were only true," Vladimir said with a grin. "My job would be easier. But hard work that strengthens and hones is better than easy work that promotes indolence. I learned that while in the Soviet Army. However, the fall of the Soviet Union meant I had to find employment elsewhere."

"And I offered him it," Spencer said. "As I nearly did to your mother, Mr Potter."

"…Sorry, what?"

"I keep my eye out for talent. I have been aware of the wizarding world for some time. A mutual acquaintance brought Lily Potter to my attention, and I offered her work. Alas, your Unspeakables beat me to the punch, and I was sorry to hear of her murder at the hands of Voldemort. A waste of a most brilliant mind."

Oddly enough, Spencer seemed sincere. Harry couldn't help but still be wary, though. "And a waste of a loving mother," Harry added solemnly.

"Of course. Though I am surprised you are here, Mr Potter. Hermione told me that you were unable to leave Hogwarts due to a lack of a permission slip."

"…Rules were made to be broken, and besides, I have no intention of lingering near a Dementor. The last time was bad enough."

Spencer looked at Hermione. "The Dementors invaded the Quidditch Stadium during his previous game," Hermione explained. "He lost consciousness in mid-air, and only quick spellwork saved him."

"Not my proudest hour," Harry muttered.

"Any disaster or humiliation you can walk away from is an opportunity," Spencer said. "You use it as a lesson, as incentive to grow stronger."

"Which I'm doing. I'm studying the Patronus."

Spencer chuckled. "Good. A willingness to study, and to disregard rules that constrict you. You remind me of myself, actually. I got into all sorts of scrapes at Eton. I've been trying to encourage Hermione to follow in my footsteps, but alas, she doesn't cause as much trouble as someone of her intellect should. The greatest minds are those who stir up the world order. Please encourage her to misbehave more, would you?"

Hermione grimaced, and Harry couldn't help but chuckle, Sergei Vladimir echoing that chuckle. Still, Harry still felt uneasy. Even if this man was merely on friendly terms with Miranda, with no other strings attached, there was no getting away from the fact that Spencer was dangerous anyway. He was politically well-connected thanks to his links to British nobility as well as the connections made through the Umbrella Corporation. You couldn't become the CEO of a world-famous pharmaceutical company without being used to swimming with sharks, at least of the corporate variety.

He just hoped that Spencer was a decent enough man. And that Hermione was not spying on him for Spencer, unless it was wholly unintentional, relating stories of his misadventures to Spencer. But even so, he remembered Daniela's discussion about Spencer seeking to kickstart human evolution with viruses.

That sounded, while plausible, disturbing as well. Yes, Harry sympathised with ensuring humans became better, but evolution was a chaotic, random force. The possibility of such a mutation being beneficial or at least benign wasn't always good. Of course, his hurried catching up on advances in cellular biology and genetics did show that some theories suggested that viruses did integrate themselves into the genomes of living organisms, and certain viruses could confer permanent mutations.

But something about Spencer had Harry on-edge. Anyone who could gain his aunt's favour after Harry lost hers was no philanthropist, at least not sincerely. He could be wrong, but then again, he'd prefer to be wrong…


As Spencer and Sergei headed away from Hogsmeade, intending to rendezvous with a helicopter to take them back to London, Spencer asked, "Did you get enough readings?"

"Da," the Russian said, fishing a device from out of his coat. "Serendipitous that Potter snuck out."

"Indeed. I was hoping to find traces on Hermione, but to think…well, I'm sure we now have enough data." A smirk touched Spencer's features. "A shame we cannot have him brought under our aegis, but he is a touch too famous to have him simply disappear. And Hermione clearly enjoys his friendship, and I am loath to sunder that."

"You feel sentimental towards her," Sergei said.

"Of course I do! And honestly, I wish she didn't go to this school! The subjects are excremental, this society is snobbish and nepotistic, worse than mundane society, and it is a waste of her talents. In truth, I am glad she is studying mundane subjects on the side. Magic may be fascinating, but those who wield it are inbred bumpkins who promote blood lineage over meritocracy. True, normal society is not exactly wholly meritocratic, but she would have a better chance there than in wizarding society. Still, what did you think of our surprise guest?"

Sergei harrumphed. "He is like a child soldier. His eyes are too cold. True, that could be accounted for by those adventures Hermione spoke of, to say nothing of her suspicions of his home life. And yet…he was on guard. Wary. Like a wild animal not sure of a threat. I have seen many of his like before, in the Soviet Army, in the Mujaheddin, and so on."

"Hmm…and yet, I think there is more to him than meets the eye, and I am not considering whether he gained a Mutamycete mutation from you know where."

"You still intend to withhold this from Miranda?"

"Of course. Miranda and I have gone our separate ways. She is a fool, pursuing the ghosts of the dead, when she could be contributing to all humanity. Oh, she is a genius, but even geniuses can be prey to folly, even I. What divides a true genius from a foolish one is how we capitalise on both our genius and our folly. James never understood that. Neither did the Ashfords. In truth, only Alexia approached my level, and if my suspicions are true, she is still hybridising with Veronica in stasis."

"What of Birkin? Or the Weskers?"

"Oh, Alex is a genius, there is no doubt, and I have high hopes for her. Albert…his talents are better suited to infiltration and the like than bioengineering. As for Birkin…unfortunately, he has too inflated an ego. One day, he may prove to be as big a liability as James."

"I assume you do not want a squad assembled for his liquidation, as it was with Dr Marcus?"

