Chapter 23

Harry pushed his magic into his limbs and rushed towards Alucard faster than any but Zorin could see, punching a hole through his abdomen. Alucard responded by clawing at Harry's back, opening up several ugly wounds. Harry retreated and cast a healing spell on himself before raising a hand, pointing a finger forward and blasting a white beam the width of a pencil at Alucard who just barely dodged in time. Alucard responded by expanding into a giant black cloud filled with eyeballs and enveloping Harry, binding his limbs in black ribbons of energy and pummeling his chest with his fists. Harry unleashed a bright white light that forced Alucard away screaming in pain.

"What was that?" Integra asked. Zorin stared completely dumbfounded at Alucard and Harry

"Holy magic. If he'd hit me with that I'd be crippled, if not dead." Zorin explained. The both dodged as one of Alucard's arms was ripped off and sent flying in their direction. They looked back to see Alucard laughing, the stump where his left arm had been, bleeding severely. Alucard sent several tendrils of black energy at Harry, impaling him with each.

"Harry!" Zorin shouted but was restrained by Integra.

"Alucard is acutely aware of what Harry can and cannot handle. Harry is safe." Integra said. As if to prove it, harry laughed and exploded into a black fog, circling around behind Alucard and forcing his magic into the entirety of his body, rushing forward and slamming him into the wall, breaking most of his bones.

"You figured it out?" Alucard yelled.

"Yeah, it's all about control." Harry yelled before launching another white beam at him, this one connected burning an angry hole in his side. Alucard vanished and appeared right in front of Harry, overpowering him and biting his neck. Harry laughed and withdrew a flask from his jacket, downing it. Suddenly Alucard gagged and vomited, clawing at his throat. Harry withdrew Captain Stabby and slashed his palm open, then rushed forward, swiping his hand forward, sending several drops of blood flying at Alucard's face. Immediately it started burning and Alucard withdrew to recover.

Harry pressed his advantage and leapt forward, grabbing hold of Alucard and apparating him a thousand feet up. He apparated back to the ground and raised his hands in the air, conjuring a sphere of white energy. Alucard regained his senses about five hundred feet down and vanished, reappearing behind Harry just in time to catch the ball of energy in the chest, which sent him flying once again, though this time he skidded to a halt, landing on his feet. With a growl he rushed forward and slashed at Harry's throat with his claws right as Harry stabbed him in the lung with Anderson's bayonet.

"That's enough!" Integra shouted. Alucard cackled in joy as his restraint level returned to normal and he resumed his normal red-clad appearance. Harry healed the slashes on his neck and shook Alucard's hand.

"I haven't had that much fun in a long time." Alucard said.

"You almost got me, I was running out of gas there at the end." Harry admitted. Alucard nodded.

"Still you're improving. I sensed you were holding back?" Alucard said. Harry nodded.

"I'm not touching any friendly vampires with fire magic, that shit is just evil. I've also figured out a lot of interesting holy magic, but I don't know what a lot of it will do so I'd rather test it out on Millennium." Harry said.

"What was that potion you drank when I bit you?" Alucard asked.

"It was holy water. Anderson hooked me up. I can't believe nobody's tried that with you before." Harry said. This got Alucard laughing again.

"We're looking for a vicar to keep on staff to provide everyone with holy water for when we go into battle." Integra said as they approached her.

"Excellent work both of you." Integra said.

"Thank you, my master." Alucard said, bowing.

"Thanks." Harry said with a grin.

"You said you have figured out some more holy magic?" Integra asked. Harry nodded.

"I found one in one of my dad's books called 'sanctus lux'" It's basically... well it's hard to describe." Harry said.

"Is it safe to demonstrate?" Integra asked.

"As long as Alucard and Zorin stay back. Humans won't be affected by it in the slightest, but it will harm vampires." Harry said.

"Can we see it?" Integra asked. Harry nodded and jogged back to the end of the training field. He closed his eyes and held his hands to his sides. He started rising up off the ground, and energy started crackling around him. He slowly raised his arms above his head and as he did so a white dome of light raised up from the ground, surrounding him. Once it took form he let go and it exploded into a massive white flash that enveloped an area fifty feet in diameter around him. As it dissipated he slowly lowered to the ground and the crackling energy died down. He opened his eyes and grinned before walking back towards them.

"That was beautiful." Integra commented.

"And utterly horrifying." Alucard said. They all looked stunned at him.

"Master if that thing had hit me it would torn me apart, I have no idea how long it would take me to come back together. I suspect Zorin wouldn't survive at all." Alucard said. He paused for a moment and grinned.

"That's something I haven't felt in a very long time." Alucard commented.

Hours later, Seras sat in Zorin and Rip's kitchen along with Rip, Zorin, Hermione, Integra, Luna, and Schrodinger enjoying some Italian Coffee Harry had brought back from his reconnaissance trip. The topic of discussion was something, or rather someone, dear to all of them.

"He hasn't said anything about it." Seras said.

"He never does. I've been with him on three of his birthdays and he doesn't realize it until after we shout happy birthday and throw presents at him." Hermione commented.

"What could we possibly get for a God Emperor?" Rip said with a grin.

"I was going to make something for him." Schrodinger said.

"That would probably be perfect, Schrodinger." Rip said.

"Oh we should take him to a quidditch game, I don't think he's been to one in years!" Hermione suggested.

"The Harpies are playing the week after his birthday, that would be perfect!" Luna said.

"Who are they playing against?" Hermione asked.

"The Cannons. We'll make sure Ron is there so we can watch his heart break again" Luna said, causing them all to laugh.

"So we could all chip in on the tickets for everyone, and we could each get him something smaller, just little reminders of how much he means to us, like Schrodinger's idea." Luna said.

"Sounds like a plan. We've got weeks to prepare, but when he made a big fuss about my birthday, I realized I hadn't even considered his." Seras said.

"Did he really jump out of a giant cake naked?" Hermione asked. Seras nodded and Integra blushed.

"Yes, but he wasn't aware that Integra was with me at the time." Seras said laughing.

-Flashback-

"I just need to pop into our quarters to get my... What the hell?" Seras asked. Integra followed her into Seras and Harry's shared quarters only to be confronted with a large fake birthday cake.

"He remembered!" Seras said, giddily. At that point Harry burst out of the cake completely naked, his arms raised in the air shouting 'Happy Birthday!'

"Oh, hi Integra." Harry said, completely unconcerned.

"Oh.. my... GOD!" Integra said, involuntarily looking down.

"Wonderful isn't it?" Seras said proudly.

"So um... HR doesn't need to hear about this do they?" Harry asked.

-End Flasback-

"So was it..." Zorin asked.

"Massive." Integra said, blushing even more.

"What was massive?" Schrodinger asked. Zorin was about to come up with some story, when she saw the quirk on his lip.

"You've been doing that on purpose haven't you?" Rip asked, scandalized.

"Harry thought it would be a funny joke. I tend to agree." Schrodinger said, laughing.