EDIT: And here is the revised Chapter 32 thanks to HowInMadeHowie. Again, some small changes were made to improve the story.
And with this chapter are all revised since HowInMadeHowie offered his help with this story. So from now on, there will only be new chapters.
Hope you like it and have fun reading.
The next morning, Harry woke up early as he was used to and grabbed his glasses to see if Callie got some news for him. Callie had something for him, telling him to close his eyes so she could try showing him by influencing his brainwaves and his optical nerve. So, he did as she told him, wondering if it would work.
To his surprise it worked, and he was now looking at Callie directly as she smiled at him. It was the first time that Harry saw her in full when she was not projecting herself on the device, and it seemed that the projection was not true with the coloring was concerned. Callie had a light tan on her skin and her shoulder length hair was black and her blue eyes seemed to almost glow in this plane of existence. But as soon it had begun, it ended.
Callie was now looking worried and ended the experiment, telling Harry that his brain was getting warmer than it should have been. They would need a real neural interface if they would want to try it again. So, Harry opened his eyes and looked for the device with her matrix inside it, watching out if someone would wander into the room. After he made sure that no one could enter, Callie activated the projector of her device and begun her report.
"It seems that Lucius Malfoy made a move to secure his lifestyle and decided to use an archaic tradition with to do it. According to our information, a marriage contract has fallen out of fashion decades ago, but as much as Sissi could tell us, we are sure that David Greengrass, as a pure blood wizard, does not have the same mindset as Lucius Malfoy and turned him down. According to our information network, Lucius next step will be that he would try to buy up the business that Mr. Greengrass owns, so I contacted Cortana and Kalmiya to verify my suspicion and they agreed with me.
"Also, Yennefer was contacted by a Theodore Tonks, who is a lawyer in an employed status for the Greengrass family and their businesses. It seems that the meeting between you, Grankor and them had to be pushed forward, like last night as it was an emergency. Now the Potter Foundation owns more than half of the shares to the Greengrass import and export of potions ingredients with the options that Mr. Greengrass can buy all back when the situation calmed down. Also, the Greengrass are now allied with the House Potter, which in turn means that some Marine's from the In Amber Clad II will be stationed near their home when David Greengrass will agree to it. Of course, to keep our secrets, well secret the marines would say that they were hired from Gringotts to protect them."
"In addition to that, ONI has begun with their operations in the magical community and infiltrated the ministry of magic as well the various governments of this earth to make sure Captain Lasky will be up to date. That is all for now, except Doctor Halsey and Yennefer wanted to talk with you as soon you arrive back in Kear Mohen. My scanners show me that Mrs. Weasley will soon arrive at the door, so I will shut the projector off now."
As she did that, Harry heard the knocking on the door and opened it. And like Callie had told him, Mrs. Weasley was standing there telling him that Breakfast was ready. Harry thanked her and walked down behind her down to the living room, seeing the twins already by the table together with Mr. Weasley who was reading the newspaper. Harry instantly wondered if the deal was already in there, but then remembered that Yennefer or Triss would have contacted him first about it to tell him that they had signed the contract in his name.
Not long after he had begun to fill his plate, Hedwig landed on the windowsill and tapped her beak on the window, demanding entry to deliver her letter. Harry stood up and walked over, so Hedwig would stop it and lifted her leg after Harry gave her some bacon. As he suspected, it was the letter from Yennefer, telling him what was happening since last night.
It seems that they had changed the official name for the Potter foundation to Wolf Incorporated so he would be protected in case someone was snooping around. Mr. Tonks and Mr. Greengrass agreed to it, after they told them why they would do that. Also, she explained that David Greengrass knew that he was the heir of the House Black next to the obvious one and still wanted to speak with him, why they did not know. Harry noticed that Hedwig was still perched on the sill, so she was expecting an answer to deliver back.
"Mrs. Weasley, could I take some writing utensil? My foster parents want an answer in return." Harry looked at Mrs. Weasley, who was grabbing a quill and some parchment and told him that he could go to his room, she would keep his breakfast warm for him until he was finished. Harry said his thanks and walked up to the guest room, as Ron came down still half asleep as usual. He even did not notice when Harry stood aside for him to pass Harry. Soon, Harry was back in the room, placing the parchment on the small table next to the bed. As he was beginning to answer the letter, he noticed that Hedwig had flown up to the windowsill of this room as she hooted softly at him. He smiled at her and quickly finished his letter, telling Yennefer that he trusted them and was okey with how they handled things on their end. He then tied the letter on Hedwig's leg, which she held out to him.
