Chapter 7

"It needs to be shiny. Like RIDICULOUSLY Shiny. Like, Elton John would call it gauche." Harry said to Preneck, chief forgemaster of Gringotts.

"Who's Elton John?" Sirius asked.

"Who doesn't know who Elton John is?" Preneck said

"Fucking right"? Come on man. Rocket man!?" Harry said

"Oh THAT guy.. crazy sunglasses?" Sirius said.

"That's the one." Harry said with a grin

"Fucking purebloods." Preneck said.

"Agreed. So Preneck, you still saving up for that domicile?" Harry asked. Preneck nodded.

"My mate and I are ready to have children. It will be a while." Preneck said. Harry winked at Sirius.

"How much do they go for?" Harry asked.

"The one we looked at is fourteen thousand galleons. We are about halfway there." Preneck said with pride, adding some details to the sketch.

"Ok, with the gemstones, platinum and gold this will cost five hundred and sixty galleons." Preneck said, showing him the sketch. Harry grinned, now was haggling time.

"Yeah, I wasn't born yesterday, Preneck. Ten thousand." Harry said

"Well, I... Wait what?" Preneck said, looking shocked. Harry grinned.

"Ten thousand minus Gringott's percentage should put you over the top for that domicile, right?" Harry said with a grin.

"That's way too much!" Preneck said.

"Consider it partial recompense for the four times my family failed to return or re-purchase goblin artifacts upon the death of the first owner." Harry said.

"But you returned them.." Preneck said.

"Yes, sixty years, one-hundred forty five years, seven hundred years and eleven hundred years too late." I'm guessing if you did the math, factoring in inflation, that would probably square us up." Harry said.

"I suppose, but how do I know this isn't some sort of trick?" Preneck asked. Harry nodded.

"That's because you're going to write up a contract which I will sign before I take ownership. All of the wars our people fought against each other have been over shit like this, Humans taking liberties with Goblin crafts, Goblins screwing over Humans with interest rates or vault seizures. Consider this me putting my money where my mouth is with all the shit I'm about to pull." Harry said, smiling.

"Do I wish to know of which shit you're speaking?" The goblin asked, wearing a genuine smile.

"Phase 4 my man. This is a small part of it." Harry said, the goblin's eyes widened.

"You're actually going forward with it then." Preneck said, rolling up the sketch and securing it with a black ribbon. Harry nodded sadly.

"You've seen things, Preneck. Two dark lord uprisings in just my lifetime, and then they refused to help with Millennium. Something's got to give." Harry said.

"Perhaps one day it won't just be the traitor goblins calling you King." Preneck said with a laugh.

"Oh god no, are you kidding. No, no, no, no, no. I'm thinking Emperor... no wait.. God Emperor!" Harry said cackling maniacally. Preneck laughed, and Sirius looked horrified.

"So, have you two decided on the date at which I'll have to refer to Seras as God Empress Seras Potter-Victoria?" Sirius asked with a grin, finally having calmed down after the shock down in the caverns below Gringotts, as they walked down Diagon Alley.

"I was thinking an autumn wedding, hopefully right around when the leaves turn. That will give us just under a year to prepare." Harry said.

"Wonderful. Have you thought of a location?" Sirius asked.

"My first thought was Hogwarts, the grounds are gorgeous, and the facilities are more than adequate, but I asked Seras to keep an eye out in case she found something she preferred." Harry said.

"That would make it easier to invite some of our more... diverse friends." Sirius said. Harry nodded.

"I jokingly suggested Grawp be the ringbearer, but really I want Schrodinger to do that. Teddy's just a little too young." Harry said.

"Makes sense. Oh god Hagrid is going to be a mess." Sirius said, grinning.

"Yeah I'm looking for a place that sells oversized tissues. Well thanks for joining me today. Seras and I are going to go meet with Helena in a few minutes." Harry said. Sirius nodded.

"If she wants a place to stay that isn't Hellsing, she's welcome at Grimmauld place." Sirius offered.

"Thanks, I'll offer it. I think Rip and Zorin have called dibs though." Harry said grinning before apparating to Hellsing. He made his way to their quarters and found Integra sitting on their bed while Seras was changing into her Hellsing uniform.

"Hello Integra, Hello Boobs. I mean Tits, I mean Sweater Muppets..." Harry said, staring at his fiancee's chest. Both women groaned and Integra smacked him.

"Charming as always my beloved. Are you ready to visit Helena?" Seras asked. Harry nodded.

"I was hoping you'd give this to her. It's an official letter of invitation for her to visit Hellsing Manor, along with an apology. I'm not sure how amenable she will be to reading it, but I wanted to try." Integra said.

"It's a sweet gesture, thank you. How are you feeling today? Any morning sickness, aches, anything of the like?" Harry asked.

"Not yet, I have all of the nausea potions, but I wanted to let you know I was down to the last week on the other two." Integra said

"Of course, I'll get started on that when we return." Harry said, before hugging Integra and taking Seras by the shoulder.

"Ready?" He asked. Seras nodded and they apparated into the yard outside of Helena's building.

"Harry, I really don't think I should be here.." Seras said, her eyes darting around.

"One sec." Harry said, waving his wand over her.

"That was strange." Seras said.

"Repelling wards. I just added a charm to temporarily counteract them, if Helena is ok with it I'll add you to the wards as well, but I'm kind of hoping she'll come back with us. I hate to think of her being alone like that." Harry said, as he knocked on the door.

