AN: More fluff coming up, Fuck you if you don't like it.
Chapter 54
"Three drops should do it..." Harry said before popping the cork and jamming the vial down Matrograno's throat, emptying it. The man was a shattered fragment of who he'd been. Harry was happy to see he was entirely physically intact, however his eyes were glazed over and he would not respond to direct questions, at least until the veritaserum took hold.
"What is your name?" Harry asked.
"Bishop Vito Matrograno." Matrograno said. Harry nodded.
"Why are you working with Millennium?" Matrograno asked.
"The fool that sits on his throne in the Vatican is soft, and weak, he rolls over and lets this world be run by heretics and degenerates..." Matrograno said.
"Yet you ally yourself with godless vampires..." Alucard added.
"They are not allies, they are tools. A means to an end." Matrograno said.
"Where is Millennium based out of?" Harry asked.
"They refuse to tell me, but I know that they are constantly on the move, and tend to linger in the East where they are more likely to go unobserved..." Matrograno said, his eyes crossing slightly.
"What are they planning?" Harry asked. Matrograno's eyes closed, then slowly opened.
"The demon they summoned in London was inadequate... they plan to bring forth five more... and are recruiting the wizards required to summon them..." Matrograno said, his voice slurring.
"How did they discover the summoning rituals?" Alucard asked.
"A wizard named Heidigger..." Matrograno said. His eyes shot wide open and he growled, glaring at Harry.
"He'll rip your soul out of your body and slowly devour it over eons!" Matrograno shouted before clamping his jaws shut. He convulsed as his body spasmed and a thick yellow gas erupted from his mouth, enveloping himself and Harry before he could react. Harry fell to the ground, convulsing and frothing at the mouth.
"Harry!" Alucard shouted. Harry stilled, and Alucard could hear his heart stop. He growled, and glared at the rapidly cooling corpse of Matrograno. He understood that Harry was somewhat more than mortal, and this would likely not kill him, but that was an intellectual understanding. Emotionally, his best friend had just been killed in front of him. Alucard opened his eyes widely, and surrounded Matrograno a dark aura, lifting his body into the air.
"You don't get to take the easy way out." Alucard said.
"Release restraint level 1..." Alucard said, transforming and enveloping the dead bishop in a veritable sea of darkness and red eyes before both disappeared.
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Harry found himself laying on a bench, surrounded by a pale mist, the sound of a train whistle going off in the distance. He sat up abruptly and looked around at his surroundings, before groaning.
"Seras is gonna kill me." Harry said. He stood up just as the train pulled into the station. Harry grinned savagely and braced himself as he watched the door open.
"Harry..." Dumbledore said, waddling off the train, he was wearing what looked like armored greaves and a codpiece.
"It's desperately important that we speak..." Dumbledore said
"Take this, nerd!" A female voice cried as Dumbledore's armor was pullled down as though he was being pantsed.
"Penalty kick!" Harry cried.
"Penalty what? OOOOOOOOF!" Dumbledore said as Harry accelerated to a full sprint and kicked him in the balls with all of his strength, sending Dumbledore crashing into the train and colliding with the wall, before he slumped over unconscious.
"I'll never get tired of that." Harry said with a grin.
"It's considered a pastime in the afterlife now." Death said grinning. Harry laughed.
"So looks like I died again." Harry said. Death nodded and grinned.
"So it seems, my master." Death said, trying and failing to seem exasperated with him.
"Sorry." Harry said sheepishly.
"I'll let it slide this time... again..." Death said.
"So how are things with you?" Harry asked.
"As good as can be expected. The powers that be are happy with the way things are going so far... Your parents are very proud of you and Seras." Death said, seriously. Harry smiled sadly.
"Thank you." Harry said.
"Tell Seras her parents adore you and little Nicole. They were so sad for her while she was growing up, they are very grateful to you." Death said.
"I'm very grateful to them, Their wonderful daughter has brought so much joy into my life." Harry said, smiling wistfully.
"Speaking of which..." Death said.
"What?" Harry asked.
"Goddamnit Harry, get up." Death said in a decidedly deep male voice.
"Huh?" Harry asked. The train yard dissolved and he found himself laying face-up in a Lavish Rome apartment looking up at an impossibly tall vampire with a ridiculous grin.