"Safe journey, sweet owl. Watch out for any bird of prey other than you." Hedwig nibbled his finger and spread her wings, taking flight once more. It was her duty after all, next to watching over the boy that had formed a bond stronger than steel with her. As she was climbing up to her preferred height, she was getting faster as her goal was to deliver this letter as soon as possible. She was even looking around if she could use some tail winds, as another owl was now flying beside her. It winked at her in a flirtatious way, what caused Hedwig to roll her eyes and make a dive, hopefully escaping this stupid male. She knew of course that she had to climb back up, but for the moment she just wanted to get away. She noticed that the male owl was following her, so she did the same trick her master liked to do in those games where he would ride a broom and was now closing fast to the ground. The male, thinking that she would land so they could talk in peace, did not slow down as Hedwig spread her wings once more, short of the ground and was now speeding almost level to it. When she looked back, she was almost laughing as the other owl was planted firmly in the ground with his legs up in the air. It was almost too comical to not pass one more time above him, but she wanted to make her delivery.
When she arrived in Kear Mohen, she was making some rounds around it, looking if she would find the black-haired sorceress right on the first try in the courtyard. She soon found her target and descended to the ground and finally landed on the small table next to her seat. Hedwig held her leg out and mad a small hoot, as Yennefer was engrossed in a book she was reading. When she looked up, Hedwig was looking at her like a bored owl could look. Yennefer smiled and took the letter from her leg, letting Hedwig fly away again.
Yennefer opened the letter from Harry, where he told her that he was agreeing how they handled the situation with the Greengrass corporation, and the name change of the foundation to protect him from any kind of nosy people. She was happy that Harry was not against it, as he still had some time to be a child and should not worry about all the grown-up stuff. She just hoped that he was also agreeing to go through the mutation to become a Witcher-apprentice for now. Catherine was already calculating all the variables together with her AIs to make sure that Harry would survive. Yen picked up the book again and continued her reading, as she could tell the others later at lunch what Harry wrote them.
Back in the Burrow, Harry had eaten his breakfast, which was still warm as Mrs. Weasley had promised him. He was thankful for it, as a warm meal was better than a cold one. Ron was also beginning to wake up after he had eaten enough for almost two people. Harry once again asked when they would do their homework, as it was his last day before he would return to his home. Ron relented and took his books out, as Ginny also open some to ask Harry about some things she did not understand. Harry gladly explains all the things he knew, while helping Ron even with the easiest essay they had to write. Harry's patience was getting thin with Ron, as he seemingly did not even try to study for himself and depended on him to almost write the whole thing. Harry wondered how Ron got the passing grates in the exams a few months ago, when he had to read everything up once more for his essay and during a test, this was surely not allowed. But while he was with the Weasleys, he begun to understand that the twins were smarter than they would lead on. How else could they make all those pranks and were never caught doing them. As the day was coming to an end, Harry had almost all the homework done with Ron, as there were only some small details left, which in all honesty Ron should just do himself.
Ginny meanwhile was now, according to Fred at least, talking like she always did even with Harry around, so this reason for the visit was a success.
"Harry, could you tell me once more about the unicorn you saved? It is such a wonderful creature and I want to meet it." Ginny sat next to Harry, looking at some pictures in her schoolbooks as she prepared some easy potions to see how good she was. As making potions did not involve any magic, she could learn it without breaking any school rules. Harry was glad that she took it seriously, as he showed her a minor mistake that would not really impact the potency of the potion, but according to his experience it was better when she would try it like it was written in the book for now. He maybe would give her another one when he was sure that she was doing good work in Snape's classes. Those Potions he was used to make in Kear Mohen where after all to advance for someone who never had made at least 10 others.
"Why do you want to hear it, when you should better concentrate on cutting these roots more squarely. I mean, it will distract you for sure if I tell you again. How about I repeat it, when this potion is satisfactory?" Harry grinned at her smile, showing him that she was no longer the shy girl she was at the beginning, seeing him as just a friend that was famous just by coincidence.
Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley were also happy for their daughter being so open with Harry like she was with them. Now the only concern was if she could connect like that with her classmates in school and would not just hang around Harry or her brothers all the time, as this would only cause her to become excluded on other activities.
