The path not taken
The night had not been an easy one for those that belonged to the enclaves. The woman, Umbridge, had made herself known to the students within the castle rather early during the breaks. Her opinions carried throughout the entire populace due to her rather piercing voice. The idea of such a disgusting witch being the one that would be representing them to another nation was a horrifying prospect.
Albus was rubbing his fore head at what had been going on within this vision of another world as it seemed that anything that could go wrong was going wrong. This latest development was not helping in the least.
Chloe was explaining and filling in what gaps she could during the breaks so that there would be no misunderstandings on their side. The fact that a lot of the idiocy that came her way was due to politics made it easier to explain. Politics had a nasty habit of causing more issues than it solves in her opinion.
During the night the potters had had a serious discussion. Harry was rattled by what had been shown, his other self had been harassed by a person that he had thought of as a friend. A person that as far as he knew, if he was willing to do that to Chloe he might be willing to do it to his precious little sister. This was not something he was willing to risk. James as lord potter had put his foot down when this worry had been voiced. They would start to pull away from the Weasley, they would however do it in such a manner that it would seem natural and not due to the current revelations. The alliance between the Weasley and the potters was over. It would take a great deal of mending before they were as close as the used to be.
Chapter 11: Insults and Apologies.
"You expect me to stay here?"
This one sentence cause a series of flinches from those that were in it be those from the ministry or the wizengamot. Both were horrified by the way the woman had addressed the ruler of a nation, especially one with which it was obviously a goal to gain an alliance or at least a trade treaty.
The woman herself was oblivious to the reactions she had illicit from her colleagues and more specifically her superior. It would not be hard to say that the woman would not have much more time within her position at the ministry. What else happened would probably be on a contingency of what happened.
"Is there a problem with that?" Vert asked with narrowed eyes. "After all my sister and I live here as well, as well as any diplomats from the other nations, and any visiting goddesses or candidates. So what exactly is the problem with you staying here?"
Umbridge snorted, and loudly replied, "It's an insult. I deserve to be placed in a better location."
Chloe sneered at the toad-like woman and said as she headed inside, "You are not better, or more important than us, no matter what you think."
CC snorted in agreement as she went to her room as well, a room that was given to her after it looked like the partnership was stable.
Vert took a deep breath and said, "I will take you to your room and show you how to contact the various services you have access to, and how to use the expense account I set up for you."
Umbridge snorted and replied, "Just show me the room, I can figure out how your inferior sociology works myself."
Lucius was horrified at what he was seeing. It was true that he considered being a pure-blood as being from a higher social status. He also knew that their society was slowly being eroded, Something that he did not want to happen.
However he was a politician and knew that their was times when one needed to bite their tongue in order to get common goals achieved. Compromises such as this were inevitable despite his wishes. He was also not the only one that was horrified.
Cornelius was red. He had never been so embarrassed by a member of his staff. To think that this woman had been his most trusted ally outside of Lucius, no he was not going to tolerate this. If she would act like this to the ruler of a powerful nation how would she act towards underlings? No this would need to be resolved.
Not knowing about the thoughts that had been running through her boss's head at that moment Dolores was smirking. She was sure that her other would be sure to put those barbarians in their places. She would of course ensure that all of their power would answer to the ministry as of course the ministry would use it in an acceptable manner.
James potter was fuming. True he knew that Chloe, despite what her soul said, was not his child any more. He had also spent some time talking to Vert his child's new sister. He had gotten along with her as the powerful goddess apparently had a massive playful streak not to mention a deep love for her little sister. He was glad that it was her that was looking after his child. So when he saw the toad insult them he was not happy in the slightest. He could tell that his wife was not either from the dark look in her eyes.
No he would make sure that the toad would be ostracized from polite society if it was the last thing he did.
Vert was now getting seriously annoyed, she will be sending a letter with her sister to ask for a different representative ASAP, as this one seems to be trying to piss her off... quite successfully in fact.
"Very well, follow me, I have a welcome packet with the instructions, as well as some laws you need to know about, and some tourist information. Just so you know, we don't have diplomatic immunity here, so it would be in your best interest to read the laws."
Deloris snorted, after all, the laws couldn't be too different, and she would push to have anything different changed. After all she was the senior undersecretary to the minister of magic, and the so called goddesses' elder to boot, so her word should be enough.
