Zaneta: Well, bad news folks, I am going to uni far from home, so while I have several chapters with me after a while it may take longer to put them up, but I sent Omega an email telling him when I'll try to be on so that we can discuss fiction. The same goes with works co-written with my sister. Also, following my last review, I tend to remove the double spacing so you can tell when the scene changes more easily. That, and the fact that double spacing reminds me of French essays (which is the part of my A level I flunked).
Chapter 2- An Odd Request and Discovery
As the three prepared to leave, McGonagall stopped, "Sir Hellsing, I know this is probably a bit odd, but I was wondering if you could help me with something."
"I'm listening."
"The boy we were talking about, Harry Potter, I don't know what he and Professor Dumbledore did that night, but I'm willing to bet that he might stop his education in order to finish what Professor Dumbledore started."
"I see," Integra answered thoughtfully.
"I have tried to encourage him to confide in me, however, he is unwilling to, if you could find some way to get him to complete his education at the very least, I would be most grateful," the witch explained.
"I understand how you feel, if what you said regarding the prophecy is true, Potter will be a key player, and recklessness will only get him killed. I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you, the Order of the Phoenix and the Ministry for Magic will be in touch."
Once the wizards walked out into the night Alucard asked, "Is it wise to have over two hundred young wizards in this place?"
"Probably not, but if Millennium is involved with Voldemort, we can't leave them in a place where they are almost bound to get killed by either these Death Eaters or the vampires and ghouls." Integra answered, "You know my obligations Alucard."
"Indeed, but will the last minute arrangements be enough?"
"Most likely, we'll establish where they can go and where they can't, and I have no doubt that the teachers will be able to find ways around the matter."
"Probably, they have the best interests at heart, but Scringemour will do anything to avoid losing face Integra, we need to be careful around him."
"I think dealing with you has cost that old lion enough."
Alucard laughed, "Too true, I seem to have it down to an art."
"I guess old habits really do die hard, I saw what you did outside that hotel in Rio de Janeiro." Integra stated flatly.
Alucard shrugged, "They started it."
Seras chuckled at that.
"What is it Seras?"
"I…I'm sorry… it's just… Master you…"
"Get to the point Police Girl."
"You sounded like such a schoolboy!" she shouted all at once, before bursting out into a fit of laughter.
"My, that's the first time I've heard her laugh in all the time she's been with us." Integra answered, trying not to laugh herself.
"I still don't see what makes it so funny, besides the bad pun of the situation."
"Then again, the joke is on you, but look at the bright side, you're the one who made your fledgling smile, and that's an achievement."
"That's the bright side?"
"Get off it Alucard, before I order it out of you."
Miles away Harry sat looking outside the window when there was a shout from below.
"Harry! You've got mail!" Mrs Weasley's voice rang from the kitchen.
Expecting that to be the Hogwarts letter Harry walked down the stairs, but was surprised to see a letter addressed in sapphire blue ink, the paper was a pristine white instead of the yellow parchment that wizards used, and the handwriting was certainly unfamiliar.
Harry Potter The Burrow
"Who can this be from?" Harry wondered aloud, opening the letter. The paper was as white as the envelope, and the writing was an elegant script in azure ink.
Mr Potter,
I have heard that you might not be finishing your education for the sake of someone close to you. While I'm sure that he appreciates your loyalty and dedication to finishing what he began he would not want you to throw away the value of your learning.
I myself lost a person valuable to me before I learned everything he wished to teach me, but I did not just quit and take on the responsibilities he left me with. If anything, I delved deeper, I wanted to learn as much as I could to make him proud, and I'm sure you want to make everyone you have lost proud as well.
Lord Voldemort must not be underestimated, you need every piece of knowledge you can get in order to defeat him. He has completed his education and has more to fall back on, let alone his followers. While underneath he's a coward and a braggart, that power must never be forgotten. He will not hesitate to use it, because he is no longer human, only a monster remains inside, and he would laugh at the thought of you rushing in to defeat him without finishing school. That may even be what he wants. Come to school, seek answers there, you may find that the year would prove highly productive in the long-term battle. At the very least you'd be on the same footing as everyone else your age.
