Chapter 22
"The men dressed in nazi uniforms came by three days ago and bought my entire inventory." Heinkel said, translating for Paolo Romero, the local black market weapons source.
"Does he know when to expect the next purchase?" Harry asked Heinkel to translate, and she did.
"He said that he couldn't possibly betray his customer." Heinkel said with a skeptical grimace. Harry sighed, pulled a small stack of euros out of his pocket, and showed it to Paolo whose eyes widened.
"He said he's expecting them to return next Friday, very early, usually around 4:30 in the morning." Heinkel translated for the man.
"Grazie." Harry said, before handing Paolo about 5000 euro, and leading Heinkel and Seras back to the orphanage.
"Father Anderson, is Iscariot devoting any resources towards pursuing Millennium?" Harry asked. Heinkel frowned.
"No, we've been acting of our own accord on that regard. We've been ordered Bishop Matrograno, Maxwell's replacement, to stand down and wait for future orders. They've diverted a lot of our funding elsewhere and moved three quarters of our personnel to other sections." Anderson said. Harry scowled.
"Of course, I just bet that.. sorry I told you I wouldn't criticize the church here." Harry said, pulling off his jacket and unlatching his body armor. He looked over at Yumie and pondered, before transfiguring the armor to accommodate a smaller frame. Once he was satisfied, he handed it to Yumiko who was looking at him oddly.
"If you go out, please wear that under your habit, Yumiko. You're still stabilizing after we properly met Yumie. Heinkel, I'll send some for you as well, and let me know how many others you'll need. Father Anderson probably wouldn't see much use out of it." Harry said.
"I doubt your boss would appreciate giving out aid to the enemy." Heinkel said. Harry grinned.
"First off, I designed and built that armor, using my personal resources. Same with the armor I'll be sending you. Secondly, Integra was adamant we help where we can because Millennium is her highest priority at the moment. Well that and the baby." Harry said with a grin. Heinkel smiled.
"It's ironic that it took an Agnostic to bridge the gap between Catholics and Protestants." Heinkel observed. Harry shrugged.
"I'm not qualified to wax philosophical on the causes and ramifications of the Reformation. All I care about is that you're good people, and I'm trying hard to be the same." Harry said, shrugging.
"I think you're doing a pretty good job of that, Harry." Yumiko offered.
"Thank you." Harry said, smiling.
Harry and Seras returned to Hellsing and explained their findings to Integra. She was excited to have finally made some progress and thanked them profusely. She was also deeply thankful for the Gelato they brought back for her. She opened the container and started eating it, deeply enjoying it.
"This is really good." Integra said. Harry looked at her curiously.
"Heinkel recommended it." Harry said. Integra smiled
"She's so good to me. You're all so good to me. I don't deserve you." Integra said, her lower lip trembling.
"Uh, you OK Integra?" Seras asked. Harry was already behind the desk rubbing her back. Integra burst out crying and turned to take Harry in her arms.
"I just, I really appreciate both of you. Oh God where would I be without you?" Integra said, sobbing. Seras looked terrified by Harry just smiled and shook his head.
"Everything's OK Integra. Breathe, love, the baby is kicking your ass right now." Harry said.
"What?" Integra asked.
"Hormonal mood swings. Mrs. Weasley warned me about it. Give it a few moments and you'll feel fine. It was in the pamphlets too remember?" Harry said. Integra closed her eyes and breathed, and eventually regained her composure.
"Well, that was embarrassing." Integra said.
"Also completely natural. Call us if it happens, remember you're not alone." Harry said. Integra nodded gratefully.
"So gracious of you to deign us worthy of your presence, your majesty." Minerva said with a smirk.
"Seriously, you too? If you all keep this up I'm going to buy a fiddle." Harry warned.
"A fiddle?" Seras asked.
"Nero, a Roman emperor known for being a psychopath and a hedonist. He was known for, amongst other things, playing a fiddle while Rome burned." Minerva explained.
"I came here to catch up, but if you're going to make fun of me then I'll just go." Harry said, petulantly.
"Oh no, we can't have that. Come with me." Minerva said, leading Harry into the castle. They made their way to Minerva's office, greeting students and staff as they passed, and when they arrived Minerva offered them some tea, which they accepted.
"So Minerva, how have things been here since my little temper tantrum?" Harry asked. Minerva smirked.
"Harry if only your 'temper tantrums' always produced such positive results..." Minerva said before thinking for a few minutes.
"Actually I can't remember a temper tantrum of yours that hasn't changed the world for the better." Minerva said laughing.
"Well let's just hope I'm not forced to throw my toys out of the pram again any time soon." Harry said.
"It's been wonderful though. Having the freedom to improve and streamline the curriculum and disciplinary code has already shown significant change. Poor Argus hasn't had much help scrubbing the floors in weeks." Minerva observed.
"I don't get it." Seras said.
"A lot of teachers would assign detention and make the students help Filch with menial cleaning tasks.