The visitors from the other world all started to cough in a manner that sounded suspiciously like laughter at this. Especially the 'being verts senior' comment. Though those that were from the magical world had no idea why the had all assumed that it was one of the differences between the worlds that they would find out at some point later on.
She was moderately surprised that the room, with its attached bathroom was much better that she expected, but still, in her opinion, inferior as it lacked the magical accommodations she was used to, as well as a lack of house elves.
In actuality the suite was the equivalent of a four star hotel, with the only better rooms in the place belonging to the goddess and her candidate, as well as the goddess guest rooms.
Once again the elders looked at the woman in disgust. The screen had shown the room and it was better than quite a few of the lower noble families could afford to have within their homes.
Augusta Longbottom was glaring at the screen. Whilst it was true that She was a traditional woman she also like Lucius understood the need to co-operate at times and to see this woman doing everything in her power to destroy any type of relations they might have with the nation. No she was not happy.
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An hour later had Chloe and CC in a field as she practised her sacred lance spell. She wanted to get it to the point where she didn't need the chant. It also allowed her to blow off steam at the insufferable Representative of the ministry.
Three hours later she had the spell to the point that not only does she not need the chant, but quartered the cost of it and can cast it nearly at a thought.
The monsters had started fleeing as well.
This caused those from the other-world to start to snicker. Chloe was not the only one to do such things Uni had a habit of going on a gunning spree when she was annoyed, whilst Nepgear locked herself within her lab to build things. What made them laugh however was the making the monsters flee part as the only one they had seen do such a thing was Blanc.
CC was following a fair distance behind her partner. She had seen this before. It was a side effect of Chloe being in a body midway through puberty, her hormones are perpetually unbalanced, and when they hit her when she's angry, nobody is safe.
Lily winced at this as she remembered what she was like during puberty. To be in what was essentially an eternal puberty would be horrifying. Though there seemed to be some sort of correction as it seemed that the girl was only really effected during extreme emotions.
The massive amount of monsters destroyed in the three hours was proof of that. As well as the creators left by Chloe's new spell that she gained after she levelled up.
Saracco, a chain of mixed fire and wind explosions over a large area.
CC was grateful that Chloe had a wide range attack finally. Something she herself lacked.
Another chain explosion happened, killing a dozen bunny-vaders.
CC sighed, and hoped that her partner would get it out of her system before dark.
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She did, and hour before dark, or more precisely, she collapsed right about then. With a fond smile CC picked her up in a bridal carry and headed back home.
She met the cause of the cute bundle in her arms anger on her way into the building.
"And what do we have here? I'm sure that the so called goddess will be thrilled when I report somebody attacked her sister, or perhaps I should just do something to you both," the pink wearing witch said in a false sweet tone of voice.
If there was one thing it was having dirt on people as it made her getting her way so much easier. Every one had a skeleton within their closet and she had several books worth of secrets that she had uncovered. It was one of the reasons that she was in her position, it was also one of the reasons that she was the closest thing to a permanent fixture next to the statue of brotherhood in the main entrance of the ministry.
"Oh really?" a voice sounded from behind Unbridge.
Turning the representative saw a green haired beauty that was, unknown to her, the oracle of Leanbox. The oracle continued with, "Tired herself out again Cyberconnect2? Please take her to her room please. And as for you, allow me to introduce myself, I am Chika, Oracle of Leanbox, and unofficial middle sister of the goddess and her sister, and let me give you a warning, try anything against our sister, and you will regret it."
Umbridge stood there shaking in fury at the woman whom had turned her back on her. In a deep dark corner of her mind she could admit that part of her problem with all three of the sisters was the fact that they were all three much prettier than she had any hope of being, as well as, in their own circles at least, more politically, and personally powerful than she could even dream of.
This caused a smirk to appear on verts face. It was true she was an incredibly well endowed woman, her beauty was something that she had always been proud of. She also knew her appearance was incredible due to her contact in the guild. Iffy had a bad habit of essentially shutting down when the goddess teased her.
Dolores however instead of preening went sheet white. She had never said such a thing to anyone as it could be used against her but she was a vain and jealous woman. She also happened to be vindictive and would take her displeasure out on those that she was envious of but did not have the power to argue nor defend themselves.