"Not yet. Just continue the usual surveillance. For now, he is obsessed with perfecting his much-vaunted Golgotha. As long as he is focused on that and his family, as well as placating that greedy imbecile Irons, he is not focused on treachery. In any case, James' death should prove an object lesson to Birkin…or it might not. Anyway, notifying Miranda of Harry having the Mutamycete will run counter to my plans. She may be powerful, but she is not a god as she presents herself to her flock. If she is a god, it is only over a small corner of Romania."

"I thought you admired the véd'ma," Sergei said.

"Oh, I do. I have the utmost respect for her intellect and ability…but she could apply herself to so much more, Sergei. Between the pair of us, we could have changed the world, and for the better. Instead, she's content to mess around with superstitious fools, all while believing she can resurrect her daughter. One thing I despise above so many others is wasted potential, Sergei. And that's what I see when I look across so much of humanity. Sometimes, it is wasted by their own indolence, as we see with the wizards. And sometimes, it is constrained by society. You yourself are a case in point, for the Soviets could have done wonders with you. The power of the Tyrants cloned from your DNA is proof of that, if any be needed. And you are willing to do what it takes. Nietzsche would have viewed you as his Übermensch."

"Your flattery, while not unwelcome, will get you nowhere, Spencer," Sergei said with a smile. "Though I will not deny that that German got one thing right, that God is dead."

"True, but that only ensures that we must take His place. In any case, we will keep Potter under watch. It'll be interesting to compare the laboratory enhancements of Project Medea against the more instinctive usage of the Mutamycete he will doubtlessly display." A mirthless smile touched his lips. "Let those fools argue over him. The wizards do not know what they are dealing with. I, for one, think this will be interesting…"

CHAPTER 13 ANNOTATIONS:

Oh dear. Harry has met Spencer. This can't end well.

We don't get a lot of Spencer's characterisation, beyond his god complex and ruthlessness, in the games. I wanted to give him a surprisingly human and complex slant to his villainy, to make him more than basically a B-Movie villain. In doing so, I (unwittingly, at least at first) made him into a dark mirror for Henric. Spencer does believe, in his own twisted way, that what he is doing is for the benefit of humanity, but unlike Henric, he is not only a megalomaniac, but he doesn't care about the human cost. But I also decided, despite his canonical obsession with eugenics, he is particularly repulsed by wasted potential in humans. Perversely, it means that, while he respects some geniuses, he only has a few he truly considers on his level. Alex Wesker, Alexia Ashford (surprising, considering how I characterised their relationship in Henry Ashford and the Goblet of Fire), and Sergei Vladimir (who is clearly no slouch in the intellectual department in canon).

Anyway, this chapter is being posted on Halloween (my time, anyway), a fitting date for a Resident Evil fic. This will be the last chapter until December, as the next chapter, set during Christmas, would be fitting to post then. Still, I hope you've enjoyed the story so far. I'm currently playing through Village again, to try and finish it on the normal difficulty (and get the achievements for those goats and opening all of the dunnys), and we may soon get DLC for it, according to rumours from Capcom.

In any case, I hope you guys have enjoyed the fic so far.

Review-answering time! Some of you commented on Project Medea. The big reveal is still some time off, closer to the climax of the story. Project Medea will be making an appearance at Hogwarts after Sirius' next raid.

As for the Dementors being Mutamycete creatures, it was something I had considered from an early stage. The part that inspired me was JK Rowling claiming that Dementors grew 'like fungi' in dark corners of the world. And with the Dementors' ability to consume souls, it felt like a natural convergence. However, unlike many Mutamycete creatures, Dementors are actually magical, as they can levitate and fly (well, the latter in the films, but still). Yes, I know a few Mutamycete creatures can fly, but they have wings, and while it's technically not physically possible, a lot of science in Resident Evil requires the MST3K Mantra.

edboy4926: Yes, but Umbrella tends to be opportunistic rather than deliberately releasing bioweapons, and their workplace health and safety seems to be up to par, at least where preventing accidental outbreaks are concerned. Of course, there's so much wrong with Umbrella's corporate culture and its purpose that I am damning it with faint praise.

Hellraptor: I think of Bela as preferring landscapes to portraits, and oddly enough, she doesn't like making them too macabre, or at least not gory. In fact, now that I come to think about it, despite my prior statement, I'd like to think that she's the artist who created the portrait of Donna Beneviento and Angie that sits pride of place in House Beneviento. I also wanted to show an insight into the Dimitrescu sisters and what they got up to together when they weren't eating or torturing people. For all that she is repulsed by their monstrosity, Daniela's bonds with her sisters are not broken. She loves them in spite of that.

I also wanted to show some insight into what Bela and Cassandra would consider their humanity. Cassandra despises her humanity, and doesn't really want to remember being a human. Anecdotes are fine, but she is the most misanthropic of the Dimitrescus, even more than her mother, and she would react badly to regaining her memories, as I hint in this that she was a closeted sadist even as a human. I keep having flashbacks to Dio Brando screaming, "I REJECT MY HUMANITY!" when it comes to Cassandra. Bela, meanwhile, is somewhat curious, but is otherwise apathetic to her life as a human, though like Daniela, if she regained her memories, she would be able to cope. Like Cassandra, she had a closeted sadistic streak as a human, but she was more empathic too.

Funny you should mention Wesker playing Quidditch: in Henry Ashford and the Goblet of Fire, Draco Malfoy is actually Wesker's bastard son.

No numbered annotations this time.