Chapter 28
Alexander Anderson found himself in a position that if you'd suggested it a few years ago, he'd have called you mad. He was sitting in Integra Hellsing's office, opposite the woman herself, and in the room were two vampires and a wizard. The absurdity of the situation was not lost on him, however the topic they were discussing was too serious to dwell on it.
"Our information is limited but we are working on rectifying that. So far we know that Nova Inquisitionis is a shadow organization, similar to Iscariot but far more extensive. They have a small army of soldiers that they call knights, and they have not yet modified them like they have with Heinkel Yumie and yourself." Integra said.
"The N.I. are a secondary concern for now, that the kids have been relocated. Millennium should still be our primary focus." Seras said.
"I agree, and I might be able to help. If they're operating in and near Rome, there are plenty of old friends of mine still there. I will reach out to them." Anderson said.
"The Knights of N.I." Harry muttered under his breath.
"You said Heinkel and Yumie have been modified? Like you?" Integra asked. Anderson shook his head.
"They hadn't perfected the process when they worked on me. I can regenerate from almost any damage, but Yumie and Heinkel can't. They are stronger, and faster though and they require very little sleep. They were basically intended to fight against vampires. I was an experiment that lead to the development of the process that enhanced them." Anderson said. Harry snickered.
"Also I'm glad to hear that his holiness is safe. Obviously there are many things I disagree with him on but I don't bear the man any ill will." Integra said. Anderson nodded, and Harry started giggling.
"What are you on about?" Integra asked.
"SO, these knights of NI... Has anyone offered them a shrubbery?" Harry asked. Seras looked confused, Integra rolled her eyes and Anderson burst out laughing.
Anderson returned to Potter Manor to spend time with the orphans, and Seras and Integra had gone out to go clothes shopping yet again since poor Integra was getting bigger each day, so Harry found himself bored so he wandered around the Hellsing compound. Pip didn't feel like entertaining him, Zorin and Rip were busy, Schrodinger was spending time with Luna and Helena at Florean Fortescue's so that left Harry with one option. Alucard. Harry learned a long time ago that one does not track down Alucard, Alucard finds you, so he went to the cafeteria and stood there talking to himself.
"Oh man, I sure do need to concentrate on this paperwork I have here." Harry said. He got no response.
"It sure would be a bad time to distract me, given this super important spell I'm about to cast..." Harry said. Again, no response. Harry frowned.
"What's this? Another letter from the Pope?" Harry said. He was starting to get frustrated.
"That's the biggest set of tits I've ever seen in my life!" Harry said.
"Someone say something about some tits?" Alucard said, phasing into existence.
"You, sit. I have a theory to test." Harry demanded. Alucard frowned.
"This is not ok, Harry. One does not promise tits and fail to deliver." Alucard said with a disappointed frown. Harry rolled his eyes and pulled up his shirt.
"There you go." Harry said. Alucard gave him a deadpan stare.
"Come on this is going to be fun." Harry said. Alucard looked intrigued.
"I'm listening..."
Moments later, Integra and Seras returned to Hellsing Manor with more new clothing than was strictly required. Integra rarely splurged so much on such frivolous pursuits, but the time spent with her friend was more than worth it.
"I'll help put everything away, you look exhausted." Seras said.
"I feel exhausted. I know the books said I would tire out quickly, I just didn't know it would be this ba-ALUCARD GET OFF HIM!" Integra said. When they turned the corner in to the cafeteria, they saw Harry standing looking at his wrist watch while Alucard stood behind him biting his neck. A medic was sitting in a chair observing them.
"Wait!" Harry shouted.
"What?!" Seras yelled ready to pounce on Alucard.
"We're performing an experiment. We're even being supervised!" Harry said pointed at the medic who waved shyly.
"What kind of experiment?" Integra asked, skeptically.
"I haven't needed blood replenishers in a couple of weeks, we're testing my regenerative capabilities." Harry said. With that the Medic stood and walked over, taking Harry's blood pressure.
"But... why?" Seras asked.
"Because you weren't here to do it and I was bored." Harry said with a grin.
"Still normal." The Medic says.
"It's been 30 minutes, alright Alucard let's wrap it up." Harry said. Alucard detached from his neck and smiled, then took two steps towards Integra and collapsed onto the floor, snoring.
"Ha! Nice." Harry said, looking down at the fallen vampire. He stepped over him and took Integra's bags.
"C'mon, you need to sit down you look sleepy." Harry said.
"So the man who was just nearly exsanguinated by the king of vampires is telling me I look tired, I must be a wreck." Integra said, grimacing.
"I said you look sleepy, Integra, there's a difference." Harry said, offering her his elbow.
"How so?" Integra said, taking Harry's offered elbow and walking with him.