Now however that little dark secret was out in the open and she could only hope that none of her enemies had noticed. It could be disastrous for her.
Another issue was that she hadn't eaten since she had arrived, since she didn't know how to get to the kitchens, how to use the intercom, or how to access the funds that she was given.
She refused to even touch the welcome packet, or eat with those she sees as her inferiors.
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The half bloods and muggle borns were quietly snickering at the toad woman. Comments of incompetence were being floated. Not that she had heard them. They did however make it to the politicians and ministry workers ears. Comments that were starting to be taken seriously.
That refusal lasted until the next morning, when she was too hungry to care. So she joined the three women and girl at the table. All three of the government workers working on Leanbox business using holographic screens, and Chloe had a second one open, performing a search for a low level holy element spell she could both use and fork over to Dumbledore.
She found a couple before she finished her paperwork, and ordered hard copies delivered to her room, so that she could pick them up before returning to school that night.
The magical s perked up at this. Holy magic was one of the lost arts. Whilst they were a derivative of light magic they had another component which made them powerful against creatures such as dementors. So for them to be able to use such magic again was close to priceless.
She finished reading, and approving the development log for an upgrade for the current VR console, and turned to Umbridge whom was eating like a starving animal.
Putting aside her anger at the woman, an anger that she had pretty much burnt out the day before, Chloe asked, "Madam, did you not eat yesterday?"
Deloris paused and replied angrily, "Nobody told me where the kitchens were, and I didn't have any money."
Chloe raised an eyebrow, and replied, "Why didn't you use the intercom? Or the expense account my sister set up for the representative that would be sent from your world? I also, with Dumbledore's help made the welcome packet so that it could be understood from the point of someone with no technological knowledge, did you at least look at it?"
Umbridge went purple. This little slip of a girl was looking down upon her. She was clearly making fun of them all. She was clearly calling them all stupid. This could not stand. Fumed the senior undersecretary.
The students however were quietly chuckling at the pitiful sight on the screen. Fudge however had decided that he would have to relieve her of her position as being on his staff meant that she reflected upon him and if this was how she acted to foreign dignitaries he could not afford for such things to happen.
Umbridge went red in fury, that this little... slip of a girl was seemingly mocking her. She had no idea of what this... intercom was, or how it could've helped her, another point in the inferiority of the culture she supposed, but the fact that she could've had money if she just read the little ten page booklet, it was embarrassing, and the goddess should have told her about it.
Of course she ignored the fact that Vert had offered to do so.
Even so, she planned on adding all of these 'injustices', ' insults', and 'inferiorities' to her report, and using those reasons as a justification of why the wizarding world should take over.
She was up to six pages so far.
Unknown to her, Vert was writing a letter of her own, detailing the reasons why they need to replace the current representative. Mainly the fact that she can't have a single conversation without insulting the listeners at least twice, and to all appearances deliberately.
Which is the reason why the people she tried asking where the kitchens were refused to help her.
Kinda hard to want to help a person whom insults you.
Vert's letter was three pages of typed font, and growing.
Today was Sunday, and Chloe was due to get back to her new school today, and Vert wanted to spend some time with her before her practice.
Every head in the hall turned slowly towards Umbridge, all of which had looks of disbelief. They could not help but wonder how the hell she even had a job never mind one in such a high position. Those from The other world in particular could not believe what they were listening to. Even arfiore was better mannered than that toad of a woman.
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Soon after Chloe and Cyberconnect2 left a figure approached Vert and asked, "Vert, I was wondering... would you object to me pursuing a relationship with your sister?
Vert literally looked down at the shorter girl, and smiled as she responded, "Well, this is a surprise that it's you asking. I have no real objection, but you realize that it won't be easy... right?"
The figure gave a radiant smile and replied as she left, "Thank you, and you know... nothing that is easy is worth having."
? Starts Romance Side-quest!
The hall was silent with wide eyes staring at the screen that was angled in such a way that no one could tell who it was. The volume was muted to not allow the guests to know from the voice. It seemed that this was meant to be a surprise to all of those present.
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When Chloe returned to Hogwarts, it was curfew, and she was thankful about it, because she wouldn't be bombarded by questions.
Well at least she would get less questions than by the Ravenclaws.
She remembered the incident with the claws vividly.
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Chloe and CC were cornered by the students with blue and bronze highlighted uniforms shortly after the incident with Ron, and then they struck.