"Ah Harry, did you already pack all your things? Arthur will bring you back later through the Floo once more if you agree to it." Harry looked over to Mrs. Weasley, nodding at her question. He had packed first thing in the morning after waking up, as one lesson with John had once taught him that he should be prepared to move almost instantly if his position would be compromised. Taking John's lesson to heart, Harry always prepared as much he could beforehand, if he had to go somewhere to do something. It seemed that Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley were glad that Harry was such a thoughtful boy and tried everything he could to take some of the burden from any grown-ups around him. They also noticed that Fred and George became more serious with their studies with him around, maybe they would finally let of some of the pranks, a hope that Mrs Weasley knew would not be fulfilled in its entirety.
Somewhere else, a small owl was landing on a small tree in the garden of a nice muggle home, as it was looking if her target was outside reading. Of course, the small owl knew her target, as she was a friend of her mistress and so she surmised that with a day this nice, she would be outside and enjoy some of the sun. She was right as she soon found the bushy brown hair of her target and flew down next to her, hooting softly in the hoping that she was not asleep. She was lucky, then as soon she landed the girl turned her head from her book and was now looking at her with a smile, of course this girl would recognize her.
"Hello Nina, how are you? Do you have something for me?" Hermione put her bookmark where she was now and closed her book, having already read all the mandatory schoolbooks necessary for this school year. She then took the letter from the leg of the small owl and let her fly away again. As she read the letter, she begun to blush as Daphne called her out once more about her crush on Harry, but she was surprised that she acknowledged her own feelings for him and decided that they would need to talk face to face about this, as they were still young and should not fight over a boy and risk their friendship being affected by it. She was glad to have a friend like Daphne and did not want to lose her over such a stupid reason like Harry choosing one of them if at all. She noticed that Susan Bones was also enamored by Harry while they studied in the library and just hoped that whoever Harry got together with in the future would treat him right, not just be with him because he was famous.
As Nina had already flown off, she would ask her parents if they could go to Diagon Alley so she could send Daphne an answer and to arrange a meeting when they were back in school. She found them on the couch sitting and watching the news on the Television when she caught their attention. Samuel muted the TV and turned around to look at his daughter.
"Hey Mum, Dad could we go to Diagon Alley tomorrow? I need to send a letter to a friend and her owl already left to return, as she seemed to not expect any answer before we would be back in school. But I want to make some arrangements beforehand, if that was possible." Hermione was walking over to a chair, her little book she was reading clenched in her hands. Janet was noticing that Hermione was blushing a bit and asked her if that friend was Harry by any chance. Hermione denied this but confessed that he had something to do with it.
"Okay, we will go tomorrow to the city. When we are there, we could also buy an owl as we were advised to do. This way, you could also keep in contact with your friends better. " Samuel was happy that Hermione had some friends, but he knew that he would soon have to do his fatherly duty and judge the boy she was becoming close to. He was already planning his approach when his daughter would even bring a boyfriend home and was maintaining his Airsoft gun as a real one would have been illegal for civilians.
Hermione was glad that her talk with her parents ended in a good way, excusing herself and returned to her bedroom to talk with her AI and hopefully getting a message out for her friends this way. For appearance's sake it was still wiser move to use the "normal" way and getting the owls to deliver them their mail, in that she was agreeing with her AI, and she would tell the others too. But she was also looking into something like an instant messaging system they could use in school that would be not as suspicious for the magical community.
As the evening arrived in the land, Harry was carrying his backpack back down to the fireplace of the Burrow, making himself ready to go back to Kear Mohen. Somehow, he got Ron to finish all the homework, even when he almost did quit after lunch, saying that he had studied enough for the day. Only Harry's stubbornness and an order from Mrs. Weasley got him to sit down once more and finish it with the help of Harry. Ginny also did good with the potion, as the tomatoes in the garden they tested it on has grown enough to be eaten after only putting the seeds in the ground. This was of course not as good tasting as when they grew naturally, but for an emergency it would be enough to feed you. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were both surprised on how well that worked and looked up the recipe to make that potion themselves, as they could not remember that they did it in school as it was all those years ago.