"He's certainly been a lot less disagreeable now that he's paid a fair wage." Minerva observed.
"It was a travesty how little they paid him before. It explains a lot of the bitterness." Harry said. Minerva nodded.
"He's looking forward to being able to retire, now that he can save up for it." Minerva said. Harry grinned mischievously.
"You might want to start looking for a new caretaker then." Harry said.
"Why?" Minerva asked, alarm bells ringing in her head.
"It'll be announced end of the fiscal year. All of you will be receiving back pay in recompense for the lack of raises over the years." Harry said.
"What?!" Minerva asked. Harry nodded.
"Filch will be getting a LOT of back pay." Harry said.
"How are you going to pay for that? You're not using your personal fortune are you?" Minerva asked. Harry shook his head.
"Tax reforms. It's amazing the resources we had after we stopped funneling funds into all of the old Wizengamot members' pet projects. Combine that with the fact that the wealthy are now actually going to be paying their taxes, and let's just say there will be plenty of school funding." Harry said.
"Oh. Well I won't pretend to be Argus' biggest fan, but it is good to see he's getting what he has earned." Minerva said. Harry nodded.
"I agree, also the man's a veteran, it's abhorrent that he's being treated like this." Harry said.
"He didn't fight in either of the wars against Voldemort." Minerva said.
"No, but he fought in World War 2. He was a second Lieutenant in the Army. The only way he was able to survive on Hogwarts wages was because of his military pension." Harry said.
"How do you know all of this?" Minerva asked.
"Well..." Harry said
-Flashback-
Harry was walking the grounds after having dissolved the board of governors, when he encountered Argus Filch pushing a wheelbarrow out towards the Forbidden Forest.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Filch." Harry said.
"That it is, Mr. Potter. I have to say watching those fools paraded out of Hogwarts like that did this old heart a lot of good." Filch said with a grin.
"Well I gotta do something positive when I'm not out there killing nazis." Harry said with a grin.
"Oh let me tell you a few things about killing nazis." Filch said. He spent an hour regaling Harry with stories about he and his friends traipsing about France mowing down nazis at every turn. Harry responded by telling him about his efforts against Millennium, and how they'd been experimenting with vampires. Filch nodded grimly.
"Well you put those governors out on their ass and now you're killing nazis, I think I misjudged you boy." Filch said, offering his hand. Harry shook it.
"Hey they haven't relocated Dumbledore's grave yet right? I have to take a piss." Harry said. Filch fell over laughing
-End Flashback-
"I regret someof the bad things I said about him." Harry said with a grin.
"It's amazing I've worked with the man for decades and I never knew about that." Minerva said.
"He didn't exactly volunteer it. Oh, by the way, are things ready for when Schrodinger starts in September?" Harry asked. Minerva nodded.
"Between you and several fifth and sixth years who have volunteered after meeting him, he will have plenty of blood available to him. It will be a unique situation, since most vampires are turned after reaching adulthood." Minerva said.
"I've set up a network of volunteers, and once the new prison is built we'll transfer everyone from Azkaban and they'll be required to donate as part of their sentences." Harry said.
"I'm glad you're finally closing that terrible place." Minerva said. Harry nodded.
"The Dementors are already gone and more humane accommodations are already in place. We've also questioned all prisoners under veritaserum, and found fifteen people had been wrongfully imprisoned." Harry said with a scowl.
"Why did they never think to do that before?" Minerva asked.
"Fourteen of the fifteen were political prisoners. People who campaigned against the pureblood agenda, and were 'found to be in 'possession' of dark or stolen objects. Fudge was just hiding them away and shutting them up." Harry said.
Pip Bernadotte was struggling to keep his men alive. They were trapped underground in an abandoned cold war subterranean bunker system, fighting against dozens of full fledged vampires. Two had already been taken and the remaining seven were fading fast. One was too weak to move, and he just finished tying off the bleeding stump that used to be another's left arm.
"Wait until you see zem before you fire!" Pip ordered
"They're too fuckin' fast AAAGAAGH!" One of his men said before he was thrown to the ground being savaged by a vampire.
"Fuck zem up!" Pip yelled, leveling his rifle at the three more vampires that arrived and unloading his magazine into them.
"Too many!" another of his men said, and with that Pip saw the end had arrived. His men were all down being torn apart and as the last vampire clamped her jaws on his throat the illusion evaporated and all 10 men where on the ground reeling.
"That's why you don't hide underground from vampires. Most of the time your best bet is to escape. Cut that off and you're doing their job for them." Zorin said, lifting her hand from the ground.
"Merde!" Pip said, getting to his feet, catching his breath. His men all exchanged similar exclamations. The one that had lost an arm was nearly crying with relief when he saw that the missing appendage had not been removed.
"The Second generation Millennium vampires are inferior to the first in many ways, but they are still faster and stronger than you. The only defense you have is to out think them. Creating a bottleneck is a good strategy, but only when you have a clear way out if you get overrun." Zorin continued.