"Oh hey." Harry said.
"How much you gonna pay me not to bring this up to Seras?" Alucard asked.
"How about we call it even for me not telling Integra what you did with her father's yacht." Harry said. Alucard's grin faded.
"You suck." Alucard said, reaching a hand down and helping him up. The room was disheveled, aside from a urine stain on the carpet there was no sign of Matrograno.
"Where is he?" Harry asked. Alucard belched and patted his belly.
"Hypocrisy gives me indigestion." Alucard said.
"You didn't." Harry said, incredulously.
"He killed you. I kind of acted on impulse." Alucard admitted. Harry smiled.
"Thanks, man. Nobodys ever devoured someone's soul for me." Harry said with a grin. Alucard laughed.
"We should probably go, I can hear his goons." Alucard said. Harry nodded and grabbed Alucard, apparating him back to Potter Manor.
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Harry and Alucard appeared in Potter Manor's entrance hall, and both walked up the stairs and towards what they all playfully referred to as "The Maternity Ward" where Seras, Integra, Rip, Regina and Nicole were waiting for them. Seras leapt to her feet and kissed Harry, Integra sighed in relief and Rip and Zorin stood, each holding a baby. After Seras let him go Harry took both of his daughters in his arms and smiled.
"There's my girls." Harry said.
"Is it done?" Integra asked. Harry nodded.
"We need to ramp up our preparations. Millennium is planning summoning five of those monsters, and I don't think muffins will work this time." Harry said. Alucard laughed.
"Matrograno knew quite a bit more than he revealed." Alucard said.
"Oh?" Harry asked. Alucard nodded.
"The Major managed to recruit about a hundred wizards before London. This time, he has thousands, from all over the world." Alucard said
"Fuck." Harry said.
"Also, They're refining those third gen vampires too. He's keeping them dumb because he doesn't want more defections." Alucard said.
"Fuck fuck fuck." Harry said.
"He's also cloned Captain Wolfy several times over." Alucard said
"Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck." Harry said.
"How do you know all this?" Integra asked. Alucard grinned as his face morphed into that of the now deceased bishop.
"'Sup Heretizzles! It's ya boy, Matrogrizzile!" Alucard said in Matrograno's voice.
"That's just... Alucard I hate you." Harry said, trying to stifle his laughter.
"You absorbed him?" Integra asked. Alucard shrugged.
"Seemed prudent, given his proximity to the Major." Alucard said.
"Do you remember what they tried to do to you with Schrodinger?" Integra asked.
"Shit." Alucard said
"Shit." Harry said.
"Yeah. Don't do that any more." Integra said.
"Yes, Mom." Alucard said.
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Harry walked, with an open book in his hands, reading as he effortlessly navigated the halls of Potter Manor. He'd become accustomed to the layout, and was sure enough of his own reflexes to compensate if he tripped. He had just gotten to an interesting part of his book when he heard the soft sound of crying. He snapped the book shut then cursed, realizing he forgot ot mark his page. He listened for a moment and realized the sound was slightly lower and immediately identified it as Zorin.
"Zorin? You okay?" Harry asked, walking towards her shared room with Rip.
"Harry!" Zorin cried, running out of the room and nearly tackling him, taking him in her arms and sobbing. She slowly fell to her knees and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Shhhhh I've got you. Everything's okay. Everything's amazing." Harry said, rubbing her back. Zorin shook her head.
"There's a scratch on my scythe! I can't buff it out!" Zorin cried before returning to her ugly sobbing Harry grinned.
"Hey Zorin, remember the book I gave you?" Harry asked.
"Uh.. about the baby?" She asked, sniffling.
"Yeah. Remember the part about mood swings?" Harry asked. Zorin pondered for a moment then sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Goddamnit." Zorin said, getting back to her feet. She went to step away but Harry held onto her, hugging her again.
"Nothing to be ashamed of, love. Just remember we're here, and we all want to help you." Harry said.
"Thank you, Harry. It's still embarassing though." Zorin said.
"Remember this conversation the next time I cry like a little bitch when Regina or Nicole do something adorable." Harry said. She smiled and they turned down the hall towards the room Harry affectionately called his "Portal room."