"Harry, I must thank you for your visiting us and helping Ginny over her shyness. I hope you will visit us again next year. Now, we hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday and stay safe." Mrs. Weasley was saying her goodbyes with her sons behind her waving at Harry and wishing him a save trip. Harry said his thanks for the hospitality and turned to Mr. Weasley, who just threw a pinch of green powder into the flames and told Harry that he should go before him. So, Harry stood into the Flames and told it that he wanted to go to Kear Mohen. He was sucked up the chimney and was turned around multiple times. Soon after, he was placed once more on his feet and thrown out of another fireplace that was familiar to him. In front of him stood Yennefer and Geralt waiting for him. While Yen was smiling that Harry returned, Geralt was as always hard to read. After Mr. Weasley came out of the fire too, he thanked them for allowing Harry the visit. Geralt offered something to drink to which Arthur thankfully agreed and was led out of the kitchen to the great hall. Yen then asked Harry if he would store his backpack in his room and then join her in the library, she needed to show him some things.
Harry walked up the tower to his room, looking out the window and seeing the sunset behind the mountains. It was getting late, and he was asking himself what Yen wanted to talk with him about, as Callie told him that Doctor Halsey would also be there. Now, Harry was absolutely intrigued on what this was about. As he opened the door, he heard Hedwig on the Window hooting softly, as to make sure that he was back. He smiled at her antics, as she was now going for her hunt for dinner Harry placed his backpack down and changed his clothes to something more comfortable. Even Cindy was now slithering over to him after she was climbing down his wardrobe and decided that she wanted to sit on his shoulder like an owl. Harry suppressed a laugh as she was swaying back and forth with every step he took down the stairs.
A short time later, after saying goodbye to Mr. Weasley in the great hall he arrived in the library, where next to Yen and Doctor Halsey was also Triss and Ciri, all looking serious about something.
"Hello everyone, how are you all?" Harry still did not know what was going on, but it could not be good according to the looks the women had given him. Yen was now standing up together with Doctor Halsey and approached him.
"Hello Harry, thank you for coming down. Now before we tell you what we wanted to discuss, I think you also wondered why Triss did not get the teaching job in your school, even when the headmaster himself offered it to us, right? To answer that question, it seems that the schoolboard has something against people they do not know, even when an influential man like Dumbledore do vouch for them. But they at least made a compromise and now Triss is the assistant to Lockhart, I think? Whatever, after an investigation from Doctor Halsey's people we found some strange facts, but do not have any proof to show the magical community. So please Harry, watch out in the next schoolyear, promise us." Yen was looking at him with worry, already afraid that something like a few months ago could happen again. Her motherly side was strong, so all she wanted was to protect him and that led to the decision to train him, so he could protect himself when they were not around. Thankfully, they had the tools to make this happen, as Harry came a long way since they took him in. Even Geralt had some compliments for his skills with the sword and was sure that he would survive the mutation which they were now preparing for later.
"I promise you Yen that I will watch out, for myself as well for my friends. I met Lockhart in Diagon Alley and wondered why he was telling everyone that he would teach in Hogwarts in place of Triss, but your explanation makes sense in a way, especially when you would factor in that some of the board members are stubborn old men, I think. They would hire only other men, as they maybe are so old fashioned. But I guess you all are not here only to tell me this, right? So, what is going on?" Harry was now getting nervous about what they wanted to really tell him. Triss was looking nervous enough to tell him that it could be a life changing event. So, they explained to him that he could choose now if he wanted to go through the same rituals as Geralt did, but with the added benefits thanks to Doctor Halsey and her knowledge without any of the drawbacks that would come with it. So, in a sense, he would become the perfect Witcher. Doctor Halsey then interjected, telling him that as soon he was 14, she would let him undergo the augmentations that John had, also with the added benefit that thanks to modern technology they could make it without any visible scars that would give it away. Also, they developed a MJOLNIR armor who would grow with you with only some small upgrades that he could made himself when he had the material. But for it not killing him, he would have to become much stronger, and this was the reason why they wanted these two steps to make, but Harry had the last say in it, as it was his body.
Yen of course hoped that Harry knew that it was only for his best, as Voldemort will return sooner than later, and he would try to kill Harry for sure. Harry of course also knew that, and he was thinking about it. He was glad that they decided to ask him first instead making the decision for him. They always had let him choose, it was the same as he began his training with Geralt and John and so it was an easy choice for him.
"Let's do it, when would it start with the first step?" As Harry said that four women were now smiling at him, glad that he saw reason.
A/N: hello everyone, as another week roles around, there is another chapter from me ;) a small headsup, the next chapter may be a bit shorter as my employe invited us to a 3 day trip. So just in case my muse does not really work on sunday a small warning :)