AN: A slightly shorter than normal one. Just wanted to take this opportunity to beg anyone reading this to be kind to the people around you. You don't have to understand what they're going through to support them. Hell, until you've lived a day in their shoes, that's impossible. The world is changing, and not just in my country. It feels like we're approaching a fork in the road. We can take one path, and continue down the road of painfully slow progress that we've been on, or veer right and double back to a world gripped by the insanity of totalitarianism. Either way there's a lot of sad, angry, and frightened people out there, some of whom you love. Reach out, let them know you care, they probably need it, and if you're in need of hearing it, even though I have no idea who you are and we've never nor will we ever meet, I care and I hope you're doing as well as you can be.
Chapter 17.
"You must be proud." Imogene told Harry as he looked fondly at the two new mothers, asleep in each other's arms.
"I am. You know I was expecting Harry Jr. 5: The Empire Strikes Back, I wasn't expecting a whole trilogy." Harry said looking at the cribs next to the bed, containing three beautiful, healthy dhampir babies.
"You really should start getting them ultrasounds." Imogene laughed. Harry chuckled.
"We like surprises." Harry said.
"Where's that troublemaking vampire friend of yours?" Imogene asked, checking a few items off a clipboard before hanging it on the door.
"Retrieving Seras and Integra. Imogene, how go preparations for accepting infected?" Harry asked. Imogene frowned.
"We have plenty of beds and can isolate individual rooms and entire wards without problem, but I don't think we could contain a zombie horde." Imgoene said.
"What do you need from me?" Harry asked.
"I'm working on a few angles. The yanks have sent over twelve virologists from the CDC, all aware of the magical world, they're currently going through quarantine. Once they're out they're going to help us set up better containment." Imogene said.
"Why here? There's hot spots all over the continent." Harry observed.
"They're hoping to use the UK as a staging area for the response. They've got it mostly contained in the States so far, but it's a matter of time before it hits a large population center, they need a safe place to do research." Imogene said. Harry nodded.
"The ICW is none too pleased with the MACUSA senate." Imogene continued.
"The ICW can suck it. While they're sitting in their comfortable chambers posturing around like a bunch of ponces, people are out there dying." Harry spat. Imogene nodded.
"Agreed. Another thing you should know, we've been contacted by representatives of the Argentinian, Canadian, South African, and Kenyan magical governments asking for guidance, and offering resources." Imogene said.
"We'll take them up on it, and I'll share everything we know." Harry said without hesitating. Imogene sighed.
"I'm sorry Harry. Now it looks like the whole world is looking to you for solutions to its problems, not just the UK." Imogene said. Harry shrugged.
"I never expected the job to be easy." Harry said.
"Do you think we're going to make it through this?" Imogene asked. Harry grasped one of her shoulders and squeezed gently.
"Of course!" Harry said with a grin.
"God I wish I had your confidence…" Imogene said.
"Confidence? Nah. I have faith. Faith in my friends, both new and old. Can't lose when you're hanging around this lot!" Harry said with an easy smile. Imogene shook her head and smiled.
"Well if you say so, then that's how it is. Excuse me, I have other patients to see." Imogene said.
"Thanks again, Imogene." Harry said sincerely.
"Thank you, Harry." Imogene said. Moments after she closed the door, the smile melted off of his face. He was thankful that he was alone at the moment, anyone who saw him would swear he'd aged a decade overnight. He hadn't lied, he did have faith in those around him. This oncoming storm however, was far, far scarier than most people knew. Again, Harry found himself at the center of a situation where the only thing he could guarantee is that people were going to die. People were already dying. Harry sighed, and the smile returned, at least a little, when he saw a tiny pair of bright red eyes staring at him from inside the middle crib.
The as of yet nameless child, which Harry referred to as 'Harry Jr. 6: The Empire Strikes Back' since 5 had been dubbed 'A New Hope', was uncommonly responsive to outside stimuli almost immediately after birth. Of course the first thing he did, along with his brothers, was feed. After, the other two had almost immediately fallen asleep. The middle child on the other hand, he was too excited, it seemed.
Before falling asleep, Rip had remarked that he almost looked like he was studying his surroundings intently. For all Harry knew, he was, there were so few dhampir babies born in the UK, they could even at this age have some semblance of the predatory vampire instincts. What was peculiar though, is that the boy seemed completely at ease, as though he was merely curious. Harry reached down and scooped him up, smiling down at him. There was a shift in the baby's gaze, and Harry could swear he was getting the sense that the baby was amused about something.