The students, numbering twenty, started babbling questions at a rate so fast that neither could answer them, even if they could understand them, due to the fact that there were at least three talking at once.
After fifteen minutes both of the Gameindustry girls lost their temper.
"ENOUGH!" Cyberconnect2 yelled. "Who gave you permission to crowd us and babble questions at us?"
Those at the raven-claw table had a mixture of expressions, insulted, embarrassed, shocked. The look seemed to vary depending upon the student. Overall however their was a sense of embarrassment coming from the majority of the students. They had never seen what they looked like when on one of their quests to gain information. Seeing one for themselves they could not help but feeling ashamed.
One brave Chinese girl said, "But we just wanted some questions answered..."
"And that gave you the right to track us down, corner us, then babble at us?" Chloe asked.
"If you would just..." another students started.
"What? Answer questions we can't hear due to the fact you are all speaking at once, and at a rate we can't answer? Questions that are probably personal enough to not answer?" Cyberconnect2 scornfully said.
As the girl CC2 countered the group of students shame and embarrassment only grew as every thing that the girl said was true and in their zealous attempt to ask the questions it became clear that they had not thought of such things.
"CC, enough," Chloe said, then turned to the students, "I will make a compromise, send me a parchment with five questions from your house, and only five. If the question is too personal, you will have wasted the question, so choose wisely, now out of our way, unless you want me to report to the professors that you mobbed us?"
the Ravenclaws moved out of the way grumpily, all of them thinking of what five questions they think are most important.
A blonde girl looked on, and made her own plans, after all, Chloe was nice to her, and the people had harassed her. Besides most of those questions were short sighted and pointless, and would only give a few basic ideas of Chloe's world.
She had a better idea.
One Luna love-good was sitting with a small smile upon her face as she ate a small sandwich. The fact that those from her house were glaring at her meant nothing to her. They had all been mean or bullied her in the past thus she did not care.
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The next morning saw over half of the Ravenclaws in the hospital wing, a blonde girl handing a piece of parchment to a candidate, and a red-headed man being let in the great hall.
Dumbledore stood up before the food was served to make a speech, "Students, due to a couple of incidents last week, Mr. Weasley here wants to speak to Chloe in front of the great hall."
Chloe stood up, and walked to the man, when she was five feet from him she stopped, and he spoke, "Miss Chloe, I wish to apologize for the actions of my wife and son, both of them were out of line last week, and I believed I had taught my son better than that. I also forbid any of my children from retaliating. I also have an apology letter from my wife."
Taking the letter Chloe broke it's seal and started reading. Her hands started clenching it in anger as she started reading it, and after she finished, she took a minute to calm herself, and asked, "Did you read this sir?" at his negative reply she silently handed the letter to him while commenting, "Your wife either had no intention of apologizing, or she thinks yelling at me and lecturing me is an apology."
His face went red in anger as he finished the letter.
All eyes turned to look at molly Weasley, the woman in question was looking unrepentant about the situation. The fact that she had just severely undermined her husbands position and made him look like a fool never even crossing her mind. It was clear that the woman only cared about her own agenda and nothing else. To make matters worse it was being shown to not only the entire school but the dignitaries as well.
This was something that most of the Weasley's had realized however and were slowly inching away from their mother to avoid being stained by association and proximity.
"My apologies, I ordered her to apologize, and didn't think she would disobey me," he said, bowing to Chloe, his children were upset that their father was airing their dirty laundry though, and Ron was upset that their father forbid his brothers from 'avenging him'.
The twin pranksters were confused, as their father had both apologized and forbid them from retaliating when their brother was attacked, according to him, for no reason.
Chloe nodded her head politely, and replied, "You yourself have nothing to apologize for, as your son's and your wife's actions are their own. And neither are welcome in Leanbox."
Arthur smiled at the reasonableness of the girl in front of him. The pure-blood families would have made a blood feud in this situation, and she just blamed the two who did the deed, and simply banned them from her nation.
As he left he smiled. She wasn't likely to do anything to his family, then his smile fell, unless the two problematic members did something else. He would have to try and prevent them from doing so.
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Turning from the man whom was leaving Chloe walked up to the headmaster, and held out her hands, in one was Umbridge's preliminary report, and in the other was a thick paper envelope, with Vert's letter.