"Tired suggests worn out, used up. You look just as beautiful as always, but also like you need a nap." Harry said with a goofy grin. Integra smiled and blushed and Seras rolled her eyes and grinned behind them. They arrived at Integra's bedroom, and Seras set about putting away her new outfits while Harry walked Integra over to the sofa she had in her room.. She sat and sighed.
"My feet are killing me." Integra said, kicking off her shoes. Harry grinned and sat next to her, patting his lap.
"Come on, then." Harry said. Integra quirked an eyebrow at him.
Inside Integra's walk-in closet Seras was sorting and hanging everything, and noticed with a frown that her clothing was mostly business suits, workout clothing and formal wear. Her selections at the store had trended towards those categories as well, however Seras had managed to convince her to pick up some things simply because they looked good on her.
It struck her as odd, but then she remembered Integra's childhood had been cut off, and she'd had to adopt a stern, authoritarian image at an early age. This was not only to fend off the attacks on her authority by the other knights, but also to keep firm control over Alucard and respect amongst her soldiers. She hadn't ever had a chance to just be a girl. Seras pledged to herself to help Integra fix that.
Her musing was interrupted by the sound of a drawn-out moan from the room. She popped her head out and was overcome with a wave of affection towards Harry. Integra was laying back on the sofa while harry massaged her feet, and Integra was clearly very much enjoying it. Seras grinned. boyfriend lottery indeed.
Integra was in heaven. She had been so tightly controlled until she had met Harry. With the exception of Walter, since the day her father died she had been required to take care of herself. Now she had Harry, Seras, Hermione and even Pip looking after her, and it warmed her heart.
It had started with just him stopping by and asking about her day. Then, Seras coming over while she was eating and making conversation. Hermione before taking the job at Hellsing had spent hours at a time on the phone just chatting about life in general along with whatever vampire problem they were addressing at the time. Harry though, had waltzed into her life and pulled the rug out from underneath her.
He found out about her infertility, and instead of mockery or ridicule, he gave her the greatest gift she'd ever received. Then after a little push from Hermione, he'd given her an even greater one. Nobody would have criticized him for having nothing else to do with her pregnancy, yet he stepped up and has been with her, holding her hand through the whole thing. He even set aside time for her upcoming birthing classes. He doted on her, worried about her, treated her like a queen, without expecting anything in return. This despite how horribly she'd treated him.
Harry smirked when he heard her start snoring. He carefully stood and picked her up, Seras having made her way to the bed and pulled down the duvet. He put her down on the bed and tucked her in, and with Seras made a quiet exit.
"I know it's short notice, but do you want to go see a movie or something? We haven't had a chance to spend a lot of time together, just us." Harry said. Seras smiled and nodded. They walked towards the exit but stopped when they saw a crowd surrounding Alucard who was still laying face down in the cafeteria snoring loudly.
"Ugh, first let's take care of sleeping beauty here." Harry said, picking Alucard up and walking down to his dungeon quarters. After putting him in his bed, he smirked and transfigured it into a coffin, causing Seras to stifle the laugh that threatened to burst out of her.
"So, where are you at with those portals you've been working on?" Seras asked as they left Alucard's room.
"I'm trying to find some place to install a buttload of doors. Maybe a warehouse, or better yet an old underground storage area or bunker. Some place that can be completely cut off from muggle access. That way I can use it as a hub and have portals to different places. I'll probably install a traditional floo in there as well. The challenge will be the huge high-traffic places like Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. That will need a large building and huge gateways instead of doors to accommodate the increased flow of people." Harry said.
"When are you going to go public with it?" Seras asked, walking around to the passenger side of their car.
"Definitely not any time soon. I need to get with the goblins to make sure it's patented and copyrighted properly. I don't care about the money, I just don't want people experimenting with something that could easily be used to violate people's privacy or bypass wards." Harry said, settling into the driver's seat and fastening his seat belt. Seras fidgeted nervously in her seat.
"Harry?" Seras asked.
"What's up?" Harry asked.
"What do you think... about not using the contraceptive charm any more?" Seras asked. Harry's eyes widened.
"Are we ready for that?" Harry asked.
"I think we are, at least I feel like I am." Seras said.
"Mind if I ask what brings this up?" Harry asked.
"It's just.. you're so good with Schrodinger, Daniel and Gideon. You're doing amazing with Integra, I just. I don't know... Nevermind. Forget I said anything" Seras said. Harry waved his hand over his pelvis, producing a pink light.
"Done." Harry said grinning.
"Really?!" Seras asked. Harry nodded.
"Why not? I've been thinking about it too, to be honest." Harry said
"Why didn't you say anything?" Seras asked. Harry shrugged.
"I'm not the one that is going to be carrying the baby, I didn't want to pressure you." Harry said Seras ran her hand along Harry's thigh.
"How about we skip the movie..." Seras said with a seductive grin. Harry smiled and nodded.