"You came back!" Helena cried, appearing instantaneously beside them.

"CHRIST!" Seras screamed as she fell over in surprise. Harry tried valiantly to stifle the laughs that came out of him as he helped her to her feet.

"I'm sorry! You startled me. You're really fast!" Seras said. Helena smiled shyly. Harry walked over and hugged her before introducing them.

"Helena, this is my fiancee, Seras Victoria. Seras, this is Helena." Harry said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Victoria." Helena said with a curtsy.

"The pleasure is mine, Ms. Helena. Please call me Seras." Seras said, returnign the curtsy awkwardly.

"Shall we go in? I have some presents for you." Harry said. Helena tried desperately to hide the excitement in her expression, however despite centuries of life she still resided in the body of a child. She nodded enthusiastically and lead them up.

"I brought something for all of us." Harry said, reaching into his jacket and producing a large wicker basket. When he opened it, he pulled out several pre-filled blood flasks, and one large cheesecake and a smaller one along with a tea service. Helena looked at him curiously.

"Food with human blood is digestible, and actually quite delicious." Seras said, smiling before helping herself. Helena took a tentative bite and was shocked.

"This is amazing!" Helena said, devouring the rest of her piece.

"Harry made it. He's really good in the kitchen." Seras said smiling proudly at him.

"So how are you today?" Harry asked.

"I am well. I admit, I was concerned you would not be coming." Helena admitted. Harry nodded.

"Well we did! I also have a letter for you, from Sir Integra. She will not be offended if you refuse it, but she wanted to offer you an apology." Harry said, giving her the envelope. Helena accepted it, opened it and read it.

"This.. This is unexpected. Please convey my thanks, but let her know.. it will take time." Helena said.

"Of course, she had expected that. Now for your next present!" Harry said giddily, reaching into his jacket and handing her a journal. She looked at it in confusion.

"That is a special journal. Let me show you." Harry said, pulling out his own and opening it. Helena did the same and saw that all of the entries in hers matched his.

"I set up two of these when we were working with Zorin against Millennium. She and Rip were both part of that organization, and both were workign to dismantle it within, however Rip wasn't aware of Zorin's efforts until just before the end. I made on for Rip and now I've made one for you. Look!" Harry said before writing.

Is anyone near their journal?

-Harry

Yes! Are you with Helena? Did you give the journal to her?

-Rip

I am, she is holding it now.

-Harry

Helena, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Rip VanWinkle, yes I know it's from a story, I am a vampire that Harry saved from Millennium. I cannot wait to meet you in person some day.

-Rip

Ms. Van Winkle, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance as well.

-Helena.

Hopefully I will see you soon. For now, Schrodinger wants to go for a walk. Goodbye!

-Rip

"Rip and Zorin are amazing women, they risked their lives for fifty years working against Millennium." Harry said. Helena nodded, and looked conflicted.

"Feel free to write in it at any time. Seras and I are acclimated to the daytime, but Zorin and Rip are still working on that." Harry said

"Doesn't the sun bother you?" Helena asked Seras. She smiled and pulled out the pendant that had been under her shirt.

"Harry made this for me. It reduces the effects of the sun on me so that I barely notice it. It also protects against blessed objects and weak holy magic." Seras said.

"That leads me to your next present!" Harry said with a smile, pulling out a smaller necklace with a finely cut emerald.

"This does the same thing, but I thought green would look good on you. Go ahead and try it out." Harry said. Helena put the necklace on and walked to the window, reaching her hand out through it. Her eyes widened.

"That's amazing!" Helena said. Harry smiled.

"Zorin and Rip have jewelry with the same functions but in different forms. Rip's is an earring and Zorin's is a navel piercing." Harry said.

"A navel piercing?" Helena asked. Harry nodded

"Like an earring for your bellybutton. A lot of people have them nowadays." Harry said.

"I'm surprised she didn't ask for a nipple ring." Seras said, giggling.

"I think Rip talked her out of it. I didn't inquire further." Harry said with a smirk.

"Rip and Zorin have invited you to come and stay with them whenever you'd like, or even permanently. Some idiot bought them a house that is way too big for them and they'd love to have you. While she realizes that you won't accept it, Sir Integra also offered a place at the Manor. She is determined to do what she can to make up for the crimes of her ancestors." Harry said. Helena nodded and smiled, before a sob escaped and she rushed towards Harry, crying into his shirt. Harry held her and smiled.

"We won't pressure you into anything of course. I might come and harass you to make sure you're ok, and eating, but aside from that it's all up to you." Harry said, rubbing her back.

"Harry's also working like a man possessed on finding a way to use his magic to age you and Schrodinger." Seras said proudly.

"Do you think it's possible?" Helena asked after letting Harry go and wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.

"Magical scholars have suggested that it is impossible to age a vampire once turned." Harry said with a smile. Helena frowned and looked to the floor. Harry tilted her head up and brought his gaze to her.

"My friend Hermione and I have proven those scholars wrong on many occasions. Hermione's actually been making quite a bit of progress. We even have a test subject." Harry said.

"Who is going to test it?" Helena said.

"This asshole named Jan who tried to attack Hellsing. I captured him and he's currently providing the magical world with unprecedented information on artificial vampries." Harry said.

"I promise you, Helena, until you tell me to stop I will not cease working on this problem for you." Harry said

"Why?" Helena asked. Harry smiled

"Because if I succeed it will make you happy." Harry said.