"Professor, I was asked to hand these to you, one is from my sister, and the other is from the Ambassador that was sent to us, as I was heading back they gave it to me."
Taking the two proffered items, Dumbledore frowned, to have a letter after only a couple of days, that indicated that he was right to be concerned about their choice of representative.
He watched as Chloe walked off to get some breakfast before classes, and hoped that the goddess would manage to hold her temper together, and that Deloris wouldn't get herself killed by monster, law, or just pissing the wrong person off.
He gave her a 10 percent chance of survival honestly.
He was being very generous.
This time the hall burst out into an almost uncontrollable laughter to the embarrassment of the toad. The fact that Albus Dumbledore of all people was ranking her survival so low whilst being generous was shocking. Umbridge was white with embarrassment and shock. There was no way they would do such a thing to her, the senior undersecretary to the minister, Was their? No they would not do such a thing that would jeopardise their relations with the ministry.
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Chloe's first class of the day was herb-ology.
She was kicked out ten minutes in, as the plants seemed to just die whenever she tends to them.
She was still responsible for the homework, but there was no point in her being in the greenhouses with how quickly plants die around her.
Chloe had already known that, but her head of house didn't believe her until it was proven.
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In Astronomy, Chloe just put in the minimal effort as it seemed pointless to her, since it had different starts from her world.
Lily knew she should be angry at 'her' girl for having such an attitude. Not studying, being told to leave class. These were all things that she would punish harry and his sister if they had happened and she found out. She could however not blame the girl as she came from another world thus some of the subjects would naturally be irrelevant or redundant. Thus it was that she kept quite, she was still upset about it but she understood.
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In the Raven-claw tower a massive shriek of rage came from the house of the nosy, as they found out that five questions from someone in their house were already delivered to Chloe, making the entire fight they had the week before pointless.
Chuckles broke out amongst the other houses and guests at the look of horror that was upon the claws faces. True arguments and almost true fights had broken out in the common room before it was one of the reasons that there were quizzes and debates organized and supervised.
Thus it was much to their embarrassment as they could see such a thing happening and it was not a good thing.
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Dumbledore sighed, Chloe wasn't making any progress in making friends with other students, but then again, she had only had a few days.
He started plotting, and an idea hit him if Chloe made little progress in forming attachments here, perhaps sending some children, and their families to visit her world could be used as an excuse to build up relations.
He would have to see, and make contingency plans, as he knew that Tom would be back, it was only a matter of time as evidenced by the fact that a possessed professor made an attempt on the fake stone he left behind some harmless traps, well besides the Cerberus, Hagrid would never understand the danger of many of his pets. It was unfortunate about the troll attacking a student, and crippling her for life before she was saved. The school was simply not meant for a paraplegic student, last he heard she was in a new American school that had amenities for her.
The next year he had petrification s to deal with, and a diary that killed a student. He had managed to bust through the doors leading to the chamber of secrets in time to see the life leave the red-headed first year.
It was unfortunate, for the soul in the notebook, that he didn't understand that his method of 'immortality' was NOT to be used to create copies of himself, and the book self destructed when it took a full witches life into itself.
He later researched what it could be, and was pissed, he had forbidden knowledge of them in the school for a reason. He had some memories from when he was researching Tom during the first war, and he kicked himself for not putting the pieces together sooner.
He managed to find a ring, that thanks to bringing along his transfiguration professor, he was prevented from wearing. He gave her the stone to hold onto, and to keep from him. He already planned to send the cloak to Chloe since she is Harry's 'heir'.
He was almost looking forward to see Tom try and take out Chloe, it would be worth a few laughs at least.
Something he had a feeling he would need later.
Silence reigned in the hall at the last revelations. Albus was thanking the stars that he was not in his counterparts position not realising that he was being stared at. Ginny Weasley was in shock at her death, She had already known from what had been said earlier in the reading but it was not until now that she had accepted it.
Hermione Granger was in tears and being held by harry. She had already figured out that something had happened to her. She had just not known what, thus to find out that she had been paralysed, whilst better than dead was still not much of a comfort.
Amelia bones had been sitting with her niece, listening and taking notes of what she might need to investigate as things in the book might hold relevance in their world as well. Thus it was that she had made a note in her pad, Investigate Hogwarts'.