"You know what Helped Integra during her pregnancy?" Harry asked
"What?" Zorin asked. Harry grinned before dragging her into a portal. This one lead to Diagon Alley and wordlessly Harry lead her to Florean Fortescue's.
"Hello?" Harry said.
"Harry! Zorin! Take a seat I'll be right with you!" Helena said. They sat and Harry handed Zorin a menu.
"They've got a few gallons of my blood in stasis here for any vampires that get a craving for ice cream. Pretty soon they'll start ordering it from the blood bank system we're setting up. We even secured an exchange service with the one in the States." Harry said.
"Chocolate sounds lovely." Zorin said. Harry nodded.
"Shit.. This machine is fucking awful." Helena said, tossing two knuts at the jar from the back room.
"Problems?" Harry asked. The building shook as they heard a colossal bang, followed by the sound of mechanical motors spinning up.
"Not any more, I fonzied it." Helena said.
"Ayyyyyy!" Harry said. Helena laughed and Zorin rolled her eyes.
"Ok, what'll it be?" Helena asked.
"I'll take a large... no three large chocolates." Zorin said. Helena's eyes widened.
"Helena she's seven feet tall and carrying a baby, you might wanna make it four." Harry said. Zorin blushed.
"Right, right. Sorry. How's that going by the way?" Helena asked. Zorin pulled up the front of her shirt, pointing at her belly.
"The little monster had me crying over a scratch in my scythe." Zorin said.
"Can I?" Helena asked. Zorin nodded and she bustled over to put her hand on her belly.
"Sure thing, Helena I'd love a banana split." Harry said, rolling his eyes.
"What's that Harry? You wanted to go out back and bring in Zorin's order and get me a root beer float? That's wonderful!" Helena said, glaring at him. Harry laughed and made his way to the back room. He came out later with a comedically large glass bowl that he'd expanded magically full of an absurd amount of chocolate ice cream, as well as Helena's float.
"Jesus, Harry." Zorin said, transfixed on the mountain of ice cream he was carrying. The table sagged when he put it down.
"What?" Harry said with a grin. Zorin looked at Harry, then back at the ice cream, then back at Harry.
"I love you." Zorin said, before attacking the ice cream Harry laughed.
"I left a stack of galleons back there, it should be more than enough." Harry said.
"If it's not we'll call it Imperial Privilege." Helena said. Harry picked up a napkin, scrunched it into a ball and threw it at her.
"How's business?" Harry asked.
"Amazing. When the news came out that we cater to vampires, we got a massive spike in interest. We're considering expanding to baked goods and pastries." Helena said excitedly.
"That's great!" Harry said.
"Uh.. Harry? Is she ok?" Helena asked, staring at Zorin in shock as she dismantled what had to be at least 5 kilograms of ice cream.
"Huh? Oh yeah she's fine. We discovered with Seras that a lot of stuff that Humans go through during pregnancy vampires do too, except to a greater extent. I think it has to do with the accelerated gestation." Harry said. Zorin let out an ungodly belch and sat back in her chair.
"Feel better?" Harry asked.
"Yeah... I just.. Oh my god." Zorin said, catching her reflection in the glass of one of the windows. Most of her face and half of her shirt were covered in melting ice cream.
"Oh my god! Harry! Rip's going to leave me because I'm a gross, fat pig!" Zorin said, crying again. Harry waved his hand over her cleaning the ice cream off and walked over, pulling her into a standing position.
"Zorin..." Harry said.
"What?" Zorin asked, sobbing.
"Breathe." Harry said. Zorin closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Listen." Harry said, taking her hand and guiding it to her belly.
"Can you hear the baby's heart?" Harry asked. Zorin's face broke out in a wide grin for a moment before she frowned.
"Oh my god! I have to get the house ready!" Zorin said. Harry shrugged.
"I suppose mania is more positive than self-loathing." Harry said with a grin.
"Harry you've got to help me!" Zorin said, grabbing him by the hand.
"Bye, Helena!" Harry said with a grin.
"See you guys!" Helena said. A moment later Luna apparated in and smiled at Helena.
"How are things?" Luna said, before looking around.
"What happened?" Luna asked.
"Pregnant vampire vs pile of ice cream." Helena said, Luna banished the mess with her wand.
"Who won?" Luna asked.
"I think it was a draw." Helena said.