"Don't you worry little man, Your mommies are some of the strongest people I know, you've got nothing to fear. Your dad's alright too I guess." Harry said, reaching a finger towards the baby. The baby grabbed ahold of it, and crossed his eyes, examining the finger closely. After a moment he let it go and looked back up at Harry, the amused expression returning.
"I know things are scary right now, it's your first day, and already you've met so many new people. Change is scary, but scary really isn't that big a deal then is it? Fear can often be the herald of something wonderful, just around the corner." Harry said. The baby's lips curled upwards into a smile and his eyes were filled with mirth.
"You know I'm not scared about anything really. Ok, that's a blatant lie and we both know it. Scary just.. it's easier, now that I have all of you in my life." Harry said sincerely. The baby squeaked quietly and reached his hands upwards.
"Yeah you're a smart little boy aren't you? You…. Uncle Alucard is floating above me making faces at my back isn't he?" Harry asked.
"Careful, your Daddy's learning." Alucard said as he shifted into existence behind him.
"Stop corrupting my kids, jerk." Harry said, laughing and handing the baby to Alcuard who accepted him with a smirk.
"So does this little monster have a name yet?" Alucard asked.
"Nope, but I can't wait for Zorin and Rip to tell us." Harry said.
"You're not chiming in?" Alucard asked. Harry shrugged.
"Only if they ask, and they haven't yet. I'm definitely gonna be there and dad the hell out of these babies, but I refuse to step on Zorin and Rip's toes. I'm just happy to be a part of all this." Harry said.
"I have news from the vampires. Hector it seems has been deposed. Their new leader is Bohdana Lysenko, she hails originally from Ukraine. They've agreed to assist with our efforts." Alucard explained.
"What happened with Hector?" Harry asked.
"He put up a hell of a fight, but she was just stronger and smarter. It was quick." Alucard said."I hope Hector is still alive…" Harry said. Alucard laughed.
"Of course. They're not idiots, Harry. They're not about to squander this second chance they've earned on stupid, pointless murder." Alucard said.
"I'm glad." Harry said. The door opened, admitting an elated Seras who immediately ran forward and stole the baby from Alucard, and integra who was glaring at the elder vampire.
"You could have waited for us." Integra said.
"Sure I could have." Alucard said, nodding and grinning.
"He's beautiful." Seras said.
"They all are." Harry said with a grin.
"What?" Seras and Integra asked together. Harry gestured behind him, where two cribs were occupied and a third was vacant. Harry cast a hasty muffliato just in time for Seras and Integra to nearly deafen him with excited squeals. Harry giggled when he looked at the one in Seras's arms that seemed to be glaring at his wife and girlfriend.
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"I-I'm afraid of dogs, Mr. Black." A small, skinny boy named Bobby said to Sirius who was kneeling and smiling at him.
"Some of them can be scary, but did you want to know a secret?" Sirius asked.
"What?" The boy asked.
"I can turn into a dog!" Sirius said. The boy rolled his eyes.
"Sure, sir. Go ahead and pull the other one." The boy said. Sirius grinned and stepped a bit back from him before transforming into his animagus form. The boy froze in terror for a moment, before seemingly remembering that the lumbering Irish Wolfhound in front of him was in fact the owner of the orphanage. He swiftly transformed back.
"Wow…" The boy said. Sirius nodded.
"It's definitely an interesting experience. One you might be able to achieve some day. Tell me, why is it that you're afraid of dogs? Were you bitten?" Sirius asked. The boy nodded and held out his arm, which bore a very old, well-healed scar.
"That makes sense, I can see why you'd be afraid of them. You know what I'm afraid of? Dementors. You know what those are?" Sirius asked. He shook his head.
"They're these scary monsters that feed off of your positive emotions, leaving only negative feelings behind. They used to guard Azkaban, and I was stuck there for twelve years, with them constantly coming by and haunting us." Sirius said, settling on the ground in front of him.
"The thing is, because I knew I was innocent, and I could turn into a dog, they had no idea what to do with me and eventually, they avoided me because they were afraid. I bet the dog that bit you was afraid too." Sirius said. The boy shrugged.
"I like to think of fear as either a prison guard, or a teacher. You can let it hold you back, and keep you away from experiencing new things... Or, you can learn from it and let it make you stronger." Sirius said.
"I guess." The boy said. Sirius smiled and stood, helping him to his feet too.
"I think it's one of those things that makes more sense when you're older." Sirius said. A teenage girl named Chloe jogged up to them and got Sirius' attention.
"Mr. Black, they need you to sign for something in the main office." Chloe said.
"Alright then. You ok, Bobby?" Sirius asked. The boy looked up and smiled at him, before nodding. Sirius hugged him and followed Chloe back to his office, and he was just out of earshot when Bobby started coughing.