"Thank you for zat. Perhaps after ze men recuperate we can do zat again?" Pip asked, his men all groaned.
"Of course. In a week we'll have you team up with Neville, Ron, Luna or Lavender to work with mixed unit tactics, they need to learn as well. Their hit and run style worked against death eaters, but Millennium is comprised of professional soldiers." Zorin said.
"And remember, if you ever see the Captain, fall back. Not even I stand a chance against him. Leave him to Seras, Alucard or Harry." Zorin said.
"Leave what to us?" Harry said, jogging over to greet them.
"Harry! I was just using my illusions to train them in combat versus vampires. They are getting better each time." Zorin said.
"Zat is not what it looks like from our side of things." Pip said with a laugh.
"We were discussing the Captain." Zorin explained Harry nodded grimly.
"Rip VanWinkle is capable even without her musket of tearing all of you apart in less than a minute, and when I returned to the Eagle, the Captain was toying with her. Zorin is not kidding, of all the first generation vampires created, he is the strongest followed closely by my lovely friend here." Harry said, gesturing at a blushing Zorin.
"Go get washed up and be back here in half an hour. Harry has a little surprise for you all." Zorin said. They all walked over and shook her hand, thanking her before retreating back into the building. Zorin looked at them puzzled.
"Strange to go from being a pawn in someone else's chess game to people thanking you and showing appreciation isn't it?" Harry said with a grin.
"Yes. It is not unwelcome, but it is unfamiliar." Zorin said.
"Is the navel ring working?" Harry asked. Zorin nodded.
"Yes I encountered him on the way here, he apologized again and I didn't feel anything from him." Zorin said.
"Good, I'm gonna need you to be able to step in if things get too heated." Harry said. Harry and Zorin walked their way down to the new training area that had been set up for explosives training and/or 'Harry trying new stupid dangerous shit' as Integra liked to put it. It was surrounded by high reinforced concrete walls which had been warded for increased durability. Despite the warding, there were sections of crumbling wall that Harry repaired before their little demonstration.
"I'm both looking forward to and dreading September." Harry said, reassembling a shattered training dummy.
"Why?" Zorin asked.
"Schrodinger's going to Hogwarts. It's going to be strange not having him here." Harry said. Zorin nodded.
"I worry for him. Will he fit in with the other children? I mean, he has cat ears and is a vampire." Zorin said. Harry shrugged.
"There will be growing pains, no doubt, but Minerva and Neville will be keeping an eye on him. The new bullying policy is working wonders. Besides he won't be alone, two veelas will be starting this year as well. I know he's strong, but I just.. I don't know that I'm ready to let go, you know?" Harry said. Zorin chuckled.
"When Integra gives birth, if you ever doubt yourself as a father, I want you to remember what you've done for Schrodinger. You have done wonderful things for him Harry." Zorin said.
"Well his two moms are doing a great job too." Harry said with a grin. Zorin smiled. The Wild Geese started filing into the spectator section of the testing area, and Zorin retreated behind the blast shields with them. Alucard faded into existence and took a seat alongside them.
"Ok, now that we have this new training area, I believe I promised Pip a demonstration of the fabled 'Ass Cannon'" Harry announced, getting excited cheers in response. Harry turned away from the crowd and raised his hand, calling up the flame lash and pouring power into it until it rose to a height of around 20 feet. He then turned it purple before slamming it onto the ground towards the reinforced concrete wall. It started burning much hotter and brighter, to the point where pip was beginning to feel heat radiating off of it. Then suddenly and without warning, it exploded forward decimating the concrete wall and a hundred feet of forest behind it, leaving a solid streak of glass in the sand heading into the woods. With a wave of his hand, he doused the remaining flames and repaired the wall.
"Jesus..." Zorin said. The wild geese stared at him, gobsmacked.
"The wizards we face In Millennium to our knowledge do not wield destructive power like that... yet." Harry said.
"We know Mengele has been experimenting heavily on vampires over the years and we theorize he will be doing the same with the Wizard volunteers they've been collecting as they travel around Eastern Europe. When you face a regular wizard, they have all the same weaknesses as a normal human, plus they're typically physically frail due to a life of relying on magic for damn near everything. If you face wizards, always fire in bursts or full auto. A single round might bring down their shield, but that will also alert them to your presence." Harry explained. He got a few dumbfounded nods in response.
"Now, for the main event. Alucard has requested a little exhibition match against me." Harry said with a grin. Alucard who had been giggling maniacally ever since the ass cannon went off leapt into the area and began to prepare.
"How about we up the ante?" Integra said, walking into the area and standing beside Zorin.
"How so boss?" Harry said.
"Alucard. Release restraint level 1." Integra said. Harry grinned as Alucard cackled, transforming into a monstrous bondage-gear clad nightmare with crimson and black tendrils of energy radiating all around him.
"This is gonna be fun." Harry said.