Chapter 26

Harry and Seras were walking about the grounds of Potter Manor, approaching the crater that Harry had created with primal magic. It had filled in with water, and now hosted a few lazy ducks and some lily pads. Harry had originally planned on removing it but in the end it actually complimented the landscaping quite nicely. He suspected one day in the fairly near future he'd be teaching a small army of blonde babies how to swim in that little pond. The thought almost dampened the remorse he felt.

He had lost control in front of his fiancee and his best friend, and that momentary look of fear in Hermione's eyes before she broke down crying and apologizing to Seras would haunt him forever. He'd mercilessly crushed his emotions until that one point, and for just a split second, he lost his grip and exploded.

"God, what if I had hurt her?" Harry muttered under his breath.

"You're doing it again." Seras said.

"What?" Harry asked.

"You're trying to own blame that isn't yours." Seras said.

"I lost control, Seras." Harry said.

"Yes, because she insulted the woman you love. A lot of people would lose it at that point." Seras said.

"A lot of people don't have access to magic that can faithfully emulate nuclear weaponry." Harry said, gesturing at the pond. Seras frowned.

"Harry stop." Seras said, holding him where he stood, wrapping her arms around him.

"I was there. Your eyes glowed a bit and you yelled a single word. That was it, you immediately controlled yourself. Your reaction was a hundred percent appropriate to the situation. I am proud of you, Harry." Seras said. Harry sighed and bowed his head, leaning his chin on her shoulder.

"Should I just stop? Step back and buy that cottage? Abduct you, Integra, Schrodinger, Zorin and Rip and just spend the rest of my life making and raising babies?" Harry asked.

"Could you do that though?" Seras asked.

"No. God I wish I could, but no. I don't regret defending you, and I think Hermione needed someone to clap back at her like that a long time ago, but I still feel awful for scaring her." Harry said. Any further discussion was interrupted by a vibrating in his pocket. He pulled out his mirror and opened it, and saw Yumie panicking.

"Harry! The orphanage is under attack! I think... I think it's Iscariot!" Yumie yelled. Harry didn't bother responding. He grabbed Seras and apparated.

"Think you can make do without your gun? Harry asked as he started running alongside her towards the building, where they could see Anderson struggling to hold off dozens of robed fighters.

"Won't be a problem but we need to move faster." Seras said. Harry nodded and pushed his magic out to his legs, and they both appeared next to Anderson faster than any human could see, throwing several of the attackers out of the way and into walls.

"How the bloody hell did find out... nevermind. Don't let these bastards have an inch!" Anderson shouted. Heinkel was on the roof picking them off with her rifle and Yumie was savaging them with her sword. Seras leapt into action, her fingers extending into cruel, hooked claws, tearing the Iscariot warriors to shreds while Harry went to work with the Sword of Gryffindor. With Harry and Seras' arrival, the resistance proved too much and the iscariots withdrew, scurrying into the streets.

"Are the kids safe?" Harry asked.

"Aye, they're holed up in the cellar. I can't thank you enough for comin'" Anderson said.

"How'd you know we were being attacked?" Heinkel asked.

"Yumie called me." Harry said. Yumie wiped down her sword and sheathed it, then launched herself at Harry. Harry held her and looked over at Anderson.

"Was this Matrograno?" Harry asked.

"I don't have proof but I can't see the Holy Father ordering an attack on orphans. What I don't understand is why." Anderson said.

"I have a theory. Maxwell proved he didn't have control over you, Heinkel and Yumie, so Matrograno didn't bother trying, he opted to eliminate you." Harry said. He pulled out his phone and called Integra. Her face appeared in the mirror, looking concerned.

"Harry where are you?" Integra asked.

"Rome. Yumie called us, the rest of Iscariot attacked Father Anderson, Yumie and Heinkel, along with the orphans." Harry said.

"God! Is everyone alright? Are the orphans hurt?" Integra asked.

"We got here on time, Nobody is hurt, but a lot of the attackers made it out. I need to get everyone out of here as soon as possible. Can you arrange for a couple of private jets? I'll pay for it." Harry asked.

"No need, I'll have them in Rome by tonight. I'd recommend you stay there in case they try again." Integra said.

"Will do. I'll keep you informed." Harry said.

"Seras, my love, can you bring me a live one?" Harry asked. Seras smiled wickedly and shot off, dragging back a screaming, critically injured crusader. Harry lifted his hood and saw that he had been shaved bald and had a tattoo of a cross with an eye in the center of it on his neck. He was staring in terror at Harry who pressed his hand against his head and plowed through the man's memories.

"What's he doing?" Anderson asked.

"Legillimency. It's a type of magic, lets him read the as... jerk's mind." Seras said. She noticed a few pairs of young eyes peering out of the window.

"Father Anderson, the orphans are watching, they don't need to see all of this." Seras observed.

"Aye, I'll be back." Anderson said, running back into the building and ushering the children back to the cellar. Harry pulled his hand back and punched the crusader in the face, rendering him unconscious.