Yours Sincerely,
Someone who knows your situationHarry looked at the letter, those words seemed to hit him like a hammer blow.
"Who was it from dear?" Mrs Weasley asked.
"I don't know, they didn't sign it with a name," Harry answered, holding it up.
Just then Hermione came down the stairs with Ginny, "Is something wrong Harry?"
"I got an anonymous letter giving me a lecture about why I should go to Hogwarts for my last year." Harry answered.
"I don't recognise the handwriting." Mrs Weasley stated, "And it isn't parchment either."
Hermione took the paper and looked at it, "You could write to the queen with paper like this!" she exclaimed, "Not to mention the handwriting."
"It's good quality then?"
"And very expensive no doubt, I'm willing to bet that the ink was expensive."
"But it arrived by owl."
"There is certainly something funny going on here."
Harry sighed, "Then there's only one way to find out what's going on. I'll have to go and attend my last year."
Hermione smiled, "I think a lot of people would feel happier knowing that."
When it came to September 1st Harry was surprised to see that the car had mirrored out windows, "This is odd, is this to hide from spies or something?"
"No, something different is happening this year." Mr Weasley answered, "Some other circumstances cropped up over the extended summer."
"What kind of circumstances?"
"The Minister wouldn't be happy if I talked to you about it, although between us I have the feeling you'll find out either way." Mr Weasley answered, "You seem to have a knack for it."
"Not by choice though!"
"I know Harry, calm down."
"Dad's right, we shouldn't get so stressed out." Ron answered, "Let's just sit back and enjoy the ride."
And a ride it was, "This is taking an oddly long time considering we're going to King's Cross."
"That's because we're not going to King's Cross."
"What?" Hermione exclaimed.
"Why not!"
"The school was temporarily relocated."
"The whole castle?"
"Don't you think that would stick out a little bit?"
"Then…"
"You'll see soon enough."
Two weeks earlier
"So it's definitely an alliance."
"I can't tell what the two sides are getting out of it, but the Charms teacher found pointless items bewitched into instant transportation."
"Pointless items?"
"Mostly empty bullet boxes." Seras explained, "But they were all labelled with swastikas," she took one out and put it on the desk, "This one had the charm lifted in order to present it."
Integra looked at it, sure enough, on the lid, along with the text, which she was certain was German, was the cursed swastika. "Then that proves it, an alliance is the only logical explanation for a Nazi object with magic cast on it."
Alucard nodded, "But about this boy that keeps surviving Voldemort's onslaught."
"What about him?"
"If we're to understand this character, we need to talk to him, his memories should be enough to see how Voldemort thinks." Alucard answered simply.
"Very well, we will call him aside at some point during the course of the first week, Seras, I leave that to you."
"Yes sir!"
"Walter! Contact McGonagall and Scringemour as soon as possible, they will need to rearrange part of the estate to suit their needs."
"Of course."
Authors' rants
Omega: If anyone doesn't clue things together here, read it again.
Zaneta: (whacks Omega with a rolled-up newspaper) Don't be mean to the readers idiot!
Omega: Ow! Where did you get that?
Zaneta: (holds up the front) It's last week's Prophet.
Omega: Where did you get that?
Zaneta: Don't ask, I was tempted to use Dad's old copy of The Sunday Times, but the Prophet was closer by.
Omega: Why do you have a copy of a fictional newspaper?
Zaneta: (shrugs)
Omega: Let's just get on with the preview.
Preview
"Personally, I don't think exploring is a good idea, we'll only get ourselves lost."
"If you ask me," Harry added, "This is like being a first year all over again."
"Only we have a better knowledge of spells."
"And pain."
It's September and Harry and the gang are at Hellsing Manor!
Omega: Bet you didn't see that coming!
Zaneta: Shut up!
Tension is up, Malfoy and Snape are nowhere to be seen, and who's that girl at the teacher's table?
Find out in Chapter 3- New Year, New Teacher
Omega: Why are you writing the previews?
Zaneta: I'm the one with experience.