AN: Sorry for the delay in updating, was dealing with the real world. For the first time will I leave a message at the bottom. I will explain how the Template situations is going to go, give some examples to help better understand, and some other stuff. Now, the premise of this Chapter? The Consequences of my own actions.
It was close to nine when we were finally found by the Headmaster and the Charms Professor, Rose having been awake for a few hours now but unwilling to move. In that time, I managed to get her to be at least somewhat passable, able to hold a steady conversation without breaking down again. Her choker was hidden beneath her robes, where it will hopefully remain out of others notice until her binding can be finalized. If I had the spare credits I would have bought [Aggressive Initiations] and drowned her in pleasure until she was caught, but since I don't, I will just have to wait until Friday.
When Dumbledore arrived, he came in silently, and I would have missed him completely had I not been facing the door. Giving Rose a gentle shake I managed to get her to release me, with her starting to shake a bit but nowhere near as bad as it had been earlier. Dumbledore for his part looked destroyed by the state she was in, radiating a sense of sorrow that I could tell was genuine. I managed to pass Rose to Flitwick, who quietly led her out of the room. I looked at the headmaster then, and I felt it when he decided to look in my head. Rather than block the man, I focused on what Rose told me, what had been happening to her under his watch. I thought of how I had to physically hold her together or she would shatter. He left after that, taking a moment to compose himself after being faced with his latest fuck up.
"Thank you, Mister Potter, for informing us of what had happened. You and Miss Rose have been excused from your classes for the day and if needed tomorrow as well. I did not think that her reaction to the news would have been so damaging. I..." He stops himself, looking unsure of what to say next.
"Why tell her now, why not when she got her O.W.L.s or when she graduated?"
He looked relieved for something to focus on, straightening himself a bit as he explained "We, that is myself and your parents, decided that when Rose finished her second year at Hogwarts, she would be old enough to handle the news and help focus her during her time here. When she informed me that her situation was worsening, I believed that informing her of the truth earlier than planned would help her resist the darkness she is cursed with. After speaking with James and Lily they both agreed that she needed to understand. Never did any of us imagine that it would cause her so much harm."
He looked distraught at the end, truly pained by the harm he inadvertently caused. He was unaware that instead of halting the dark magic in rose they instead sealed it inside her. He had no way of knowing that Voldemort would personally come for the Philosopher's stone, and not send a minion. He could not have guessed that the Soul Shard would become aware thanks to Voldemort's presence and react negatively to the knowledge that it was in danger.
"I managed to calm her, but whatever is afflicting her has been building up for a while now, and you informing her of the parasite in her head was the breaking point. She managed to numb herself to what was happening to her, but it left some side effects. She seems to have withdrawn into herself, and I am unsure how long she will remain that way. Me being around seems to help contain what was happening, but when I'm not there it will continue to build. Unless she manages to somehow repel the parasite herself, I am not sure she will survive. Headmaster, if it's possible, will I be able to stay with her, help her."
He looked torn at my request, whether it was because I was asking to skip school for an unspecified amount of time or torn between being proud of the familiar love I was showing Rose, and suspicion of how like Tom I am.
In the end his worry for my sister won out over any suspicion he had of me and allowed me to stay by her side in the Hospital Wing, where Madam Pomfrey was monitoring her. He told me that I would only have until next Monday as he could not allow me to miss more than the first week. Thankfully, that was more than enough time for the Binding to be completed and allow for me to get the defenses she needs.
When I arrived at the Hospital Wing I was met with an unusual sight. Madam Pomfrey, the matron of this school, was rushing back and forth around an unconscious Rose, casting this spell and that, looking for what was ailing her.
Poppy Pomfrey, upon first seeing me, dragged me over to my sister and then started to cast a number of diagnostic charms, trying to understand how I was helping her. Luckily, she had not bothered removing her clothes and seeing the choker, but even if she did, I was sure that it could be passed off as a unique fashion choice inspired by her friend, rather than the slave collar that it was.
She spent the next hour looking us over, muttering to herself and writing notes. At one point she just stopped and glared at me as if this were somehow my fault, before continuing her work. She seemed to finally be finished just before midnight and decided to finally address me.
"Mister Potter, I do not care what you wish, you are not to leave the patient's side until my return in the morning. I am going to give my report to the Headmaster then get some rest. While your sister is in no immediate danger, she is still in a vulnerable state that seems to be soothed by your presence. When I return, I will have you assist me around the Infirmary while you explain to me your knowledge of Healing. What happens after will be decided after."
Then, without another word she left, leaving me sitting next to a still unresponsive Rose. Stifling a sigh, I just got comfortable and popped open another book, wanting to get through some of the Tomes I picked up in my free time.