"We've got big trouble here. Heinkel, how quickly do you think you can get the kids ready to move?" Harry asked.

"Probably a few hours, why?" Heinkel asked. Anderson reemerged and walked over to them.

"You three have been deemed more trouble than you're worth. Iscariot has been recruiting massively behind your backs. Matrograno underestimated you, because they all thought Maxwell was just paranoid and incompetent. Well I mean he was, however they won't make that mistake again." Harry said.

"What can we do?" Anderson asked.

"With your permission, I'd like to evacuate you all to Potter Manor. They might have to double up in the rooms, but there's plenty of space. You'll see some freaky magical stuff but nothing harmful. Lots of house elves and some thestrals. Oh and we have a duck pond now." Harry said with a grin.

"I can't thank you enough lad." Anderson said. Harry dismissed that.

"You're all more than welcome, now let's get moving." Harry said.

"Seras I have an anti-materiel rifle downstairs, would you come with me? There is a lot of ammunition and it's too heavy for me to lift. You and I should get up high and watch out in case they return." Heinkel said.

"Sounds good." Seras said, following her into the building.

"Yumie, is Yumiko doing ok?" Harry asked.

"She's scared. We're scared." Yumie said. Harry nodded

"So am I. Just remind her we're here and we're watching both of your backs." Harry said. Yumie smiled and walked off, patrolling the area around the building.

"I have a concern, Father Andeson." Harry said.

"I promise Heinkel won't try to attack Seras.." Anderson said.

"No, that's not it. Even if I didn't trust Heinkel, which I do, implicitly, I know she'd never do something horrible in front of the kids. No I'm concerned about the Pope." Harry said.

"Why? He's in a near impenetrable fortress surrounded by the Swiss Guard, they're all very well trained." Anderson explained.

"I saw two people in that dipshit's head at a meeting with Matrograno who were wearing Swiss Guard uniforms." Harry said. Anderson paled.

"Do you know anyone on the inside?" Harry asked. Anderson shook his head.

"Maxwell made sure my contact with the Holy Father was limited." Anderson said. Harry grinned.

"See any pigeons around here?" Harry asked.

"It should still be in working order. I have some oil, you should strip down and clean it first." Heinkel said. Seras nodded sitting at a table and breaking the gun down.

"I know this must be difficult for you, working with a vampire. I promise once the kids are safe I'll be out of your hair." Seras said. Heinkel laughed.

"Seras, everything I've been told about the wickedness of witches, vampires and werewolves has been told to me by people like Maxwell and Matrograno. The bible is ambiguous about it at best. This year I've seen holy men whom I revered order the butchering of innocent people in London and now children. Meanwhile the first people to come to our aid were a wizard and a vampire. I'm beginning to question a lot of things..." Heinkel said. Seras nodded.

"I did too. I work with Dracula of all people, and I've seen him throw himself in the line of fire to protect people he'll never know. I watched him almost sacrifice himself fighting that abomination. Then there's Harry who can kill with a thought, doesn't believe in God and for his whole life he's sacrificed and suffered to help everyone, even those who don't appreciate it." Seras said.

"It hurts.. I feel like I'm losing my faith." Heinkel said.

"Don't let the foolishness of man shake your faith, Heinkel. God may have made monsters like Millennium, Maxwell and now Matrograno, but he also made Father Anderson, and Harry." Seras said.

"I didn't take you for a Christian, no offense." Heinkel said.

"None taken. Integra and I attend services every Sunday." Seras said. Heinkel laughed.

"An agnostic wizard and a vampire are better Christians than the men I used to work for." Heinkel said bitterly.

"Don't let those who betray you dwell inside of your heart, Heinkel. You are wonderful and they are beneath you. That was a long, hard, painful lesson for me. Instead, lean on your loved ones, let them lift you up when your enemies try to beat you down." Harry said, stepping into the room with Anderson.

"That... That actually really helps. Thank you, Harry." Heinkel said. Yumiko walked in and tapped on Harry's shoulder.

"There aren't any more around this block. If they do come I think it will be from the west." She said. Harry nodded.

"Should that happen, I'd like for you to stay with the children." Harry said. Yumiko frowned.

"I'm neither weak nor useless, Harry." Yumiko said.

"I know you're not, but with the possible exception of Father Anderson you are the most experienced and well-equipped for close quarters combat, and if they get to the kids it will be inside the building. Besides they will need one of us in there to reassure them, and Father Anderson, Heinkel, Seras and I are good at doing long-range damage." Harry explained. Yumiko pondered and the nodded.

"Ok, that makes sense. Sorry." Yumiko said.

"Not at all. The last thing I would mistake you for would be weak or useless." Harry said.

"That's a Solid plan, Harry. Here's hoping we spend the next few hours bored to tears." Anderson said.

"That would be ideal. Integra hired two buses to bring us to the airport when the planes arrive. Is there anything valuable here that you need take?" Harry asked.

"Nothing that can't be easily replaced. I've got the Gutenberg Bible here. Heinkel, Yumiko and the kids are the only things here I care about." Anderson said.