The next two days passed in a bit of a blur. Whenever Pomfrey was there, she was either casting spells on me and Rose, grilling me on my medical knowledge (not a lot but not necessarily nothing either), having me run minor errands around the Ward, or teaching me some basic Healing. Much of it was learning to identify wounds and the various parts of the body, as well as tell the difference between physical injuries, spell damage, and curses. She gave me a few basic tomes on the History of Healing, which was nice, but she threatened to spell away my balls if anything happened to her books. I was suitably scaraused? Arouscared? I was turned on by the threat, much to my dismay. I couldn't help it though, whatever [Universal Calibration] did made the matron a Hot Nurse instead of an elderly healer.
During our stay news had gotten out that the Girl-Who-Lived was in the Hospital Wing, but we managed to convince Dumbledore to pass on the story that she was merely suffering from a bad reaction to a spell cast on her, and I was there looking out for her as her brother. The students thankfully bought it, as most of my House, Tracy, Neville, and the Twins from Gryffindor, and Susan and Hannah from Hufflepuff all came to check up on us and wished her well. Daphne in particular was interested when I explained that I was spending a majority of my time helping out around the place. Lillian, rather than coming to visit, seemed determined to figure out who attacked her friend and get revenge, not knowing she was chasing shadows. I'm fairly sure that ff Rose wasn't either numb to everything happening, or not battling for her very soul, would have appreciated how many people came to see her and make sure she was well.
On Friday, sometime after midnight, I was informed that I had successfully captured the Basilisk. I decided to name her Dusa, in homage to the original snake woman that made men hard as stone, but also because I loved playing Hades, and I found the floating head adorable. Maybe when I finished this world, I could find a way to visit the Greek Underworld and meet the Prince and his companions. And maybe capture a goddess or two. I can't be the only one the enjoyed that artwork of Aphrodite. Anyway, after confirming that I was now the sole owner of my own pet snek, I was slightly disappointed by any refunds, but I understood as I didn't have anything that she could help me with. Then finally, sometime after breakfast, I received the notice that I was waiting for, and was given fourteen extra credits due to discounts. Quickly pulling up the Company Catalog, I went and purchased Possession Defense, which for some reason Harry does not lower the cost of, leaving me with six. I then turned off the emotional numbing allowing her to come back to the world
I knew that this would not instantly heal her, as it wasn't the Immunity version, but it would allow her to be able to actually fight back and build a resistance the longer she has been exposed. When I finally pulled down the screen and looked at Rose, I was met by two confused but awed eyes as my sister finally came back.
AN: Okay Here we go
There will be a total of Four Polls to determine the MC's next Template. The First, which is currently up, is to decide the base archetype of the template. What the main goal of gaining it will be. Will it focus on Physical Improvement and Skill or Enhancing his Magic Power even Further? Maybe he will gain the ability to Craft Advanced Technology or Gain unique skills in a large number of fields that he currently lacks. Will he Get an Out-Of-Contex Power, something no one understands or knows how to counter. Or maybe some insurance that He Will Survive, no longer worrying about dying anymore. Perhaps he will gain a greater ability to Heal, whether by using magic or other abilities (Me saying White Mage was giving a basic Idea). The Examples I gave were of things that fall in that Category, but simply an option not the choice
The Next Poll would have Taken the Winning Archetype and broken it down Further. For the Physical would it have been a template focusing on Enhancement, such as Captain America or Superman, or maybe a capable martial Artist, such as Kiryu Kazuma or Baki. The Magic would be things like Muscle Wizard, dedicated spell casters, or some mix. Tech would have been things like Personal Equipment, Drones, Science in General, Magi-Tech. Picking Utility would have been things like unique skills, sheer number of abilities, or the ability to learn quickly. Gimmicks would be me throwing a bunch of worlds with powers that are difficult to combat, such as MHA, JoJo, Undertale. Immortal would be rapid regen, protection from death, soul fuckery, the like. Healing would be mundane, Magic, Power based, divine, and more.
The Third would be Narrowing it down to groups of certain people. Groups of Four or Six that fall into the Specific type you guys want. For this Section I will be using any suggestions.
The Fourth would be picking one from the winning group. Will not go into effect immediately, but when there is no pressing need for something, and he has spare credits.
Also remember, Waifus can get templates too, so instead of say, stacking Harry with Healing, he could instead pass off that to one of his captures. Or give them the ability to freeze time. Or turn them int a demi-god. Templates are not just for Harry, and in the case you want him to have a specific type of ability but not copy another character, added potential is still a thing. could give him quirk or a stand and make something completely random.
The Poll should be set up so that if you already Voted you could change your pick so long as time remains.
Hope this cleared up any confusion.
Also, remember that this is a Waifu Catalog Fic, so expect eventual Crossover with others as he will be taking Grand Missions to pay for his shit.